Guest guest Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 Pink Another reason that over time we see fewer of the upper end plans is the principle of " adverse selection. " Those with the most health issues always gravitate to the upper plan, which in turn pushes its cost higher and eventually eliminates it. Thats why plans that offered prescription coverage through the doughnut hole (other than just for generics) quickly diminished. Those like me who take $355 of Nexium a month would all choose it. I did place my first order for Nexium from Canada this week. Guess will see how that goes. Actually I will be getting the Astra Zenica branded product from India, which is spelled Neksium there. The cost is less than one third of Nexium US. 90 Day Supply of Nexium (80MG/Day): US Local with Discount $1065 US-Drugstore.com $930 Canada-Canadian Branded Nexium from Minnesota approved pharmacy $438 Canada-India Branded Neksium $309 All the above products branded Astra Zenica product so same except in coating. US is Capsule, Canada is Tablet. > > frustrated!!! medicare started August 1--got a decent supplemental plan--Blue Cross Select Advantage Gold. For a few $$$ more, it covered a lot of stuff. Notified that it is being discontinued as of jan 2009. they will switch me to Select Advantage Silver. premium is less, but copays and deductibles are more. Need to find a different plan, but so far, the ones that i looked at are not as good. will continue the search... > > Pink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 I pay $27.00 monthly for plan D. As long as I get generic drugs there is no charge. So I am happy about that because my Ambian 10 mg is pricey. Love & Prayers, PeggyFlorida, IPF/UIP 2004"I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet, when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly." PinkAnother reason that over time we see fewer of the upper end plans is theprinciple of "adverse selection." Those with the most health issuesalways gravitate to the upper plan, which in turn pushes its cost higherand eventually eliminates it.Thats why plans that offered prescription coverage through the doughnuthole (other than just for generics) quickly diminished. Those like mewho take $355 of Nexium a month would all choose it.I did place my first order for Nexium from Canada this week. Guess willsee how that goes. Actually I will be getting the Astra Zenica brandedproduct from India, which is spelled Neksium there. The cost is lessthan one third of Nexium US.90 Day Supply of Nexium (80MG/Day):US Local with Discount $1065US-Drugstore.com $930Canada-Canadian Branded Nexium from Minnesota approved pharmacy $438Canada-India Branded Neksium $309All the above products branded Astra Zenica product so same except incoating. US is Capsule, Canada is Tablet.>> frustrated!!! medicare started August 1--got a decent supplementalplan--Blue Cross Select Advantage Gold. For a few $$$ more, it covereda lot of stuff. Notified that it is being discontinued as of jan 2009. they will switch me to Select Advantage Silver. premium is less, butcopays and deductibles are more. Need to find a different plan, but sofar, the ones that i looked at are not as good. will continue thesearch...>> Pink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 I pay $27.00 monthly for plan D. As long as I get generic drugs there is no charge. So I am happy about that because my Ambian 10 mg is pricey. Love & Prayers, PeggyFlorida, IPF/UIP 2004"I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet, when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly." PinkAnother reason that over time we see fewer of the upper end plans is theprinciple of "adverse selection." Those with the most health issuesalways gravitate to the upper plan, which in turn pushes its cost higherand eventually eliminates it.Thats why plans that offered prescription coverage through the doughnuthole (other than just for generics) quickly diminished. Those like mewho take $355 of Nexium a month would all choose it.I did place my first order for Nexium from Canada this week. Guess willsee how that goes. Actually I will be getting the Astra Zenica brandedproduct from India, which is spelled Neksium there. The cost is lessthan one third of Nexium US.90 Day Supply of Nexium (80MG/Day):US Local with Discount $1065US-Drugstore.com $930Canada-Canadian Branded Nexium from Minnesota approved pharmacy $438Canada-India Branded Neksium $309All the above products branded Astra Zenica product so same except incoating. US is Capsule, Canada is Tablet.>> frustrated!!! medicare started August 1--got a decent supplementalplan--Blue Cross Select Advantage Gold. For a few $$$ more, it covereda lot of stuff. Notified that it is being discontinued as of jan 2009. they will switch me to Select Advantage Silver. premium is less, butcopays and deductibles are more. Need to find a different plan, but sofar, the ones that i looked at are not as good. will continue thesearch...>> Pink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 I pay $27.00 monthly for plan D. As long as I get generic drugs there is no charge. So I am happy about that because my Ambian 10 mg is pricey. Love & Prayers, PeggyFlorida, IPF/UIP 2004"I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet, when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly." PinkAnother reason that over time we see fewer of the upper end plans is theprinciple of "adverse selection." Those with the most health issuesalways gravitate to the upper plan, which in turn pushes its cost higherand eventually eliminates it.Thats why plans that offered prescription coverage through the doughnuthole (other than just for generics) quickly diminished. Those like mewho take $355 of Nexium a month would all choose it.I did place my first order for Nexium from Canada this week. Guess willsee how that goes. Actually I will be getting the Astra Zenica brandedproduct from India, which is spelled Neksium there. The cost is lessthan one third of Nexium US.90 Day Supply of Nexium (80MG/Day):US Local with Discount $1065US-Drugstore.com $930Canada-Canadian Branded Nexium from Minnesota approved pharmacy $438Canada-India Branded Neksium $309All the above products branded Astra Zenica product so same except incoating. US is Capsule, Canada is Tablet.>> frustrated!!! medicare started August 1--got a decent supplementalplan--Blue Cross Select Advantage Gold. For a few $$$ more, it covereda lot of stuff. Notified that it is being discontinued as of jan 2009. they will switch me to Select Advantage Silver. premium is less, butcopays and deductibles are more. Need to find a different plan, but sofar, the ones that i looked at are not as good. will continue thesearch...>> Pink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 Peggy Regular Ambien just won't for me. I just tried it again or it would cost me $7 per month. However, the only thing that has worked, and I've tried nearly every sleep med, is Ambien CR which costs me $30 before the doughnut hole and $140 per month in it. > > > > frustrated!!! medicare started August 1--got a decent supplemental > plan--Blue Cross Select Advantage Gold. For a few $$$ more, it covered > a lot of stuff. Notified that it is being discontinued as of jan 2009. > they will switch me to Select Advantage Silver. premium is less, but > copays and deductibles are more. Need to find a different plan, but so > far, the ones that i looked at are not as good. will continue the > search... > > > > Pink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 Peggy Regular Ambien just won't for me. I just tried it again or it would cost me $7 per month. However, the only thing that has worked, and I've tried nearly every sleep med, is Ambien CR which costs me $30 before the doughnut hole and $140 per month in it. > > > > frustrated!!! medicare started August 1--got a decent supplemental > plan--Blue Cross Select Advantage Gold. For a few $$$ more, it covered > a lot of stuff. Notified that it is being discontinued as of jan 2009. > they will switch me to Select Advantage Silver. premium is less, but > copays and deductibles are more. Need to find a different plan, but so > far, the ones that i looked at are not as good. will continue the > search... > > > > Pink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 Peggy Regular Ambien just won't for me. I just tried it again or it would cost me $7 per month. However, the only thing that has worked, and I've tried nearly every sleep med, is Ambien CR which costs me $30 before the doughnut hole and $140 per month in it. > > > > frustrated!!! medicare started August 1--got a decent supplemental > plan--Blue Cross Select Advantage Gold. For a few $$$ more, it covered > a lot of stuff. Notified that it is being discontinued as of jan 2009. > they will switch me to Select Advantage Silver. premium is less, but > copays and deductibles are more. Need to find a different plan, but so > far, the ones that i looked at are not as good. will continue the > search... > > > > Pink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 Bruce, i tried the CR but I itched and scratched all night so that is a no go for me. Love & Prayers, PeggyFlorida, IPF/UIP 2004"I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet, when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 Bruce, i tried the CR but I itched and scratched all night so that is a no go for me. Love & Prayers, PeggyFlorida, IPF/UIP 2004"I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet, when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 Sher Well, even though my generics are only $7 per month, they are expensive generics that push me to the donut hole and my brand meds which I've absolutely been told no generic option are quite expensive. So, in 2009, if I buy my meds all in the plan I'll hit the donut hole in early April. I'd spend about $120 per month before the donut hole. During the hole I'd spend about $600 per month and I'd come out of the donut hole late October and then spend $100 per month the last two months. Note that I have three prescriptions not covered at all by medicare. So with no additional meds my expense would be around $4800 plus the insurance cost of $900 for a total prescription cost of $5700. Thats why I will consider to compare the costs of getting Nexium from Canada. Now, doctors and hospitals and labs are all covered completely by my $295 per month (96 Medicare + 199 Medigap) or just under $3600 per year. But at least don't have to worry about additional costs there. The ultimate problem isn't the availability of insurance or the donut hole because I think those are symptoms. The problem is the cost of meds in the US versus the same meds elsewhere. Between what I pay and what insurance pays the total monthly cost of my meds in the US is over $800. In Canada at retail it would be around $400 and mail order or generics that aren't offered in the US would reduce it to $250. > > > > > > frustrated!!! medicare started August 1--got a decent supplemental > > plan--Blue Cross Select Advantage Gold. For a few $$$ more, it covered > > a lot of stuff. Notified that it is being discontinued as of jan 2009. > > they will switch me to Select Advantage Silver. premium is less, but > > copays and deductibles are more. Need to find a different plan, but so > > far, the ones that i looked at are not as good. will continue the > > search... > > > > > > Pink Joyce IPF 3/06 Pennsylvania > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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