Budget Buster- prescriptions

[Boston Tea Party]

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.

Oh no! I am starting Enbrel this week! What choice do I have? It's that or become disabled.

 

[Swimalie]

Here is an app Clark Howard is talking about that will help get the lowest prescription prices.

http://www.clarkhoward.com/news/cla...-helps-shop-lowest-prescription-prices/nMJwN/

 

[CatNipRules]

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!

I would check with your doctor about writing you a prescription for something else. I take Singular and it's $42 a month. That's my most expensive one though. I tell my doctor to only write prescriptions for generics. She's good about it most of the time.

 

[piglet33]

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.

I was going to say the same thing, because we use Caremark at Walgreens, because our prescriptions usually cost less than $10.

 

[piglet33]

No misconception. It is in effect for maintenance meds only and is part of my organizations plan. We go Oct 1 to Sept 30 and found out in Nov with no notification, so it is still being fought. They then extended to Dec for using any pharmacy.

I had to go back to my doc and get new scripts written as ones that weren't 90 days couldn't be filled.

You can get the first script filled anywhere on a one time basis. So if I just need amoxycillin for ten days, fill it anywhere. But, blood pressure meds, diabetes, asthma meds, cvs only. Now, the good thing is, it does save that money - you pay for 2 months get 3 months. And, my cvs doesn't make me use mail, they fill the 3 month supply in the pharmacy right here and charge the 2 month price.

I can't really complain a lot other than it was inconvenient the first time, as I had to get new scripts written, and put on file.

Liked my other pharmacy better - they had a drive up window and more personal service.

And, reading this thread I know I have an extremely good plan. My copays are so small as to be ridiculously small next to some of these numbers written.

The bold part is mine. Maybe your plan is different from mine, but we get DHs monthly blood pressure medicine filled at Walgreens and have the Caremark CVS plan. We never pay more than $7 whenever he gets his refills.

 

[Natalie's Mommy]

this thread is freaking me out a bit. my ENT just put me on singular for allergies and the RX is waiting at the pharmacy i just gotta go pick it up (was sick on the day it was dropped off and with the holiday its been crazy here) i'm def gonna look for that coupon online, i have no clue how much of it my insurance will cover

 

[disney fan4]

I ask the Dr. for samples and discount cards every time I get a brand name script written. Also I work at a pharmacy and sometimes we have drug representatives bring us discount cards. When we are really busy it is easy to forget to grab one for the customer, so it wouldn't hurt to ask at your pharmacy also.
Some insurance companies pay for a 3 month supply of what they consider maintanence medications. My insurance pays for a 90 day supply in store for the same co-pay as a 30 day supply. So it doesn't hurt to ask your Dr. to write for a 90 day supply and let the pharmacy try to file it that way. Or contact your insurance and check what their policy is. Some require that you take the drug for a certain length of time before they start paying for the 90 day supply.
Ask your Dr. if they will write for something that has a generic. Some things you need the brand name but it never hurts to ask.

 

[pixieprincessmom]

Search singulair couPons. There is one for $20 right now. I have used them on Vivance for my son and Crestor for my DH. Only use the ones from the company that makes the drug. The "discount cards" that list several drugs are not the ones I'm talking about. Recently discovered this and have saved a ton in the last few months.

 

[angwill]

Here is an app Clark Howard is talking about that will help get the lowest prescription prices.

http://www.clarkhoward.com/news/cla...-helps-shop-lowest-prescription-prices/nMJwN/

I saw that on his show too. I downloaded it and it does not work. I don't know if it is just my phone but I do have a newer android phone. I could put in the med and zip but no matter what med I put in it gives me no results.

 

[Swimalie]

I saw that on his show too. I downloaded it and it does not work. I don't know if it is just my phone but I do have a newer android phone. I could put in the med and zip but no matter what med I put in it gives me no results.

That's not good. I don't have either phone so I haven't tried it. I hope the get it working.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

That is vicious, I ended up with huge legal fees taken out from the secondary litigation of absent father, and have three disabled children that their future needs had to be provided for.

I budgeted two trips for the family that amount to 6 months of what my meds are billing. I walked out of Walmart without them. Guess I thought making new memories for the family was more important then my needs, as I usually do.....I have not even bought the new recliner I sleep in, rathering to use it for others.

Just my guess - but your grandkids would probably prefer a live grandmother than a dead one! A VACATION in not more important than your health. What kind of example is that? It would forever ruin Disney as a happy place if I knew what my grandmother gave up to take me there. Please take care of yourself and spend some of the settlement on your HEALTH!

What good is a settlement if you cannot use it for basic necessities?

Maybe a visit to a financial planner would be helpful.

 

[dakcp2001]

Just my guess - but your grandkids would probably prefer a live grandmother than a dead one! A VACATION in not more important than your health. What kind of example is that? It would forever ruin Disney as a happy place if I knew what my grandmother gave up to take me there. Please take care of yourself and spend some of the settlement on your HEALTH!

What good is a settlement if you cannot use it for basic necessities?

Maybe a visit to a financial planner would be helpful.

 

[Lewisc]

Most (all?) states people can buy prescriptions at COSTCO without being a member.

Check with your doctor and see if there is a less expensive medicine which could try. Some cases he XR (timed release/extended release) version of a drug is much more expensive then taking a generic version of the drug a few times a day.

 

[dhuba]

I believe Singulair patent protection is up in August of this year, so hopefully some of you will get some relief soon after that. I also read that Enbrel's patent was to be up this year also, but could be extended another 17 years because of some loopholes in the law.