Budget Buster- prescriptions

[Rafiki31]

How much is your most expensive prescription? I am shocked that WITH my health insurance, my Singulair is 110 a month! I simply can't afford it anymore. Ugh. So much for the huge premiums I am paying out for health insurance through my job, it covers nothing!

 

[happymommy]

I didn't realize this until I filled a prescription for my son at Costco a few years ago, but all pharmacies are not the same. It was cheaper for his Epipen at Costco than our regular pharmacy.

My folks don't have prescription coverage, so they go to Sams Club to fill theirs. I'd shop around! You may find a much better deal at a warehouse club, Target, Walmart, etc...

Don't just go off your medicine - or talk to your doctor about any savings plans from the manufacturer. I agree, medicine is expensive!

 

[Judique]

I didn't realize this until I filled a prescription for my son at Costco a few years ago, but all pharmacies are not the same. It was cheaper for his Epipen at Costco than our regular pharmacy.

My folks don't have prescription coverage, so they go to Sams Club to fill theirs. I'd shop around! You may find a much better deal at a warehouse club, Target, Walmart, etc...

Don't just go off your medicine - or talk to your doctor about any savings plans from the manufacturer. I agree, medicine is expensive!

If you can use Costco, it's a good deal.

Since I have a Caremark card, CVS has me tied up for maintenance meds, so I can't. But last laughs on them, cause I am slowly getting off them! (losing weight and exercising!)

 

[ssawka]

If you can mail order, it usually saves you a copay every 3 months. If you are like me, I cannot live without singulair. Went off it a few days once. Couldn't breathe at all!

 

[Lucky St. Louis]

My daughter was on Singulair during the winter but has slowly been outgrowing her allergies so I haven't had to get it filled this year. We don't have prescription insurance. I did get it filled at Costco which was cheaper BUT even cheaper was ordering from Canada which I did for years. A three month supply cost as much as a one month here! I double checked with my doctor who said it is completely safe as the drugs are from the same manufacturer and he had no problem writing me a prescription for it for fullfillment by a Canadian pharmacy. He said that Canada's version of the FDA is probably better than the U.S. Look on-line and price shop. You will want to make sure the pharmacy is certified by looking for the Pharmacy Checker.com logo and the CIPA logo. Here's how it works: get a prescription from your doctor for a three-month supply (refillable 3 times). Call the pharmacy you choose, fax or mail the prescription to them, a Canadian doctor will review the prescription and write a new one that the Canadian pharmacy will accept. They will mail the prescription to you within two weeks. Same manufacturer, SAME EXACT drug although the packaging was different. MUCH less cost! Also note that most reputable pharmacies will price match so if you see the drug at one certified Canadian Pharmacy but it's even cheaper at another, you just tell them the website on which you saw it, they will check it, and give you the cheaper price. I have also done this with my husband's Lipitor (which is now cheap in the U.S.) and medication for myself. I used Canadapharmacy.com. One more thing...there are some generic drugs that are approved by Canada's version of the FDA which are even cheaper but I never bought them as I wanted only U.S. FDA approved medications. Good luck! Also, my doctor did say that while Canada is a good option he would NEVER buy any prescription drugs through our North American neighbors south of the border.

Good Luck!

Kate

 

[Swimalie]

If you can mail order, it usually saves you a copay every 3 months. If you are like me, I cannot live without singulair. Went off it a few days once. Couldn't breathe at all!

I agree with the others about shopping around. I was using the mail order one since it looked cheaper than others. Then I got a new prescription (same medicine, new level) and didn't feel like mailing it in so I went to my local store. Imagine my shock when it came out a lot cheaper. I think the savings will be over $100 a year! So shop around. I believe you don't have to be a Costco member in order to use their pharmacy. Just watch out. They gave me the wrong dose once and the wrong medicine another time. I stopped going there after that.

 

[laughinplace199]

OP, can you use mail order for your prescriptions? My DD's Singulair is $90 for a 3 month supply if we use mail order. It's more expensive if we just get it filled at CVS every month.

 

[Plumeria9]

I don't remember what I was researching yesterday, but I saw that Singulair is going to have a generic version this summer.

Also, yes Costco's pharmacy prices are better than pretty much everywhere else. I had been using Singulair on a temporary basis earlier this year. I got 30 tablets for $15.00. Don't know what you are paying. You do not have to be a member to use their pharmacy. I have my health insurance through Costco, w/ Aetna. If I use the Costco pharm. I get a little bit better prices than I do at Target. Target also has pretty good prices. CVS, Walgreens are to be avoided in terms of prices.

 

[eowensby]

There is a one time $20.00 coupon on singulair's website that you can print out and take in to your pharmacy. I just used it last month on my son's refill. The patent runs out this August for Singulair so hopefully that will open up generic versions for us.

 

[angwill]

How much is your most expensive prescription? I am shocked that WITH my health insurance, my Singulair is 110 a month! I simply can't afford it anymore. Ugh. So much for the huge premiums I am paying out for health insurance through my job, it covers nothing!

My highest is $389.79. You do need to call the store and ask how much it is to pay cash as well as calling different pharmacy's. Sometimes the cash price is less than the insurance price. Also check if it is offered on the $4 lists at Walmart, Sam's, Target, Meyers and the others who offer the low cost meds. Another choice is to print out the $4 list and ask your doctor if there is a comparible med to your singulair on that list.

 

[Leajess99]

Sam's Club pharmacy is where I get all my kids" medicines filled as they were the cheapest for us. Now we pay 0 for meds as my ex changed insurance and I guess he picked up really good coverage or something. The most expensive last year was $55 for my one daughter's monthly prescription.

You also do not need a membership to use Sam's Club pharmacy.

 

[JamesMom]

Perscriptions/Medical bills are killing our families budget. DH has a High Deductible plan and while it has a low monthly premium ($200/month for our family), we need to meet a $3,000 deductible before it kicks in at 80/20 till OOP max of $10,000. We met that last year with our DS9 who was had surgery and was hospitalized for a week. We are still paying on that bill and hoped to have it paid off this year. Since we meet the max, I stocked piled his asthma mantenance meds since he using in Spring/Fall with a 9 month supply (used up 2 months already). Through mail order 3 month supply of Advair and Singular was $700, so $1,500 a year including his $60 rescue inhalers.
Well, this year my DS6 has developed behavior problems at school (been in special ed since age 3 for learning disability & speech delay) so the Neurologist Dx ADHD and Austism Spectrum. We are in month 2 and still working out meds. Got his Risperadol and Daytrana filled yesterday at CVS with coupons and it cost $240 for a 1.25 month supply (use only on school days). Between meds and office visits ($390 EACH with Neuro) we will have no problem meeting our initial $3K deductible by June.
We have the max of $500 paid into our HSA account for the tax benefit, but when you still have $4,000 hospital bill to pay ($400 a month) AND new meds/visits being added - it doesn't go far. Our savings account has already taken a $1,500 hit with medical issues that are beyond the HSA balance. I HATE dipping into the emergency savings for this, but what can you do? Hopefully, once the scripts are covered at 80/20 this summer, I can use the HSA money to replenish our savings account *fingers crossed* because next month will bring another $600 withdrawl with another Nuero vist & meds since the HSA needs to go to the Hospital bill. sigh.

I am tempted to push my DH to get the Cadallic plan at work, but with the increased premiums (another $400 a month) and it still has co=pays and deductibles it is all breaks even in the end. Fortunately my medication for hypothyriod only costs $4 a month.
Thanks for listening.

 

[Cindy B]

If you can use Costco, it's a good deal.

Since I have a Caremark card, CVS has me tied up for maintenance meds, so I can't. But last laughs on them, cause I am slowly getting off them! (losing weight and exercising!)

I have Caremark CVS perscription as well. Now check with your own plan, but I dont have to go to CVS to get it filled. My pharmacist said that it is a common misconception that the CVS Caremark is only good at CVS.

 

[4shinystars]

I'm getting worried because DH's company is thinking of changing plans again. A few years ago they went to a plan with a $2000 maximum on rx-just one of my meds would make us reach the max in 2 months-pharmacy said it costs them over $18,000 for a year's supply. one injection once a week, and my cost would be more than that. Well, a few other employees complained, due to having cancer treatments and other health issues, and the CFO found plan with much higher costs for us but no cap on rx. (her son has health issues that would have put her in the same boat). She left the company last year and new CFO has said that there will be a change in plans. Enbrel has changed my life, but there's no way we can come up with $1900 min a month for one med.

 

[kkandaj]

Do you take the singulair for asthma or allergies? Many plans don't want to pay for the singulair if it is for an allergy diagnosis because there are so many OTC allergy meds. DS just got on the chewable singulair and insurance denied it, but after the doctor explained it was being prescribed for his asthma (which it is), they approved it with a $35 co-pay/month for one year. Insurance paid $325 of it.

He used to be on Flovent (inhaler) and it was denied last year. After fighting insurance, they approved it for one more year. We got a letter this year that said DH could still be on it, but the co-pay would be $100 instead of $35. If he is in his yellow/red zone, we could go through two Flovent inhalers in one month. The allergist switched him to Qvar, which I don't think works as well, but only has a $35 co-pay.

We also pay about $50/month for his allegra OTC. It's sad that so much of our budget is used on his allergy/asthma meds. I am thankful for insurance, but they seem to be denying/fighting more and more meds that we NEED. So, we pay $120 for his meds and that doesn't count if we need his epi's or albuterol refilled or anyone else in the family. He's worth every penny, but it still stinks.

 

[disneymarie]

In the last year I had two episodes and treated in ER for the asthma,

it was to be controled with Advair, albuteral and I also have the nebulizer now.
My Advair was $30 copay with my medicare plan D I had, then they raised the copay plus the plan amount.
I went with Walmart humana part D. $11 ish a month. But it does not cover much of anything either.
The Advair was $500 down to $380. The Albuteral was over $40.00 I thought a generic would at the most be $10.

I have been going without, and when in destress using the nebulizer, but now have no maintaince. Scared.

Last Spring, while checking in at ER, my throat swelled shut and I was moving no air. They hit me with a n eppi and steroids stuff I do not recall much, except tears rolling down my face thinking this is it.

I have really good AARP United Health care medicare coverage, but their plan D was high copay and the monthly cost was $$$ and really I paid the $30 copay, most of the generics were under that anyway.

I need thyroid, simvestan, Hydrothrochloride, and the asthma meds.

I need a decent doctor too....this PA that is there since doc had her baby does not think things are big deal. Time to call around and try to price some of the asthma meds.
I am only receiving soc sec of $595 after the medicare part B is deducted. and they take $130 for supplemental Plan C out of my checking account. Only $11 for the Plan D Walmart Humana.

Really miss my husbands job that had us covered. They closed up 2009, and now he is not even eligible another year for medicare.
Oh, no dental, no eye glass...I remember skipping my biannual dental cleaning, wish I had at least one a year now.

 

[kimblebee]

I have you all beat by a mile LOL

My prescription is $1700 a MONTH. I have MS and do a needle once a week. Luckily I have a low deductable so it is paid in full the first month.

I fill my prescription at Safeway so I clean up on Airmiles

 

[erincon23]

Kkandaj, Costco has generic versions of Allegra, Zyrtec and Claritin for something like $14.99 for 90 or 100 tablets. We've been using the generic Zyrtec for years.

And I know a lot of people will think this is not a good idea, but my mom gets Singulair (or equivalent, same drug) from India for $10 for a 30 day supply. She orders 6 months at a time for $60. DS19 has been on zyrtec and singulair for years for allergies, and it used to cost us a bundle -- now mom orders extra for us. It seems to be doing exactly what the name brand did. Her doctor recommended it and gave her the website. Some things you can't find a cheaper version of, and some you can.

DH was on a blood pressure drug and a water pill -- his dr gave him an RX for a combined pill that's $11 a month at Walmart, as opposed to $30 copay EACH --and they're the same med.

 

[4shinystars]

I've already had all my rx turned generic. The Enbrel is not available generic. Right now I have a co-pay, but if DH's insurance changes, I'll have to pay over $1900 a MONTH for my once a week injection. This is simply not possible to do. I'll have to go back to cheaper meds that don't work as well. We've even thought of him trying to find another job for the benefits, but due to pre-existing condition, may not be eligible, especially if "Obamacare" is rejected. He already pays about $200/wk for insurance.

 

[Ephany]

We also pay about $50/month for his allegra OTC. It's sad that so much of our budget is used on his allergy/asthma meds. I am thankful for insurance, but they seem to be denying/fighting more and more meds that we NEED. So, we pay $120 for his meds and that doesn't count if we need his epi's or albuterol refilled or anyone else in the family. He's worth every penny, but it still stinks.

Kkandaj, Costco has generic versions of Allegra, Zyrtec and Claritin for something like $14.99 for 90 or 100 tablets. We've been using the generic Zyrtec for years

I happen to have the Kirkland Aller-tec (generic Zyrtec) here and it's 365 tablets for around $15. I think the generic Allegra was a little bit more expensive, but I'm sure it's cheaper than buying it at a regular store.