freakin out- meds without drug coverage

[Forevryoung]

So next October I turn 23 and get thrown off my parent's health insurance. It hasn't happened yet only because I am still a full time graduate student.

I get health insurance through the University so that is taken care of for next year.

The problem is my meds to keep me functioning are so darn expensive!Even my lithium, as my cheapest generic drug, would be $$$. I use Emsam which is a transdermal patch, retail it sells for $560 for 30 patches (a month supply)! Another one that I just started but use less frequently is Amerge, $198 (retail) for NINE tablets . (With my current drug plan I pay $60 total for the Emsam- $50 and Lithium- $10). The first box of Amerge was free (University insurance covers meds for a singular condition up to $200 and then a small percentage after that) but I can guess the next one will be $50 using parents insurance.

I am realizing that I have to look into drug assistance programs now. On paper I make a little less than $7,000 a year (stipend) so it shouldn't be too hard to prove need, right?

Granted my meds can possibly change between now and then, but can someone out there reassure me that I will be able to find the assistance that I need to stay on whatever medication I am on when the time comes. If I have to start messing with meds just to find something cheaper, I might as well pack it in and go home. I'm not going to be able to function like that. After 17 different meds in 6 years we finally found a combination that works for more than a month or two.

Thanks for reading till the end! Sorry it's so long

 

[LindsayDunn228]

You don't think you will have a full-time job with benefits by then?

 

[ducklite]

You've actually got a lot of options. One would be looking into various government assistance programs. Another would be looking into group health plans with script coverage through various associations. Carrying the insurance COBRA would be an expensive but possibly money saving option.

Also your doctor might be able to give you some free samples. My sons doctor handed him a three week supply of Riseperdol last night, because his new insurance is costing him about $100 a month for that one. (Got the Wellbutrin generic down to $12/co-pay a month now though! )

Anne

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

I hade an uncle that, while terminally ill, needed medications that with insurance we're still costing several hundred dollars a month. Just more than he and his wife could afford with two small children. Believe it or not, the pharmicist (sp?) contacted the Pharmacutical (sp?) company that manufactured the pricey drug. They agreed to sell him the drug for $27 a month. It was a Godsend! The pharmicist said that it is actually done all the time. You might try having your doctor contact them on your behalf. Especially, if it is a short term insurance issue and you will using their drug long term.

 

[dclfun]

Also you may want to contact Voc Rehab. If you are disabled not only will they assist with paying for your education but also if there is no other coverage, they will pay for meds to enable you to work. This might help until you actually have coverage by an employer. ---Kathy

 

[Forevryoung]

You don't think you will have a full-time job with benefits by then?

It will be my second and last year of grad school. As I said, I can get health insurance without drug benefits through the University.

Thanks guys, you definitely made me feel better. I will look into the options.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

This may be getting ahead, but you might want to look for employment with the Federal Government when you finally graduate. You can get health insurance from Day One and the insurors must accept pre-existing conditions. I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield through the Federal Employee Program and pay $125 per month as my share of the insurance. My recurring medications are via mail order and I will only pay $10 maximum for a three month supply of generic and $35 maximum for a three month supply of name brands.

 

[RNMOM]

Dependent on your future needs, Montel Williams web site has a program to help with rx's.

I have also had experience with "the Medicine Program" through family and they have been wonderful. It has been a few years so don't know the latest on that one.

There are a lot of places to ask for assistance and even if you need it temporarily until you have a solid job situation, don't hesitate to ask. Your doctor's office should be a good place for information also.

 

[belle&beast]

You have gotten a lot of great ideas. If I'm not mistaken, you are in a Master's program for speech pathology, right? This won't help you in the near future, but rest assured that when you are finished, your job will include great benefits! I have worked in schools, rehab/SNF and through a nonprofit organization and the benefits have been wonderful at each place. Good luck with everything!

 

[Forevryoung]

You have gotten a lot of great ideas. If I'm not mistaken, you are in a Master's program for speech pathology, right? This won't help you in the near future, but rest assured that when you are finished, your job will include great benefits! I have worked in schools, rehab/SNF and through a nonprofit organization and the benefits have been wonderful at each place. Good luck with everything!

You are right, I am getting my masters in speech language pathology (with a specialty in AAC too!). Thanks for the luck, I seem to have tons of it.

To go with Cheshire Figment's statements, I have to work in a public school system for 4 years after graduation as part of my grant requirement, so as soon as my University health insurance ends, I will be starting a job with immediate benefits.

Again, thank you guys so much for reassuring me that there will be a relatively easy solution. It puts my already troubled mind at ease

 

[SueM in MN]

You got a lot of good information and actually all the things I was going to suggest were already suggested.

Believe it or not, the pharmicist (sp?) contacted the Pharmacutical (sp?) company that manufactured the pricey drug. They agreed to sell him the drug for $27 a month. It was a Godsend! The pharmicist said that it is actually done all the time. You might try having your doctor contact them on your behalf. Especially, if it is a short term insurance issue and you will using their drug long term.

I know firsthand about that.
I have gotten visits from drug company reps to tell me about these programs and my youngest DD was a beneficiary of one of these programs for about 2 years when she was on Lamictal (which she is still on and it's still very expensive) and we did not have drug coverage with our insurance.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Also you may want to contact Voc Rehab. If you are disabled not only will they assist with paying for your education but also if there is no other coverage, they will pay for meds to enable you to work. This might help until you actually have coverage by an employer. ---Kathy

Yeah, good luck with that. Our local voc rehab is a joke.

 

[dclfun]

I have been very fortunate to have a good VR counselor who has provided me with information on every benefit possible through VR and this was one of them. I always receive a form from the gov't asking about my experience with VR after I have received a service- Lindsay, have you been able to give this feedback? Can you request another counselor? To the OP, congrats on finishing your schooling to be employed in a career that will benefit so many. ---Kathy

 

[Forevryoung]

To the OP, congrats on finishing your schooling to be employed in a career that will benefit so many. ---Kathy

Thanks Kathy, It's going to be a dream come true to graduate.

My boyfriend suggested that after I work in the field for a bit I go back and get my PhD so that I could teach. I told him that he was the one who was nuts!

No more school for me, I need to be a real person! (real people have real jobs that they go to nearly every day and make real money that pays real bills. Real jobs do not have you writing assignments on topics that your boss already knows about )

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I always receive a form from the gov't asking about my experience with VR after I have received a service- Lindsay, have you been able to give this feedback? Can you request another counselor?

No I didn't, but I wish I had. I certainly would have loved to give them my opinion. I had a few counselors and they were all awful.

It doesn't matter now though, I do not need them. I personally would not refer anyone to our local VR.

 

[dclfun]

Lindsay- that's such a shame for your local VR to not have helped. You may have read the recent posts by "Shovan"- her husband was also helped greatly with the purchase of an accessible van and personal lift/standing equipment, plus provision of an accessible bathroom in their future. I was told that VR needs to use their funds in order to have them renewed and found our local VR to be able to provide virtually anything needed to help someone become or remain employed. They mentioned the meds to me although once employed full time I had coverage through my employer- but for someone who didn't have that or was only working part time or not eligible somehow, VR would have paid. ---Kathy