A London couple has been forced into bankruptcy and even considered separating if it would help secure some type of relief for their mounting medical bills.

Stuart Clark and Alicia Grayson have been embroiled in a convoluted process to apply for the Trillium Drug Plan.

They got some help Monday, though, from London West NDP MPP Peggy Sattler, who took up their cause at Queen’s Park.

Grayson has lupus, fibromyalgia, lupus anticoagulant syndrome and heart arrhythmia, asthma and chronic depression.  She has a large regime of prescription drugs that cost between $400 to $500 a month.

The problems started for the couple when Clark lost his job last year and then his severance, which included benefits, came to an end. In March, he applied to the Trillium program.

“We went through the application process. I was a little surprised it was going to take five weeks, but we had enough meds on hand that we could handle that,” Clark says.

But what the couple couldn't handle was the financial and emotional stress of an eight month battle. After waiting five weeks, Clark received a response saying that they were missing proof of income and the date of when his old health plan ended.

“So I submitted that again, waited a while and didn't hear anything,” Clark says.

Next, was a 90-minute wait on the phone before speaking with a Trillium employee who outlined again what they needed.

This time Clark also consulted a hospital employee who specializes in helping with this process. They sent the forms via e-mail, fax and regular mail.

“They said, ‘Yeah, we had an error on our part.’ The part where they asked again for the policy number I had given them and it was in their records,” he says.

In July, which was close to the program’s next fiscal year, the couple received a small sum of money with the wrong deductible.

And they discovered that Grayson's three most expensive drugs weren't covered.

Sattler asked questions on behalf of the couple at Queen’s Park Monday.

“Will the (Health) Minister (Deb Matthews) commit to addressing these unacceptable problems at Trillium so that Alicia Grayson can access the medication she needs.”

Matthews promised to look into it.

“I tell you, if the system isn't working ….I will fix it. In this case ….we are looking into this particular issue,” Matthews said from the floor of the legislature.

Meanwhile, Clark and Grayson have run up a $4,000 bill at Turner Drug Store.

But drug store owner Jeff Robb has been helping the couple.

“In my opinion, it would be wrong of me to deny someone a therapeutic outcome for the sake of money. That's kind of who I am and what we are.”

Despite the community's support, the couple has been forced to make some tough decisions.

And Clark questions the whole process.

“Why do you make it so difficult? It adds more stress which will eventually add more costs in health care.”

They have received less than $200 for Grayson’s prescriptions over the last eight months.

But Clark has recently found work and his health benefits will kick in after a three-month probation period.

He wanted to share his story so that other people will become aware of the problems surrounding the Trillium plan.

He is also concerned about those who aren't in a position where they can get help from friends and believes it is time the Trillium application process be reviewed.