Prescription Drug Vent

[JoiseyMom]

The prices of meds are ridiculous. DH had a script to fill and we didn't cause the cost was almost 900.00, then it went to generic and the cost went down to about 800. Seriously??

Yes we do have insurance but we have a lovely 3k deductible, that applies to pharmacy too (that was a new one for us this year).

Well we met our dedcutible on Monday (do I say yay for spending 3k oop in just about 6 months??).

Well Went to find out how much the meds are now and the prescription cost 1005.02 cost to aetna member 791.22 aetna pays 776.22 co pay 15.00. Geez.....this was the generic... Unbelievable...

 

[Ginny Favers]

Seriously! I have headaches constantly. My doctor told me I could not keep popping Excedrin because it was bad for me. So the medication he put me on was $30 a pill. With insurance, it was $20 a pill. And it didn't work as well as the Excedrin! So, I'm taking the Excedrin, since I'd rather die of liver disease than the heart attack paying that much for medication was going to give me.

 

[bettymae1121]

Oh if it weren't for my excellent insurance coverage we'd either be bankrupt or DH would be dead. The combo of drugs he needs to take would retail at $1k a month! We only pay $5 per prescription and have no deductable. But I see the "your insurance saved you $X" on the receipt and my eyes just about pop out of my head!

 

[RitaE]

The prices of meds are ridiculous. DH had a script to fill and we didn't cause the cost was almost 900.00, then it went to generic and the cost went down to about 800. Seriously??

Yes we do have insurance but we have a lovely 3k deductible, that applies to pharmacy too (that was a new one for us this year).

Well we met our dedcutible on Monday (do I say yay for spending 3k oop in just about 6 months??).

Well Went to find out how much the meds are now and the prescription cost 1005.02 cost to aetna member 791.22 aetna pays 776.22 co pay 15.00. Geez.....this was the generic... Unbelievable...

That sucks. Have you asked the Doctor if there is a cheaper alternative for next year's pre-deductible period.

 

[Jedana]

DH's meds (the ones we pay for) cost us $70 a month.

The ones that are bundled in with his Medicare plan...cost a bit more.

His Epogen is about $3000 a week. For one dose.

 

[Jedana]

DH meets his deductables (both of them) in the month of January. He has 3 sets of insurance: our basic (no frills) plan, Medicare and Medicare Part B.

For 6 months of treatments, NOT including lab work--just for the cost of the dialysis machine and supplies..

$425,000

(we lost insurance for 6 months, and they were nice enough to just ignore the bill for that time frame--long sad story)



The lab work runs about $300-500 a month. The doctor visits run $1000-1500 every 6 months, depending on what doctors he has to visit that month. Also there may be several more charges, like CAT scans, etc, once every 6 months, so another $1000ish.

Adrenal Cancer and Kidney Failure is a b***h.

 

[a1tinkfans]

DH meets his deductables (both of them) in the month of January. He has 3 sets of insurance: our basic (no frills) plan, Medicare and Medicare Part B.

For 6 months of treatments, NOT including lab work--just for the cost of the dialysis machine and supplies..

$425,000

(we lost insurance for 6 months, and they were nice enough to just ignore the bill for that time frame--long sad story)



The lab work runs about $300-500 a month. The doctor visits run $1000-1500 every 6 months, depending on what doctors he has to visit that month. Also there may be several more charges, like CAT scans, etc, once every 6 months, so another $1000ish.

Adrenal Cancer and Kidney Failure is a b***h.

Im so sorry your loved one is going thru all this....amazing what the cost of treatment is for so many ailment and issues...I am glad that you are able to get thru it all with the coverage you do have...

OP: I hear your angst when you speak of Rx's.....it is amazing what drugs cost but there are sometimes alternatives that can be explored by a diligent doctor and supportive pharmacy ...please ask for other alternatives, not just generic, but also reduced cost thru the pharmaceutical companies as well as half pill reductions, etc... they are out there, but many never inquire and they will not just offer it up to you.
The deductible paid is usually related to the type of coverage that one takes so choosing the best plan for your families situation is vital....sometimes it is worth up'ing on the coverage to reduce your out of pocket in the long run... it can feel and be a part time job but more and more medical option plans are out there as well.

Best of Health to everyone!

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

My DD was on meds for 3 years. It was $500 a month. For months the Pharmacist touted that the generic was coming out & we'd save a bunch. The generic came out & it was $475! Seriously? DD went off the meds 2 month later...

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Best to talk to the doctor when the meds cost that much to see if there is another med you can take. I was prescribe MaxAlt for migraines and the cost was $300. I told my dr and she put me on imitrex which is $80. Thankfully I only need to fill in once a year

 

[dzorn]

We always have them bill insurance. To meet our deductable we only pay what the insurance company would pay.

But I know what you mean about the $3000 deductable we just reached ours also.

Denise in MI

 

[torinsmom]

Seriously! I have headaches constantly. My doctor told me I could not keep popping Excedrin because it was bad for me. So the medication he put me on was $30 a pill. With insurance, it was $20 a pill. And it didn't work as well as the Excedrin! So, I'm taking the Excedrin, since I'd rather die of liver disease than the heart attack paying that much for medication was going to give me.

I hear you there! I take a LOT of ibuprofen. It is the only thing that helps my headaches, except one medication they don't want me taking regularly. I just have them check my liver and kidney enzymes 2x a year and so far so good. I love when they tell me I should get off the ibuprofen, but give me no real alternative

 

[BigKid45]

My DD was on meds for 3 years. It was $500 a month. For months the Pharmacist touted that the generic was coming out & we'd save a bunch. The generic came out & it was $475! Seriously? DD went off the meds 2 month later...

When the first generic version comes out that company has a 6 month exclusivity to sell the generic since they are the company that spent money to challenge the patent of the brand name drug. The price of the generic is usually about 90% of the brand drug price....after the 6 months is over then other companies can sell their version of the generic and the price plunges faster than Summit Plummet!

 

[DisMN]

I hear you OP. We no longer use the mail order pharmacy (Medcrapco) because besides costing more than at our local pharmacy they also keep screwing up what they sent us.
Using generics when we can we are able to get by with Target/Walmart $4/10 Rx program for almost everything we take.

 

[disney1990]

I hear you OP. We no longer use the mail order pharmacy (Medcrapco) because besides costing more than at our local pharmacy they also keep screwing up what they sent us.
Using generics when we can we are able to get by with Target/Walmart $4/10 Rx program for almost everything we take.

I know several people that have taken the Target/Walmart $4 drug list to their doctors and said, I need to prescribe from this list -- it's all I can afford.

Newer drugs are always way too expensive.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Sometimes the drug companies will issue a discount card too. One of my prescriptions supposedly came out in generic. Even though it wasn't exactly the same drug and wasn't nearly quite as effective for me, my insurance still wouldn't pay for the brand name since they said the generic is just as good.

The medicine was $900 a tube. My doc gave me a card that I only have to pay $40

 

[JoiseyMom]

That sucks. Have you asked the Doctor if there is a cheaper alternative for next year's pre-deductible period.

Yes...we did, we were hoping once the generic came out...but it was just 100.00 cheaper. The same company makes both...explain that to me .

If the meds work, I have some ideas about next years issues..

 

[JoiseyMom]

Im so sorry your loved one is going thru all this....amazing what the cost of treatment is for so many ailment and issues...I am glad that you are able to get thru it all with the coverage you do have...

OP: I hear your angst when you speak of Rx's.....it is amazing what drugs cost but there are sometimes alternatives that can be explored by a diligent doctor and supportive pharmacy ...please ask for other alternatives, not just generic, but also reduced cost thru the pharmaceutical companies as well as half pill reductions, etc... they are out there, but many never inquire and they will not just offer it up to you.
The deductible paid is usually related to the type of coverage that one takes so choosing the best plan for your families situation is vital....sometimes it is worth up'ing on the coverage to reduce your out of pocket in the long run... it can feel and be a part time job but more and more medical option plans are out there as well.

Best of Health to everyone!

I contacted the drug compnay...nope...nothing they could do. I have discount cards for DS's ADHD meds, which cost almost 200.00 month each. At least for the rest of the year we are set. I would love to stock up on his ADHD meds, but they are a controlled substance.

 

[bearzabout]

We spend about $800/year just on supplements. Luckily, they have kept us healthy enough that we don't have to be on any prescriptions meds. Good thing because my deductible is $5000.

I just can't believe how much over the counter supplements can cost, but for us, it is so worth it. My hubby is nearly 60 and I'm nearly 50.

We have had the most amazing results from taking tart cherry powder pills. They seem to work so well for us that we are completely pain free if we take them daily. I have arthritis, but it completely goes away if I stay on the pills. They seem to work wonders at decreasing imflammation.

We also take fish oil and garlic among many others. My husband just had an ultrasound done on all his arteries and they found no plaque buildup at all - anywhere in his body (they couldn't believe it so they really looked). It is just amazing what a few suppliments can do.

 

[CowboyCO]

Seriously! I have headaches constantly. My doctor told me I could not keep popping Excedrin because it was bad for me. So the medication he put me on was $30 a pill. With insurance, it was $20 a pill. And it didn't work as well as the Excedrin! So, I'm taking the Excedrin, since I'd rather die of liver disease than the heart attack paying that much for medication was going to give me.

Really? As long as you don't exceed recommended dosages, Excedrin is just Tylenol aspirin and caffeine. Tylenol only torches your liver if you overdose yourself consistently.

 

[marthachick]

Really? As long as you don't exceed recommended dosages, Excedrin is just Tylenol aspirin and caffeine. Tylenol only torches your liver if you overdose yourself consistently.

My mother has a disease called hemochromatosis which causes the body to produce too much iron. So she has to watch her meds to be sure they don't trash her liver. She worries if she takes 1 tylenol a month. She watched her mother die from cirrhosis of the liver and she never drank any alcohol in her life. So, if you have another liver problem, you do have to worry about what would be normal dosage for most people.