Re: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

[Guest guest]

That is the very reason I take the generic MS. Maybe that is the cause of my

severe fatigue. I've been tested for everything under the sun and all

negative. I'm not sleepy, just no energy. Early on, I took oxycontin

(generic), Kadian, and a few different others and I don't remember the

severe fatigue then. Hmmmm. I'll definitely be talking to my MD @ my next

visit. But on SSDI and Medicare, cost is definitely a big factor. The

fatigue is the only thing keeping me from going back to work @ this point. I

don't mind some, but this is ridiculous.

Jenn

~~~Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G~~~

> My new dose of Oxycontin arrived yesterday, I have it shipped to my

house/work etc from the pharmacy across the street from my pain clinic. My

card gets billed etc

> Imagine my surprise when I saw the cost- my 40MG's (90) were $120 (Oxy

discount), the 60's? $280!!!! I am debating switching back to generic

morphine... (which made me super fatigued/no sex drive)

> My doctor is leaving so I have to go to see a new one at that clinic, I

plan on asking him which medication I can switch to.

> Any thoughts on getting this cost down?

> All my meds come out to $500 a month! And that's with insurance.

> What are some alternatives? The patch and Dilaudid ER

(originally scripted) is even more!

> My husband and I work full time, and we do not qualify for any assistance,

income too high.

> Thanks!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

 

Perhaps you can look into a supplemental insurance to help with the cost, or you

can get in touch with the distributer and ask if they have a patient assistance

program

Michele

________________________________

To: Tetheredspinalcord <tetheredspinalcord >

Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 7:51 AM

Subject: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

 

My new dose of Oxycontin arrived yesterday, I have it shipped to my house/work

etc from the pharmacy across the street from my pain clinic. My card gets billed

etc

Imagine my surprise when I saw the cost- my 40MG's (90) were $120 (Oxy

discount), the 60's? $280!!!! I am debating switching back to generic

morphine... (which made me super fatigued/no sex drive)

My doctor is leaving so I have to go to see a new one at that clinic, I plan on

asking him which medication I can switch to.

Any thoughts on getting this cost down?

All my meds come out to $500 a month! And that's with insurance.

What are some alternatives? The patch and Dilaudid ER (originally scripted) is

even more! 

My husband and I work full time, and we do not qualify for any assistance,

income too high.

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

I so get this . We have excellent insurance and our monthly bills

with the cymbalta and lyrica for my daughter and my husband's meds for

ulcerative colotis are insane. I shudder to think of where we will be at

retirement and am so worried for the day when our daughter will not be on our

insurance. Randee

In a message dated 10/6/2011 1:36:40 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

micheled723@... writes:

Perhaps you can look into a supplemental insurance to help with the cost,

or you can get in touch with the distributer and ask if they have a patient

assistance program

Michele

________________________________

From: Dybowski <_lilacs007@..._ (mailto:lilacs007@...) >

To: Tetheredspinalcord <_tetheredspinalcord _

(mailto:tetheredspinalcord ) >

Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 7:51 AM

Subject: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

My new dose of Oxycontin arrived yesterday, I have it shipped to my

house/work etc from the pharmacy across the street from my pain clinic. My card

gets billed etc

Imagine my surprise when I saw the cost- my 40MG's (90) were $120 (Oxy

discount), the 60's? $280!!!! I am debating switching back to generic

morphine... (which made me super fatigued/no sex drive)

My doctor is leaving so I have to go to see a new one at that clinic, I

plan on asking him which medication I can switch to.

Any thoughts on getting this cost down?

All my meds come out to $500 a month! And that's with insurance.

What are some alternatives? The patch and Dilaudid ER (originally

scripted) is even more!

My husband and I work full time, and we do not qualify for any assistance,

income too high.

Thanks!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Guest guest]

PS It's perhaps up to $500/month for our copays.

In a message dated 10/6/2011 1:53:22 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

Randeejae@... writes:

I so get this . We have excellent insurance and our monthly bills

with the cymbalta and lyrica for my daughter and my husband's meds for

ulcerative colotis are insane. I shudder to think of where we will be at

retirement and am so worried for the day when our daughter will not be on

our

insurance. Randee

In a message dated 10/6/2011 1:36:40 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

_micheled723@..._ (mailto:micheled723@...) writes:

Perhaps you can look into a supplemental insurance to help with the cost,

or you can get in touch with the distributer and ask if they have a

patient

assistance program

Michele

________________________________

From: Dybowski <__lilacs007@..._

(mailto:_lilacs007@...) _ (mailto:_lilacs007@..._

(mailto:lilacs007@...) ) >

To: Tetheredspinalcord <__tetheredspinalcord _

(mailto:_tetheredspinalcord ) _

(mailto:_tetheredspinalcord _

(mailto:tetheredspinalcord ) ) >

Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 7:51 AM

Subject: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

My new dose of Oxycontin arrived yesterday, I have it shipped to my

house/work etc from the pharmacy across the street from my pain clinic. My

card

gets billed etc

Imagine my surprise when I saw the cost- my 40MG's (90) were $120 (Oxy

discount), the 60's? $280!!!! I am debating switching back to generic

morphine... (which made me super fatigued/no sex drive)

My doctor is leaving so I have to go to see a new one at that clinic, I

plan on asking him which medication I can switch to.

Any thoughts on getting this cost down?

All my meds come out to $500 a month! And that's with insurance.

What are some alternatives? The patch and Dilaudid ER (originally

scripted) is even more!

My husband and I work full time, and we do not qualify for any assistance,

income too high.

Thanks!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately the medication assistance programs that Montel used to

advertise are very strict. The thing that knocks me out is that u can't

participate in most of the mfg's programs if u have Medicare. Even though

when u r in the coverage gap its essentially like nit having insurance at

all since u r responsible for 100% of the cost until u have spent $4500 on

Rx. Yeah. Like I have a spare $4500 laying around. The only expensive Med I

take is Gelnique. The only reason I have been able to stay on it is bc my MD

gives me samples... lots of samples. Otherwise it would cost me $150/month

for that one Rx alone.

Jenn

~~~Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G~~~

>

>

> Perhaps you can look into a supplemental insurance to help with the cost,

or you can get in touch with the distributer and ask if they have a patient

assistance program

> Michele

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: Tetheredspinalcord <tetheredspinalcord >

> Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 7:51 AM

> Subject: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

>

>

>

> My new dose of Oxycontin arrived yesterday, I have it shipped to my

house/work etc from the pharmacy across the street from my pain clinic. My

card gets billed etc

> Imagine my surprise when I saw the cost- my 40MG's (90) were $120 (Oxy

discount), the 60's? $280!!!! I am debating switching back to generic

morphine... (which made me super fatigued/no sex drive)

> My doctor is leaving so I have to go to see a new one at that clinic, I

plan on asking him which medication I can switch to.

> Any thoughts on getting this cost down?

> All my meds come out to $500 a month! And that's with insurance.

> What are some alternatives? The patch and Dilaudid ER

(originally scripted) is even more!

> My husband and I work full time, and we do not qualify for any assistance,

income too high.

> Thanks!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I understand we call it the doughnut hole whena patient has used the coverage

they are given for the year, thenyou have to pay out of pocket.  So many people

go without the meds cause of cost.  This is just unexceptable, why this country

allows this.  Would you qualify for any government assistance perhaps medicaid?

Michele

________________________________

To: tetheredspinalcord

Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 1:11 PM

Subject: Re: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

 

Unfortunately the medication assistance programs that Montel used to

advertise are very strict. The thing that knocks me out is that u can't

participate in most of the mfg's programs if u have Medicare. Even though

when u r in the coverage gap its essentially like nit having insurance at

all since u r responsible for 100% of the cost until u have spent $4500 on

Rx. Yeah. Like I have a spare $4500 laying around. The only expensive Med I

take is Gelnique. The only reason I have been able to stay on it is bc my MD

gives me samples... lots of samples. Otherwise it would cost me $150/month

for that one Rx alone.

Jenn

~~~Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G~~~

>

>

> Perhaps you can look into a supplemental insurance to help with the cost,

or you can get in touch with the distributer and ask if they have a patient

assistance program

> Michele

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: Tetheredspinalcord <tetheredspinalcord >

> Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 7:51 AM

> Subject: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

>

>

>

> My new dose of Oxycontin arrived yesterday, I have it shipped to my

house/work etc from the pharmacy across the street from my pain clinic. My

card gets billed etc

> Imagine my surprise when I saw the cost- my 40MG's (90) were $120 (Oxy

discount), the 60's? $280!!!! I am debating switching back to generic

morphine... (which made me super fatigued/no sex drive)

> My doctor is leaving so I have to go to see a new one at that clinic, I

plan on asking him which medication I can switch to.

> Any thoughts on getting this cost down?

> All my meds come out to $500 a month! And that's with insurance.

> What are some alternatives? The patch and Dilaudid ER

(originally scripted) is even more!

> My husband and I work full time, and we do not qualify for any assistance,

income too high.

> Thanks!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

My duaghter is type 1 diabetic and the cost of her meds a month is crazy,  she

works in a hospital and has good insurance, but since I work at a doctors office

I do get samples and that has saved us alot.  Well I haven't gone back to work

since my last surgery but I do have friends that help me out

Michele

 

This is insane what we are paying for insurance and then also for our meds.

________________________________

To: tetheredspinalcord

Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 12:54 PM

Subject: Re: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

 

PS It's perhaps up to $500/month for our copays.

In a message dated 10/6/2011 1:53:22 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

Randeejae@... writes:

I so get this . We have excellent insurance and our monthly bills

with the cymbalta and lyrica for my daughter and my husband's meds for

ulcerative colotis are insane. I shudder to think of where we will be at

retirement and am so worried for the day when our daughter will not be on

our

insurance. Randee

In a message dated 10/6/2011 1:36:40 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

_micheled723@..._ (mailto:micheled723@...) writes:

Perhaps you can look into a supplemental insurance to help with the cost,

or you can get in touch with the distributer and ask if they have a

patient

assistance program

Michele

________________________________

From: Dybowski <__lilacs007@..._

(mailto:_lilacs007@...) _ (mailto:_lilacs007@..._

(mailto:lilacs007@...) ) >

To: Tetheredspinalcord <__tetheredspinalcord _

(mailto:_tetheredspinalcord ) _

(mailto:_tetheredspinalcord _

(mailto:tetheredspinalcord ) ) >

Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 7:51 AM

Subject: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

My new dose of Oxycontin arrived yesterday, I have it shipped to my

house/work etc from the pharmacy across the street from my pain clinic. My

card

gets billed etc

Imagine my surprise when I saw the cost- my 40MG's (90) were $120 (Oxy

discount), the 60's? $280!!!! I am debating switching back to generic

morphine... (which made me super fatigued/no sex drive)

My doctor is leaving so I have to go to see a new one at that clinic, I

plan on asking him which medication I can switch to.

Any thoughts on getting this cost down?

All my meds come out to $500 a month! And that's with insurance.

What are some alternatives? The patch and Dilaudid ER (originally

scripted) is even more!

My husband and I work full time, and we do not qualify for any assistance,

income too high.

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

The Max income for Medicaid is really low. Around $400/month I think. I

exceed that by more than double on SSDI. There is a Medicaid " spend down "

program I'm eligible for that will pay my unpaid medical bills after I have

spent $900 a month. When I was paying my COBRA premium I met it (I wouldn't

anymore), but they only pay unpaid medical bills. All MDs want your co-pay

up front to see you and you have to pay to take your meds home from the

pharmacy, so even if I spent $1500 in a month, I had already paid out the

money. I had to. And they wont reimburse the individual, only pay the

provider directly, so it was no help.

Jenn

~~~Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G~~~

> I understand we call it the doughnut hole whena patient has used the

coverage they are given for the year, thenyou have to pay out of pocket. So

many people go without the meds cause of cost. This is just unexceptable,

why this country allows this. Would you qualify for any government

assistance perhaps medicaid?

> Michele

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: tetheredspinalcord

> Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 1:11 PM

> Subject: Re: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

>

>

>

> Unfortunately the medication assistance programs that Montel used to

> advertise are very strict. The thing that knocks me out is that u can't

> participate in most of the mfg's programs if u have Medicare. Even though

> when u r in the coverage gap its essentially like nit having insurance at

> all since u r responsible for 100% of the cost until u have spent $4500 on

> Rx. Yeah. Like I have a spare $4500 laying around. The only expensive Med

I

> take is Gelnique. The only reason I have been able to stay on it is bc my

MD

> gives me samples... lots of samples. Otherwise it would cost me $150/month

> for that one Rx alone.

>

> Jenn

>

> ~~~Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G~~~

>

>>

>>

>> Perhaps you can look into a supplemental insurance to help with the cost,

> or you can get in touch with the distributer and ask if they have a

patient

> assistance program

>> Michele

>>

>>

>> ________________________________

>>

>> To: Tetheredspinalcord <tetheredspinalcord >

>> Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 7:51 AM

>> Subject: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

>>

>>

>>

>> My new dose of Oxycontin arrived yesterday, I have it shipped to my

> house/work etc from the pharmacy across the street from my pain clinic. My

> card gets billed etc

>> Imagine my surprise when I saw the cost- my 40MG's (90) were $120 (Oxy

> discount), the 60's? $280!!!! I am debating switching back to generic

> morphine... (which made me super fatigued/no sex drive)

>> My doctor is leaving so I have to go to see a new one at that clinic, I

> plan on asking him which medication I can switch to.

>> Any thoughts on getting this cost down?

>> All my meds come out to $500 a month! And that's with insurance.

>> What are some alternatives? The patch and Dilaudid ER

> (originally scripted) is even more!

>> My husband and I work full time, and we do not qualify for any

assistance,

> income too high.

>> Thanks!

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

The med I take for narcolepsy is $1700 a month. That is just one of five meds I

take. Without insurance, I & #39;m screwed, and not in the fun dinner-first kinda

way. I only pay a $1000 out of pocket for the year, so I do what they tell you

not to do. I hoard a little bit so I have a few weeks worth of buffer.

It is insane how much they make on these meds. The drug I take is out of patent

in a few months. They & #39;ve recouped all their R & D costs long ago. Now they are

just gouging.

[Guest guest]

 

I am a nurse and before my last tcs surgery I worked in a doctors office and I

always gave samples to patients, however over the last few years the drug reps

have left fewer and fewer meds.  Its funny how much money the company will

spend on tv promoting the drug and then they come into the office with a pretty

box or little container with only one pill in it.  Why not give us a plain box

with more then one pill in it??????

 

The elderly people get hit hard, they are on a fixed budget and they hardly can

pay to live let alone the meds they need.  What is going to happen to health

care????

Its not going in the right direction.  I take some meds and the most I pay is

30.00 my co-payment.  I am lucky, and I feel so bad that you have to go through

this.  Have you looked into getting your meds from Canada???? Or a mail order

place???? Also I know we would double the strentgh on some meds so patients

would have one co-pay but it would last for 2 months.  Not all doctors will do

that but my doctor actually cares that people get what they need. I hope you can

check into one of these options and they may help.

 

Good luck and let me know what you find out

Michele

________________________________

To: tetheredspinalcord

Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 3:44 PM

Subject: Re: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

 

The med I take for narcolepsy is $1700 a month. That is just one of five meds I

take. Without insurance, I & #39;m screwed, and not in the fun dinner-first kinda

way. I only pay a $1000 out of pocket for the year, so I do what they tell you

not to do. I hoard a little bit so I have a few weeks worth of buffer.

It is insane how much they make on these meds. The drug I take is out of patent

in a few months. They & #39;ve recouped all their R & D costs long ago. Now they are

just gouging.

[Guest guest]

I have applied for SSDI is there any information you can give me as far as how

the insurance works at that time, and also the med. allowance?  When I applied

nobody has ever gone over this with me and I don't know anyone who receives

SSDI.  I do have a friend who gets SSI and she is on medicaid and I know she

only pays 2.00 per rx.  And I think only a 2.00 co-payment to the doctor.  How

can it be so different.  It seems like you work hard and when you can't work

anymore you kinda get screwed.  Then the people who never really held down a

job for more than a month and they get all the services they can, including

food, housing, medical.  I am not trying to say anything bad about anyone, but

I have worked and supported 2 children by myself, gone to college and worked

hard.  I get sick and now I wonder what will happen with SSDI?  What choice do

I have, I am in no shape to do the work anymore.  If I could I would get up and

put my scrubs on and

work all day, this is not the life I want to have, but I do so now what?

Michele

________________________________

To: tetheredspinalcord

Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 3:14 PM

Subject: Re: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

 

The Max income for Medicaid is really low. Around $400/month I think. I

exceed that by more than double on SSDI. There is a Medicaid " spend down "

program I'm eligible for that will pay my unpaid medical bills after I have

spent $900 a month. When I was paying my COBRA premium I met it (I wouldn't

anymore), but they only pay unpaid medical bills. All MDs want your co-pay

up front to see you and you have to pay to take your meds home from the

pharmacy, so even if I spent $1500 in a month, I had already paid out the

money. I had to. And they wont reimburse the individual, only pay the

provider directly, so it was no help.

Jenn

~~~Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G~~~

> I understand we call it the doughnut hole whena patient has used the

coverage they are given for the year, thenyou have to pay out of pocket. So

many people go without the meds cause of cost. This is just unexceptable,

why this country allows this. Would you qualify for any government

assistance perhaps medicaid?

> Michele

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: tetheredspinalcord

> Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 1:11 PM

> Subject: Re: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

>

>

>

> Unfortunately the medication assistance programs that Montel used to

> advertise are very strict. The thing that knocks me out is that u can't

> participate in most of the mfg's programs if u have Medicare. Even though

> when u r in the coverage gap its essentially like nit having insurance at

> all since u r responsible for 100% of the cost until u have spent $4500 on

> Rx. Yeah. Like I have a spare $4500 laying around. The only expensive Med

I

> take is Gelnique. The only reason I have been able to stay on it is bc my

MD

> gives me samples... lots of samples. Otherwise it would cost me $150/month

> for that one Rx alone.

>

> Jenn

>

> ~~~Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G~~~

>

>>

>>

>> Perhaps you can look into a supplemental insurance to help with the cost,

> or you can get in touch with the distributer and ask if they have a

patient

> assistance program

>> Michele

>>

>>

>> ________________________________

>>

>> To: Tetheredspinalcord <tetheredspinalcord >

>> Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 7:51 AM

>> Subject: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

>>

>>

>>

>> My new dose of Oxycontin arrived yesterday, I have it shipped to my

> house/work etc from the pharmacy across the street from my pain clinic. My

> card gets billed etc

>> Imagine my surprise when I saw the cost- my 40MG's (90) were $120 (Oxy

> discount), the 60's? $280!!!! I am debating switching back to generic

> morphine... (which made me super fatigued/no sex drive)

>> My doctor is leaving so I have to go to see a new one at that clinic, I

> plan on asking him which medication I can switch to.

>> Any thoughts on getting this cost down?

>> All my meds come out to $500 a month! And that's with insurance.

>> What are some alternatives? The patch and Dilaudid ER

> (originally scripted) is even more!

>> My husband and I work full time, and we do not qualify for any

assistance,

> income too high.

>> Thanks!

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

Once approved for SSDI, you are eligible for Medicare 2 years later. You can

keep traditional Medicare or get a Medicare Advantage plan (letting a

private Co administer the benefits - what I do. Often has better benefits

including vision and dental for little or no additional premium. Mine

actually refunds me $40/mo of my part B premium). All Rx benefits are

administered by private ins cos. Just go to the Medicare site and you can

review the options and sign up online. You could also contact a insurance

sales Rep and have them do it. I have done both ways.

As far as insurance during those two years, u r on ur own. I paid for COBRA

for those 2 years @ $400/mo. I was just thankful I had that option. I was

terrified of Medicare as I heard they didn't cover anything. I have never

had a problem getting them to cover what I needed. Sometimes I had to jump

thru a few hoops, but I often had to do that with my employer insurance (and

it was excellent insurance) bc even private insurance is instituting more

red tape.

Jenn

~~~Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G~~~

> **

>

>

> I have applied for SSDI is there any information you can give me as far as

> how the insurance works at that time, and also the med. allowance? When I

> applied nobody has ever gone over this with me and I don't know anyone who

> receives SSDI. I do have a friend who gets SSI and she is on medicaid and I

> know she only pays 2.00 per rx. And I think only a 2.00 co-payment to the

> doctor. How can it be so different. It seems like you work hard and when

> you can't work anymore you kinda get screwed. Then the people who never

> really held down a job for more than a month and they get all the services

> they can, including food, housing, medical. I am not trying to say anything

> bad about anyone, but I have worked and supported 2 children by myself, gone

> to college and worked hard. I get sick and now I wonder what will happen

> with SSDI? What choice do I have, I am in no shape to do the work anymore.

> If I could I would get up and put my scrubs on and

> work all day, this is not the life I want to have, but I do so now what?

> Michele

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: tetheredspinalcord

> Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 3:14 PM

> Subject: Re: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

>

>

> The Max income for Medicaid is really low. Around $400/month I think. I

> exceed that by more than double on SSDI. There is a Medicaid " spend down "

> program I'm eligible for that will pay my unpaid medical bills after I have

> spent $900 a month. When I was paying my COBRA premium I met it (I wouldn't

> anymore), but they only pay unpaid medical bills. All MDs want your co-pay

> up front to see you and you have to pay to take your meds home from the

> pharmacy, so even if I spent $1500 in a month, I had already paid out the

> money. I had to. And they wont reimburse the individual, only pay the

> provider directly, so it was no help.

>

> Jenn

>

> ~~~Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G~~~

>

> > I understand we call it the doughnut hole whena patient has used the

> coverage they are given for the year, thenyou have to pay out of pocket. So

> many people go without the meds cause of cost. This is just unexceptable,

> why this country allows this. Would you qualify for any government

> assistance perhaps medicaid?

> > Michele

> >

> >

> > ________________________________

> >

> > To: tetheredspinalcord

> > Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 1:11 PM

> > Subject: Re: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

> >

> >

> >

> > Unfortunately the medication assistance programs that Montel used to

> > advertise are very strict. The thing that knocks me out is that u can't

> > participate in most of the mfg's programs if u have Medicare. Even though

> > when u r in the coverage gap its essentially like nit having insurance at

> > all since u r responsible for 100% of the cost until u have spent $4500

> on

> > Rx. Yeah. Like I have a spare $4500 laying around. The only expensive Med

> I

> > take is Gelnique. The only reason I have been able to stay on it is bc my

> MD

> > gives me samples... lots of samples. Otherwise it would cost me

> $150/month

> > for that one Rx alone.

> >

> > Jenn

> >

> > ~~~Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G~~~

> >

> >>

> >>

> >> Perhaps you can look into a supplemental insurance to help with the

> cost,

> > or you can get in touch with the distributer and ask if they have a

> patient

> > assistance program

> >> Michele

> >>

> >>

> >> ________________________________

> >>

> >> To: Tetheredspinalcord <tetheredspinalcord >

> >> Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 7:51 AM

> >> Subject: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >> My new dose of Oxycontin arrived yesterday, I have it shipped to my

> > house/work etc from the pharmacy across the street from my pain clinic.

> My

> > card gets billed etc

> >> Imagine my surprise when I saw the cost- my 40MG's (90) were $120 (Oxy

> > discount), the 60's? $280!!!! I am debating switching back to generic

> > morphine... (which made me super fatigued/no sex drive)

> >> My doctor is leaving so I have to go to see a new one at that clinic, I

> > plan on asking him which medication I can switch to.

> >> Any thoughts on getting this cost down?

> >> All my meds come out to $500 a month! And that's with insurance.

> >> What are some alternatives? The patch and Dilaudid ER

> > (originally scripted) is even more!

> >> My husband and I work full time, and we do not qualify for any

> assistance,

> > income too high.

> >> Thanks!

> >>

> >>

> >>

[Guest guest]

I'm very lucky. I can afford my meds with my insurance. I pay $!000 out of

pocket a year, which means 11 months of my meds are fully covered.  It's

disgusting what the drug companies are allowed to charge in the US. Their profit

margins are ridiculously high and every time there is a story about how much

money they make in profits, someone starts spouting the R & D thing and how much

it costs them to develop these drugs. Um, dude, profit is AFTER cost, so those

billions are what you made AFTER you spent billions on R & D and advertising and

pimping your drugs to doctors by giving them free stuff. Some of us aren't that

dumb. We remember our basic high school economics class.

It infuriates me, but I have no choice. I need the provigil to live any sort of

life. I am lucky, though. I have the means to pay for my meds. A lot of people

don't.

________________________________

To: " tetheredspinalcord " <tetheredspinalcord >

Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 8:25 PM

Subject: Re: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

 

 

I am a nurse and before my last tcs surgery I worked in a doctors office and I

always gave samples to patients, however over the last few years the drug reps

have left fewer and fewer meds.  Its funny how much money the company will

spend on tv promoting the drug and then they come into the office with a pretty

box or little container with only one pill in it.  Why not give us a plain box

with more then one pill in it??????

 

The elderly people get hit hard, they are on a fixed budget and they hardly can

pay to live let alone the meds they need.  What is going to happen to health

care????

Its not going in the right direction.  I take some meds and the most I pay is

30.00 my co-payment.  I am lucky, and I feel so bad that you have to go through

this.  Have you looked into getting your meds from Canada???? Or a mail order

place???? Also I know we would double the strentgh on some meds so patients

would have one co-pay but it would last for 2 months.  Not all doctors will do

that but my doctor actually cares that people get what they need. I hope you can

check into one of these options and they may help.

 

Good luck and let me know what you find out

Michele

________________________________

To: tetheredspinalcord

Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 3:44 PM

Subject: Re: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

 

The med I take for narcolepsy is $1700 a month. That is just one of five meds I

take. Without insurance, I & #39;m screwed, and not in the fun dinner-first kinda

way. I only pay a $1000 out of pocket for the year, so I do what they tell you

not to do. I hoard a little bit so I have a few weeks worth of buffer.

It is insane how much they make on these meds. The drug I take is out of patent

in a few months. They & #39;ve recouped all their R & D costs long ago. Now they are

just gouging.

[Guest guest]

Well the patient assistance programs are very low, we have a pretty high income

for the 2 of us, however we also pay for husbands mother's COBRA and some of

my parents expenses.. nevermind the other medical bills of ours... so even

though we have a higher than average income I am still in a bad place because of

these med costs.

I don't think i qualify for anything. I do understand your frustration, I never,

even at age of 18 qualified for grants/subsidized loans for school. So worked

and did college on my own. It gets annoying.

I'm not sure how supplemental income insurance works, but from my understanding

this would still be a pre x condition, unless done through work. Our insurance

at work is $600+, and it's private.

I think I'm going to speak to the doctor about switching my medication, even

though it works so well for me. I just don't see spending $6k a year on meds- we

don't even qualify for tax reimbursement!

Thanks for all the advice though and best of luck to everyone else.

>>

>>

>> Perhaps you can look into a supplemental insurance to help with the cost,

> or you can get in touch with the distributer and ask if they have a

patient

> assistance program

>> Michele

>>

>>

>> ________________________________

>>

>> To: Tetheredspinalcord <tetheredspinalcord >

>> Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 7:51 AM

>> Subject: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

>>

>>

>>

>> My new dose of Oxycontin arrived yesterday, I have it shipped to my

> house/work etc from the pharmacy across the street from my pain clinic. My

> card gets billed etc

>> Imagine my surprise when I saw the cost- my 40MG's (90) were $120 (Oxy

> discount), the 60's? $280!!!! I am debating switching back to generic

> morphine... (which made me super fatigued/no sex drive)

>> My doctor is leaving so I have to go to see a new one at that clinic, I

> plan on asking him which medication I can switch to.

>> Any thoughts on getting this cost down?

>> All my meds come out to $500 a month! And that's with insurance.

>> What are some alternatives? The patch and Dilaudid ER

> (originally scripted) is even more!

>> My husband and I work full time, and we do not qualify for any

assistance,

> income too high.

>> Thanks!

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

Jenn

 

I was told that because of my income I would have medicare and medicaid, I have

already interviewed with SSI and they approved me but because I woked for the

certain amount of time I am eligible for SSDI, maybe it depends then on how much

income you receive from them monthly.  I started working when I was 27 and I

worked only until I was 41, so perhaps not as long as you and I am single with

dependent children.  I am not on any assistance from the government.  I have

been lucky and the doctor I have worked for has been paying my health insurance

for the past year.  I also think it makes a difference how much money you have

in retirement, for my I have not been able to save any since I have been raising

my kids by myself I have had to use every penny I made to care from them. 

Another dead beat dad for ya.....Well let me know if any of those make sense to

you or if maybe you know???? Thank you for letting me know this information if

you know about

anything I wrote please let me know.

Michele

________________________________

To: tetheredspinalcord

Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 10:18 PM

Subject: Re: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

Once approved for SSDI, you are eligible for Medicare 2 years later. You can

keep traditional Medicare or get a Medicare Advantage plan (letting a

private Co administer the benefits - what I do. Often has better benefits

including vision and dental for little or no additional premium. Mine

actually refunds me $40/mo of my part B premium). All Rx benefits are

administered by private ins cos. Just go to the Medicare site and you can

review the options and sign up online. You could also contact a insurance

sales Rep and have them do it. I have done both ways.

As far as insurance during those two years, u r on ur own. I paid for COBRA

for those 2 years @ $400/mo. I was just thankful I had that option. I was

terrified of Medicare as I heard they didn't cover anything. I have never

had a problem getting them to cover what I needed. Sometimes I had to jump

thru a few hoops, but I often had to do that with my employer insurance (and

it was excellent insurance) bc even private insurance is instituting more

red tape.

Jenn

~~~Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G~~~

> **

>

>

> I have applied for SSDI is there any information you can give me as far as

> how the insurance works at that time, and also the med. allowance?  When I

> applied nobody has ever gone over this with me and I don't know anyone who

> receives SSDI.  I do have a friend who gets SSI and she is on medicaid and I

> know she only pays 2.00 per rx.  And I think only a 2.00 co-payment to the

> doctor.  How can it be so different.  It seems like you work hard and when

> you can't work anymore you kinda get screwed.  Then the people who never

> really held down a job for more than a month and they get all the services

> they can, including food, housing, medical.  I am not trying to say anything

> bad about anyone, but I have worked and supported 2 children by myself, gone

> to college and worked hard.  I get sick and now I wonder what will happen

> with SSDI?  What choice do I have, I am in no shape to do the work anymore.

> If I could I would get up and put my scrubs on and

> work all day, this is not the life I want to have, but I do so now what?

> Michele

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: tetheredspinalcord

> Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 3:14 PM

> Subject: Re: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

>

>

> The Max income for Medicaid is really low. Around $400/month I think. I

> exceed that by more than double on SSDI. There is a Medicaid " spend down "

> program I'm eligible for that will pay my unpaid medical bills after I have

> spent $900 a month. When I was paying my COBRA premium I met it (I wouldn't

> anymore), but they only pay unpaid medical bills. All MDs want your co-pay

> up front to see you and you have to pay to take your meds home from the

> pharmacy, so even if I spent $1500 in a month, I had already paid out the

> money. I had to. And they wont reimburse the individual, only pay the

> provider directly, so it was no help.

>

> Jenn

>

> ~~~Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G~~~

>

> > I understand we call it the doughnut hole whena patient has used the

> coverage they are given for the year, thenyou have to pay out of pocket. So

> many people go without the meds cause of cost. This is just unexceptable,

> why this country allows this. Would you qualify for any government

> assistance perhaps medicaid?

> > Michele

> >

> >

> > ________________________________

> >

> > To: tetheredspinalcord

> > Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 1:11 PM

> > Subject: Re: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

> >

> >

> >

> > Unfortunately the medication assistance programs that Montel used to

> > advertise are very strict. The thing that knocks me out is that u can't

> > participate in most of the mfg's programs if u have Medicare. Even though

> > when u r in the coverage gap its essentially like nit having insurance at

> > all since u r responsible for 100% of the cost until u have spent $4500

> on

> > Rx. Yeah. Like I have a spare $4500 laying around. The only expensive Med

> I

> > take is Gelnique. The only reason I have been able to stay on it is bc my

> MD

> > gives me samples... lots of samples. Otherwise it would cost me

> $150/month

> > for that one Rx alone.

> >

> > Jenn

> >

> > ~~~Sent from my Samsung Infuse 4G~~~

> >

> >>

> >>

> >> Perhaps you can look into a supplemental insurance to help with the

> cost,

> > or you can get in touch with the distributer and ask if they have a

> patient

> > assistance program

> >> Michele

> >>

> >>

> >> ________________________________

> >>

> >> To: Tetheredspinalcord <tetheredspinalcord >

> >> Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 7:51 AM

> >> Subject: Medication cost (are you kidding?!)

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >> My new dose of Oxycontin arrived yesterday, I have it shipped to my

> > house/work etc from the pharmacy across the street from my pain clinic.

> My

> > card gets billed etc

> >> Imagine my surprise when I saw the cost- my 40MG's (90) were $120 (Oxy

> > discount), the 60's? $280!!!! I am debating switching back to generic

> > morphine... (which made me super fatigued/no sex drive)

> >> My doctor is leaving so I have to go to see a new one at that clinic, I

> > plan on asking him which medication I can switch to.

> >> Any thoughts on getting this cost down?

> >> All my meds come out to $500 a month! And that's with insurance.

> >> What are some alternatives? The patch and Dilaudid ER

> > (originally scripted) is even more!

> >> My husband and I work full time, and we do not qualify for any

> assistance,

> > income too high.

> >> Thanks!

> >>

> >>

> >>