Holy Cow I just picked up my Medicine!

General
1

It was a rough day at work today and before I could call it a day I found myself in Wal-Mart filling a prescription... First let me make it clear I have a deep dislike for Wal-Mart...Unless it is 3 in the morning and nobody is there! That is irrelevant! So I do some shopping while I wait for they to get the prescription ready. I do a lot of putting things in my buggy and then a few isles later rethink it and put it back... LOL... Kinda like OHHHH yes I have to have this... then... uuummmm well maybe not. I do this a lot. unless I am in a thrift store and I LOVE shopping in those places...

OK So, I go to pick up my meds. and the lady rings it up and says that will be 25 dollars. I asked why my INS did not cover more than that. She then tells me how much that med. cost...Over 900 dollars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just about fell in the floor! Then I was very thankful that I had Ins to cover that and gladly paid the 25.

I began to have a conversation with this Woman about the costs of peoples meds. She then tells me that she knows of a med that costs a few thousand dollars and again I about fell in the floor.

I do not know how people who have serious health conditions and no insurance even afford their medicine... now I see a big picture... I wonder what makes these meds so expensive...are they made with a secret ingredient found at the bottom of the sea? Is it just that they know people NEED these meds and they jack the price up knowing that people will find a way to pay for their meds.

Finally, I am not so sure I should be taking a med that is so costly. What if I find myself without a job or Ins.? I will need to do without this med. so why even get started ?

2

There are many resources online to help cover the cost of prescription meds. It takes diligence to find the right one, but there is often a way to get assistance for those who need it.

3

I was in Celebrex, not long after it came out, 1999 or 2000. It helped me tremendously with my arthritis. Then by the mid 2000s I was able to stop it because I didn't many issues anymore and would take it on an as needed basis.

When I complained of pain again, I wanted back on Celebrex, which was probably the 10th NSAID they had tried on me and the only one that worked well. Come to find out that Pfizer got an extension on the patent and it is still available as a Brand name only and cost $250-$280 for 30 pills of 200mg, w/o insurance. I got on the Pfizer plan and it cost me $12 for 120 pills, in the end it made no difference because it didn't help whatsoever. My 60mg Cymbalta, I'm talking about the generic, is between $220-$280, it needed insurance approval, which was no problem and cost me $4 per month. My generic Gabapentin at 4x800mg per day, runs between $140-$475 per month, I pay $4. If I had no insurance, I would have to pay about $400 for all the meds I take, which I couldn't afford anyway, compared to $12.

It was not difficult to get on the Pfizer plan for the Celebrex, which actually was free, but the sliding scale clinic charged the $12 for handing it to me.

It truly sucks when you have no insurance, but yes there are ways to get a lot different ones, though maybe not all of them at a lower cost or free.

Having been able to get insurance this year has made a world of difference, though not in my pain but in being able to try different meds to see if I can get my pain level down and know I can see a specialist, if need be.

Regarding why meds are so expensive, big pharma spends a ton of money on developing new drugs and want to get it 1000 fold back. I have no problem that they want to make a profit, but sometimes you can only shake your head in stunned shock, to put it nicely.

Until it becomes illegal for big pharma to send Drs. on vacation or other "gifts" if they write the most scripts for some new meds, be careful that your Dr. doesn't push you toward the newest drug.

I hope I didn't ramble on for too long, Farida

4

I totally know what you mean! When the physician went over the medications with me initially he was concerned my insurance did cover it, and that my copay was only $25. I then got prescribed an antidepressant (brand name) and for whatever reason its free - no money needed just picked up my prescription. Lastly, I tried to get lidoderm patches, and my insurance does not cover that, and I would have to buy it out of pocket for $650 for 90 patches. Its amazing how much money companies make versus their cost.

5

Lovett, are you asking me?

I'll just go and answer anyway. Yes, my husband and I have insurance through Obamacare, it has been a godsend for us. I have been without insurance for 5 years and he lost his last year in February, when he was laid off.

Thankfully he is very healthy and I have my Diabetes under tight control, but the sliding scale clinic was worthless in helping me, as tests were coming back negative, they just sent me home. In the end they told me to see a Pain Management doc but they had none in their network. We called around and they were above and beyond what we could afford.

Due to our low income, the government pays more of our premium, if or when our income changes, we have to notify them and they will make the appropriate adjustments either up or down.

I believe you get the info at healthcare.gov, they have multiple plans to choose from. You just need to find which plan fits your needs.

Hope this helps, Farida

6

I am glad to know that they have a way to make these meds affordable for those who can't afford them. Lovett I have heard people say they tried to get on Oboma Care and they either made too much money or too little money. I am afraid if I were to be without a job , that my Husband would make too much money. He is on Social security. and will be able to draw his retirement soon.

7

Last year with ins my cymbalta cost me $50. In January '14 it went up to $100 and that was for generic. Pharmacy kept telling me it would come down soon. After 7 months it finally did come down to $48. My husband was laid off 2 months ago and we lost our ins. Obomacare would cost $800 a month! I don’t think so! I’m scared to death of not taking my meds. What are people to do when they can’t afford there meds? No wonder we are all so stressed!

8

Pam, google "prescription medication financial assistance." There are many programs you can apply for. There are even programs to help you pick the best program. Take a look, and if you find a helpful one, post about it on the site.