Salvi said he literally trades or barters medical supplies with other spinal-cord injury patients for some of the medications he needs and often relies on samples from his doctor and other medical providers. He said he's making choices “that we shouldn't have to make in America.”

"I was compelled to come here and drive the 500 miles because the message I want to get out is: You shouldn't have to compromise your health,” Salvi said, his voice breaking with emotion. “We shouldn't let big pharma determine what's right for me."

And Salvi also told the audience that he can get the same pill that costs $13.50 in the United States for $1.67 in Canada.

Phillip Combs of Madison, Florida, shared his story, telling the audience that he also has to get samples from his doctor so he can afford the medicine he needs to control his high cholesterol. Paying the $400 a month copay for the brand-name medicine that works best for him “would be about a fourth of my monthly budget,” Combs said, “And what about the other five medications I take?”