Sticker Shock On Some Prescriptions For Retirees. Advice?

[olroadbeech]

some medications don't have generic equals like asthma inhalers like Symbicort and Advair , etc. and our plan only pays 70% on name brands.

that's about $90 out of pocket just for one script. the generics on other scripts are only $5 a month.

are there any other retirees here who has found a cheaper alternative? we are thinking of changing our pharmacy to Costco from Rite-Aid.

i think we dont qualify for financial assistance from the drug manufacturer.

any experience would be helpful.

 

[oldngray]

some medications don't have generic equals like asthma inhalers like Symbicort and Advair , etc. and our plan only pays 70% on name brands.

that's about $90 out of pocket just for one script. the generics on other scripts are only $5 a month.

are there any other retirees here who has found a cheaper alternative? we are thinking of changing our pharmacy to Costco from Rite-Aid.

i think we dont qualify for financial assistance from the drug manufacturer.

any experience would be helpful.

I don't take any expensive drugs but the manufacturers do deeply discount for many people with bad or no insurance. My sister needs MS medicine that would cost $6000 per month. She wasn't able to keep working enough to keep her insurance. The drug company gave her a discount down to $100 per month.

Which just goes to show you what a racket it is. If insurance pays then the drug companies charge as much as they want.

 

[olroadbeech]

we dont qualify for discounts because our health insurance is private.

now, if we had NO insurance or government insurance we would get a manufactures discount.

 

[ski or die]

You will not be able to obtain financial assistance because of your income, my own experience. One medicine that I take, my cost after insurance was $208 per month at Sam's Club, which is one of the less expensive Pharmacies. Having Part D insurance, it would eat up $2500 of the $2960 before it would send me into the donut hole where I would be responsible for 100% until I reach $4850. Then the insurance kicks back in. That $2500 only left $460 annually for other medicines. I contacted the Pharmaceutical Company, told "make to much". I explained they were pricing themselves out of the market. They could care less. Went to my Doctor, got a generic that is working just as well - only cost $4.00 per month. I would talk to the Doctor to try some other medicines. On fixed income, have to look for your Senior Discounts.

 

[olroadbeech]

thanks. our plan automatically uses generics but there are none for asthma inhalers.

we are planning on switching to Costco since it will be cheaper by $65 before insurance.

we qualify by income with the drug maker but dont because of insurance is thru the Teamsters/UPS.

everything else we get , blood pressure, heart, stuff like that only costs $5 each or less.

Costco also has home delivery but dont know yet if that costs. our costco is 50 miles away but we go once a month.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

You may think I am joking but I am dead serious------get your meds in Canada.

 

[moreluck]

I get 3/4 of my meds. from Canadian pharmacies over the internet. Some are much,much cheaper for identical stuff.
Invokana is cheaper here.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

I get 3/4 of my meds. from Canadian pharmacies over the internet. Some are much,much cheaper for identical stuff.
Invokana is cheaper here.

Is it a hassle using your insurance for those meds?

 

[moreluck]

no