The Medicine Shoppe

[Kutless]

The cost of medicine in this country for the un-insured is sky rocketing. I wonder if healthcare will ever be a serious enough issue for the powers that be to actually do something as opposed to some sugar coated campaign speech.

But until then.....FYI

If you have no prescription coverage insurance.

If you are on no State or Gov. programs with medicine coverage.

If your income meets certain guidelines. A monthly income would have to be under: Household size 1 - $2287.50 Household size 4 - $3266.67

At www.rxassist.org you would enter the BRAND name of your drug to get the information from the Pharma. Co.
Some companies work case by case. Meaning that if you are over the finacial guidelines by a small amt. they would still help. Pretty much across the board the Pharmacuetical Patient Assistance programs are going to require income documentation. Current tax return, current check stubs, bank statement showing direct deposit, or zero income letter from liscensed case worker or Dr.
You are enolled a year at a time. Some drugs are shipped to Dr's office while others are sent directly to your address. Insulin would be shipped in the form of a coupon to be redeemed at a pharmacy of your choice. When the drugs are shipped they are usually in a stock bottle with a three month supply as opposed to the sample placards given by some Dr's offices.
It does take about 6-8 wks to recieve the drugs. Something worth mentioning is that these companies are very particular about documentation. Make sure the script along with the application (download at rxassist) are filled out completely!!! If you or your Dr. recieve a denial in the mail or by phone and you come within the $$$$ you can know that there was a mistake made somewhere.
Take advantage people....I doubt seriously that Pharmaceuticals Companies are going broke.



Thanks for reading. I'm practicing for conference.

[Tina]

http://www.needymeds.com/ is another similar program

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Remember that Insurance premiums are determined to set aside reserve to pay future claims. No one had $5 million diseases claims 15 to 25 yrs ago. NO pharmacy repostitory for an Insurance company included $3000 monthly coverages with $50 co-pays either.

California has a similiar program in place as you describe. The $4 scripts at Wally World were much more effective in helping the poor in America with medication.

[Kutless]

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

Remember that Insurance premiums are determined to set aside reserve to pay future claims. No one had $5 million diseases claims 15 to 25 yrs ago. NO pharmacy repostitory for an Insurance company included $3000 monthly coverages with $50 co-pays either.

California has a similiar program in place as you describe. The $4 scripts at Wally World were much more effective in helping the poor in America with medication.

Boom the Walmart thing is good no doubt. But if you have an irregular dosage they will not honor it sometimes. Also there is a specific list, granted it is a good one.

The problem we ran into is that our Walmarts are on the outskirts of town. So while the price may be right a lot of ouor clients were unable to afford the gas/taxi and yes some cases even the bus token. It was much easier to send them to our little home town pharmacy whom discounts the price for us.

Another thing to note is that while Walgreens is on every corner and sometimes 2 per corner.....if you are uninsured their drug prices are OUTRAGEOUS!!!!! Do some price checking and see what you find. I have found in our community that at times the price triples!

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Originally Posted by Kutless

Boom the Walmart thing is good no doubt. But if you have an irregular dosage they will not honor it sometimes. Also there is a specific list, granted it is a good one.

The problem we ran into is that our Walmarts are on the outskirts of town. So while the price may be right a lot of ouor clients were unable to afford the gas/taxi and yes some cases even the bus token. It was much easier to send them to our little home town pharmacy whom discounts the price for us.

Another thing to note is that while Walgreens is on every corner and sometimes 2 per corner.....if you are uninsured their drug prices are OUTRAGEOUS!!!!! Do some price checking and see what you find. I have found in our community that at times the price triples!

My nearest WalMart with Pharmacy is 100+ miles and 2 1/2 hr drive. Walgreens? Loss leader sale items and rebates are all I ever buy there. I used to use the small town pharmacy but the ladies and gentleman at Rite-Aid are much more friendly. I did not mean the WM drug list was a solve all. I read somewhere that a large amount of the WM pharmacy business is now at the $4 rates. There is no easy solution at all.

My wife is on medicare. They have a "donut hole" in coverages. They pay the first $2500 and then no coverage until $5000. Finding a prescription plan to cover that "hole" in coverage means one carrier pulled out after a 68% increase in enrollment followed by huge losses last year.

[Kutless]

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

My nearest WalMart with Pharmacy is 100+ miles and 2 1/2 hr drive. Walgreens? Loss leader sale items and rebates are all I ever buy there. I used to use the small town pharmacy but the ladies and gentleman at Rite-Aid are much more friendly. I did not mean the WM drug list was a solve all. I read somewhere that a large amount of the WM pharmacy business is now at the $4 rates. There is no easy solution at all.

My wife is on medicare. They have a "donut hole" in coverages. They pay the first $2500 and then no coverage until $5000. Finding a prescription plan to cover that "hole" in coverage means one carrier pulled out after a 68% increase in enrollment followed by huge losses last year.

I agree the WM is not the end all solution but it has been a benefit to some.

The ole donut hole....what a mess medicare D is.

Hey Boom has your wife checked into these Pharma Programs? I know the Bridges to Access PAP has a new edition for medicare qualifiers.

Do you live in a van down by the river?

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

My nearest WalMart with Pharmacy is 100+ miles and 2 1/2 hr drive. Walgreens? Loss leader sale items and rebates are all I ever buy there. I used to use the small town pharmacy but the ladies and gentleman at Rite-Aid are much more friendly. I did not mean the WM drug list was a solve all. I read somewhere that a large amount of the WM pharmacy business is now at the $4 rates. There is no easy solution at all.

My wife is on medicare. They have a "donut hole" in coverages. They pay the first $2500 and then no coverage until $5000. Finding a prescription plan to cover that "hole" in coverage means one carrier pulled out after a 68% increase in enrollment followed by huge losses last year.

I really would like to see the dictionary insurers use to define "losses", huge or otherwise. They are one of a handful of federally protected thieves who dip their hands into our respective pockets for rate increases every time you turn around while the corporate profits continue to soar... their claim? WE are losing money!

Hogwash... they are all a bunch of actuarial crooks!