Archive through February 10, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: Archives: 2003 March: Need Help With Prescription Drug Costs: Archive through February 10, 2003

Jeep

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 12:24 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I need some help finding assistance for prescription drug costs for low income seniors.

My mom is 82 and suffers with Parkinson's disease and related hallucinations. She also has high blood pressure and arthritis. Even with all this she is still able to live alone at home with lots of help from me. And I want to help her stay there as long as she wants. However, she has lost all her insurance for prescription drugs. Her insurance company (from my late father's workplace) went belly-up and COBRA is done. Her medicines alone cost about $600 a month and that's 90% of her income. And as we all know, Medicare doesn't cover drug costs.

I know there are a lot of programs out there, but I just don't know where to look. We don't see the doctor for another 2 months and I hope he can suggest some then, but I thought someone would know some other places for me to look. Can anyone provide me with some info or links? The medicines she takes are Sinemet CR, Requip, Diovan HCT, Seroquil and either Celebrix or Vioxx will work.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Myjohnhenry

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 12:42 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Google listing for medication assistance websites

That is a place to start for you. I will list more specific sites as I look at some of them. :)

Myjohnhenry

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 12:51 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Needymeds.com...a source of info

NurseFriendly list of info and links


RxHope.Com

The Medicine Program...Advocates

Jeep

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 12:59 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Wonderful! I'll check them all out. Thanks!

Halfunit

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 12:59 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Is anything available through AARP?

Sidenote: Jeeps' story makes me so sad and angry at the same time. Nothing burns me up faster than hearing about our seniors who are unable to afford their medicines. My grandmother is in the same boat, and I have seriously considered looking into the Canadian/Internet options. So not fair...

Jeep

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 01:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Half, yes she does belong to AARP and her card does give her a small discount, but it still comes out to $600 a month with that! She is not eligible for better programs with AARP because of "existing conditions". Nobody wants you when you are already sick, but we never thought she would not have insurance.

And you are right. It's not fair. But be assured, she will never go without her medicine. I will pay for it myself if I have to no matter how costly it gets.

Myjohnhenry

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 01:07 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
RxAssist

Article

Myjohnhenry

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 01:11 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Through all of my readings previously and today RxHope, RxAssist and Needymeds come up time and time again as helpful websites. Nami.org has good info for meds for mental health issues as well.
Half...the Canadian option is one that does come up on some of the websites if I remember correctly.

Halfunit

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 01:15 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Jeep - I don't know if this will help or not, but my own doctor keeps oodles of sample Celebrex in his office and hands them out to any of his patients who can't afford to get a prescription filled.

Perhaps you could call the doctors office and see if they can help you out?

Jeep

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 01:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thank you both many, many times. I will check out everything. I am sure there is something there that will help her. I'm also going to hit the doc up for samples, too.

Twinkie

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 01:25 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
This just makes me mad. There is no reason whatsoever that anyone in this country should have to go without the medications they need. That is outrageous.

Jeep, my husband suggested that since your mother's meds are 90% of her income she should qualify for Social Services. What state are you in, btw?

Sadiesmom

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 01:26 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Does she belong to the parkinson's association.

I dragged someone to it and after one meeting they loved it. Up to the minute information and an acceptance of all the symptoms. It was comforting to them and they have holiday parties, etc.

They also have people to help with problems like these. Now this is going to sound really terrible but, when someone passed, the spouse or friend would bring in the left over medicne for the people who had trouble paying. Most of these people were on the same dosages of the same medications. Parkinson's is an expensive disease and there are plenty with troubl paying for it.

Halfunit

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 01:30 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Sadiesmom - I don't think that sounds terrible at all. I am a realist, and while it may be illegal to share prescription medication, it sounds very practical to me. I would surely look the other way.

Tntitanfan

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 02:24 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
The prices on this website look good to me -

www.APTECHA.com

Sawheel17

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 02:26 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Jeep, I'm in the same boat. My meds. now cost $682.00 a month.Most Dr's will give you sampels of newwer meds. Just ask.If she lives alone, Saint Vinceny De Paul's will fill out prescriptions for free also.I've been running to the mailbox the last two days, waiting for a pkg. of samples and forms for my docs to fill out and get on a program.Since the post office is closed Mon., It should be here Tues.I can send you the info, if you like.It might help.

Jeep

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 02:34 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I went to RxAssist first and was able to get an application for every one of her meds. Now I'll see if they come thru. The doc isn't going to want to see me this time! Thanks oodles Myjohnhenry!

Twinkie, we're in good ole West Virginia. I doubt there is much this state has to offer. I know of some older people who moved to Maryland (which is just 20 miles away) because their programs were much better. Pretty sad.

Sadiesmom - my mom gets a magazine from the Parkinson's Association, but that's it. I don't recall reading anything in there about assistance with drugs, but I haven't read it cover to cover.
There is no local group meetings. Our hospital has support groups for Alzhimers(sp) and diabetes and just about everything else except Parkinson's.

And just a side note - my original boss who is retired and also 82 years old and went to school with my mom has Parkinson's too. He was just recently diagnosed, but is pretty bad already. Mom's had it for almost 5 years now. Mom's brother died from Parkinson's when he was 86. I hope it's not in the water! Everyone of them has or had no coverage for meds. I just seem to be surrounded with this wicked disease.

Have to go now. It's almost 6pm here and have to get to mom's to help her with bedtime stuff. I will see you guys again on Monday.

Bless all of you for everything!

Sabbatia

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 03:21 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Jeep, does your state have a high risk pool insurance program? I know TX has an insurance program for people that have preexisting conditions. It might be worth looking into.

Squaredsc

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 03:43 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
jeep, my dh interned at a place called MedBank which is an organization that provides assistance to people unable to afford medicines. this is in maryland but they may have an office in your state. he says that he knows that some people from west virginia come to maryland to use their services. he said to check your phone book to see if there is a listing. if not, check out bigbook.com. another thing is that medbank if they can't help you they may be able to give you info on other programs that available in your state. also he said to look up some major pharmaceutical companies cause just about every major company participates in programs to help low-income or seniors or indigent people. hope this helps.

Juju2bigdog

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 03:46 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Our doc has lots of Celebrex samples too. That's an excellent idea, Halfunit.

Bastable

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 09:01 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh man don't get me started on prescription drugs. They'll have to move this to Hot Topics.

Ericka1012

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 11:06 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Bastable, I'm with you..I don't want to even get into prescription drugs...After my insurance pays 50% of my prescriptions we still have to pay $500.00 a month...and I'm in a state where my diabetes supplies (lancets and test strips) are required to be paid for 100% by the insurance companies or it would cost me another $100.00 a month. The costs are redicules and it make me so upset when I have to pick up my prescriptions every month...I don't know how people on fixed incomes pay for them...it sure punches a hole in our budget.

Mygetaway

Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 11:58 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
*I have not checked out any of the sites above, but can offer this info*

Prescriptions are a sore spot for me too. My Medicare suppliment does not include prescriptions. I can't get any coverage in my county at all. I tried that People's prescription plan for 7.99 a month. It wasn't that big of a savings. The best deal I found at the time (haven't checked for awhile) was to buy through drugstore.com. My prescriptions there are sometimes half of what they are if I went to rite-aid. Also, some of my drugs give me a discount for buying three months worth comapred to a month at a time. Shipping used to be free, but now they charge $1.49 for regular delivery. I also just got a thing from Walgreens that says they give a 10% cash discount to seniors. If you are a member of Sams/Costco I have heard that some of their prices are pretty good.

I just saw a thing on the news Thurs or Fri about the Canadian Internet thing, and a lot of those companies are being "blackmailed" into raising their prices to the US or they will have to pay big increases in their stocks.

Have you tried seeing if she qualifies for a SSI spendown? They tally out her income, and what she puts out each month, and if she qualifies she can get a medicaid coupon that should pay whatever medicare doesn't. My spendown is so high I can't meet it, but with her meds she might qualify pretty easily. You have to go to DSHS, but it's worth it if they can help. Good luck I hope you find something out. Please post any details if you find a good program. :)

Jeep

Monday, February 10, 2003 - 05:43 am EditMoveDeleteIP
This is all great information and I will let you know what I find. Hopefully, I will have some answers soon.

I agree with everyone that drug costs could easily be a hot topic. It's a crime what it does to our seniors, but it effects people of all ages. I keep telling my mom not to worry that President Bush is going to take care of this problem and we both have a good laugh. Humor helps to keep us both sane!

Sbw

Monday, February 10, 2003 - 06:39 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Some drug companies are offering assistance to seniors. For example the Requip is made by Glaxo SmithKline. If you go to their website, you will find what they call their Access to Care. The following was copied from that site.....
_____________________________
How the program works

Contact 1-800-546-0420 or 1-800-729-4544 for an application form. Patient and physician complete the form (incomplete forms will be returned). Both patient and physician must sign the form.

The physician must indicate the strength and dosage of the requested product on the prescription (a separate form and prescription must be sent for each individual).

All requests must be submitted on an original SB Foundation Access to CareSM form (photocopies of the application will not be accepted under any circumstances). Reapplications are required.

The product will be sent to the patient's home and will require a signature upon delivery.Third-party requests will not be honored.

The SmithKline Beecham Foundation reserves the rights to eliminate or modify the use of its Access to CareSM certificates and make such changes at any time without notice.

Eligibility

Eligibility for the program is based on the following criteria:

Patient has a medical condition for which the medication is needed.
Patient is a US resident.
Patient annual household income is under $25,000.
The patient does not have prescription drug benefits through any private or public insurer/payer/program; and,
in the opinion of the treating physician, the cost of this therapy may impose significant hardship to the patient or result in noncompliance with treatment.
Contact Information

1-800-546-0420 or 1-800-729-4544
Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 5:30 pm Central Time
___________________________________

Some other drug companies have that same service, some charge a nominal fee of like $15 to $20 a month I think. It sounds like a hassle to get started but it could save a lot of money.

Sbw

Monday, February 10, 2003 - 06:46 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Here is another website that would offer some savings.

http://www.together-rx.com/