The Price of Prescription Medication!!!
 

I am just so frustrated guys!!! I apologize up front for ranting and raving! But I just need to vent!

I just picked up my Migraine Preventative Therapy Medication today and I left the pharmacy sick to my stomach! This is my second month without medical coverage... I lost it when I moved down to Southern California... There was no store for me to transfer to so I had to leave the Company and my benefits behind. I just paid $414.50 for two Prescriptions. And one of them is generic... But the Most expensive one is not available as a generic....

Thats $5334.61 a year after tax!!!!!

Which would not be so bad if I was still employed!! 6 months ago this would not have been an issue for me.... but it is now!! My husband has been off work for almost two months and the move took a big bite out of us... he starts back next week... but I am at home now... and we are living on one salary.... I was totally prepared to scale down my life and my spending to do so... but I was not ready for an expense like this. I am just floored!! I almost did not pick my meds up... And I am seriously thinking about tapering off and not continuing them next month... The reactive medication is about half the price of the preventative... only downside is I would be reacting to some serious pain... and not always in time to stop it...

You would think that they would give a cash discount or something??? How do they expect people to pay for this stuff???

I just don't get it?? Not that I think it should be free.... I don't... I just can't believe that I can get 100 Vicoden (a narcotic!) for $80.00 and I cant get my Preventative Meds for under $400! Every 30 days!!! thats like buying a yorkie every 60 to 90 days!!! sheesh!

I hear ya! Health insurance is WAY too expensive and never covers when you really need it. I do have health insurance but work for a small company. Which means the price for my insurance is almost unbearable, and the coverage stinks. I also need migraine prescriptions and I pay an arm and a leg for it.... :thumbdown

It is breaking a lot of people in this country!
 

We are in the same boat. My husband is Type 2 Diabetic, high cholesterol and all the other crap that goes with all of that. And we have no insurance. We are self employed and had insurance a couple of years ago til it went up over $600 a month. So now we figure it is cheaper to just pay as we need it than pay such high premiums. Dr.'s and drug companies give insurance companies breaks on what they compensate for...you think they would pass that break onto the un-insured...but they don't. I am sorry you are going thru this. Have you tried any other means of preventing your migraines? Maybe chiropractic or holistic or herbal remedies? I don't know that much about them except I used to have them when I took birth control pills and when I got off of them, the migraines stopped. I know how you are suffering. Hope it all works out for you. As an afterthought, if you are not already taking a magnesium supplement daily, you might want to think about taking one...I was getting headaches all the time, woke up with them in the morning. Started magnesium, 500 mg twice a day and no more headaches. It is good for the heart and gastro-intestinal system as well...ask you Dr. and see if it might help.

Yeah... its been a prob since middle school....

I've done lots over the years.... but so far this has been the best thing!!! and the most expencice!! Go figure?? :rolleyes:

Have you asked your doctor for samples they get a lot of samples. My Mom always ask s for samples and they load her up. Some of the drug companies (mfg) if youcontact them have special deals for people with out insurance. That is really ridiculous to have to pay that much.

I don't mean to butt in - but from my experience - I would pay that $600 per month for health insurance if my husband had type II diabetes.

Mine does have type II diabetes and he had to have open heart surgery = over $50,000 and developed heart failure = hospitalized 4 times in the past 2 years = $$$$$ a special pacemaker for persons with heart failure = $110,000 All the problems are directly related to or caused by type II diabetes. It's worth rethinking that insurance for $600 per month. Thank goodness we had/have health insurance. His monthly medications would be about $900 per month without insurance.

He had not been diagnosed with the Type II Diabetes when we dropped the insurance. If we had know he had it we would have never dropped it. We had no idea he had it at that time. But you are right, the Diabetes is the tip of the iceberg in relation to the other problems it can cause. Now, he is practically un-insurable. He has his Diabetes under control with meds now so we are keeping our fingers crossed that it will stay that way.

I'm so sorry, it must be hard. Those medical expenses are outrageous.


That is on reason I am thankful to be Canadian.

Have any of you talked to your pharmacuist about the cost? Sometimes the drug companies will give you a break on the price, but you have to ask. Your pharmacist might have some suggestions for you.

Also ask you Dr for samples. Ask them every week. Bug the heck out of them.

My husband takes 8 different medications, his insurance has a cap, so after the company has paid out a set amount, then it's all out of pocket for us. I have learned to get as much of it in sample as I can so we don't hit the cap so early in the year. Last year we made it all the way through the year. Prior to doing this, we would hit the cap in June.

What's different in Canada about medical expenses?


I'm sorry to hear your meds are super expensive, Kathryn! That sucks!! I'm very thankful that my husband is in the military & we have their insurance, so we don't pay for medication at all.

Correct me if Im wrong, but I believe they have national healthcare..but higher taxes (15% I think) to cover for it :)

So, do Canadians ever have to pay anything medical wise?

Its hard to explain really. Hmmmm... I'll try. :)
Ok, we do pay higher income tax in Canada than many other countries, but it is based on your income. Pay more if you make more, pay less if you make less.

We have a healthcare system that covers almost anything. So we do not pay for doctor vists, going to emergency, having a baby, heart transplants...... all covered for everyone in Canada. No one can be turned away for not having any money, coverage...

In some provinces such as Alberta you pay a fee for healthcare if you make a certain amount of money each year. I think at most its about $1200 a year for the whole family. In most provinces you do not have to pay this.

We do have other coverage and insurance if we choose which helps with prescriptions, having a private room in the hospital if you choose.... Things like that.

I see! Thanks for the explanation!!

I know that must be so frustrating that your medication is so high. I also lost my insurance when my company closed down - and my husband is on alot of medication for his disease ..some is very expensive too.

We buy his medication via this website now - I found it researching the COPD sites and this is where lots of people with no insurance order from
http://www.alldaychemist.com/index.html

If you want more info you can pm me - The medications only take about 1-2 weeks to clear customs. It's based out of India and they answer every email personally within 24 hours.

ps. I do the sample thing too - we went almost a year before we had to place actual orders for one medication - the doctors will hold them for you and give it free - only drawback is it's not full one month supplies.

I completely understand - that's a real bummer. The only way for him to get insurance now, is for you to go to work someplace that offers health insurance for the whole family. At most insurances, if you sign up the family at the first time they are eligible, they have to be accepted and there will be no exclusions. Some policies do have a waiting period for family members, eg., 6 months or so - but in your case that would be OK.

I'm really sorry you have to go through the stress of all this - it sure is awful. It makes National Health Insurance look mighty GOOD!!! Even with the higher taxes - I'd GLADLY pay higher taxes so that everyone could have health insurance.

Good luck with everything.

Thanks Villette!
 

I am going to check into this! I looked up Levoquin..a drug the ENT Dr. put me on...it was $130 for 5 pills at the Pharmacy and a little over $2 for 10 on the site you listed! That is just robbery!!! Thank goodness the Dr. had samples or I would have done without a very strong antibiotic for a serious sinus infection. It is insane what these companies are charging for drugs that cost nowhere near that much money to produce!

That's GREAT !! :) :) :) Kathryn said they carry her medication too.

I REALLY checked out & researched before I ordered from any online pharmacy since I have no insurance anymore - I was really nervous ordering from an overseas pharmacy.

I learned about it on a COPD site when I joined to learn more about my husbands diagnosis... and that's where many of them order from.

this site so far has the best track record & the medications are exactly what we can order here.... only WAY WAY cheaper. I'm even placing an order for my mom now - I'll just add hers to my next order ....She just paid $250 for something and I can get it for $38.00 ...same meds.

So far - I've had no problems and we've received our shipments from 1-2 weeks from date of order. They DO have to go thru customs... but you can track your order. The customer service is excellent and pesonal - you can write them and ask them any questions - and they WILL get back to you.

I hope this helps people - Medication in the U.S. is totally out of control - maybe if all those Big Companies didn't have to run a tv commercial every 4 minutes we wouldn't be paying these outrageous prices here.

That's great info Villette. Thanks for sharing that.

Villette... You are amazing! I am so placing an order! I can't even believe that that sight is for real! I showed my husband and he was like... "Whats the catch??"

I swear if I get a package of medication and works like the stuff I am taking now... I don't know what I'll do! Heck I might just have to kiss you!

I did the math and even with the shipping I would be saving almost $300.00 a month! And even more if I ordered more than a month at a time! Which I so will if the first batch turns out! I just can't wrap my mind around this!!! Are your serious??? For real??? Villette.... This is like an answer to my prayers!!! Your like an angel!!! My Angel! Thank you so much... You have no idea how excited I am right at this very moment! I am sitting here typing through tears! lol But happy ones! Thank you!

I will let everyone know how this turns out!!! This is huge!! Way huge! Wow!

You just don't know how often I think of going back to work somewhere so we can get insurance! That and retirement benefits would be great! But we are self employed and hubby wants me to stay in it with him for now. He said that if I go out and get a job he will just fish!!! I could have slapped him into next week!!! Or bake him a cheesecake and put him in a diabetic coma!!! :D I would also gladly pay higher taxes so everybody could have healthcare...our country is really warped on how they see things. We hear "tax refor" and "healthcare reform" all the time, but see no real improvements on either.

Kathryn...that is wonderful!!!!
 

I so hope this works out for you! We will be looking into it for Dewaine's meds as well. He is able to take generic now but if we can save some money, we are all for it! We are keeping our fingers crossed for you!!!

meds
 

A friend lost her insurance when she moved to Florida...she takes 6 meds per day...her doctor told her to call the pharmaceutical companies for help...well, she is getting $500 worth of meds free from the them each month...they send it to the dcotors office and they dispense it...quite common now to do this..
If at all possible I would try to get insurance...my husband needed a stint in a heart artery and one operation cost $47,000..best of luck

Yes, alot of them do this... But you have to qualify based on last years earnings... I earned 74,000 last year. I don't have a dime of it! But thats what my W4 says.... lol I spent most of it on Jewelry! I worked to shop! Retail is such a trap! lol well, that and plane tickets flying my kids back and forth to visit with the ex husband every few weeks!

I would have to wait until next year to qualify. I have the application sitting on my desk! ugh! My pharmacist recommended I try that... It was a great suggestion too! I just wish that they would find another way to look at your income. but I guess thats the only real legal doc that tracks your income... so it makes sense to use it....

Oh girl ...I'm sitting here smiling - :) :) :) :) :) It's for real and I was totally blown away too. I was waiting for the catch right up to me emailing them to say "ARE YOU SURE THIS IS MY TOTAL INVOICE" ??? lol.

The forum I found it on is mostly terminally ill people - so I spent alot of time finding out how they pay for their costly drugs. This was overall THE SITE that got the best reviews.....I'm so glad this was a help to you..

I'm so glad this helped you. What a good feeling :) and I'll take a CYBER HUG lol - and one back at ya.....No one should have to go broke trying to buy medication to live on. GOOD LUCK !

The inhalers my husband gets HAVE to work - he's had no problems with any of them - they're fully dosed and work just like if we bought it here. We get 3 different drugs from that pharmacy now and so far so good.

I'm just tickled you're so happy - you made my night reading your post :)

I am raising a family of 3 on a little inder 10,000 a year. We get our meds from the prescription assistance program that Montel has been promoting. Has truly been God send to us and urge anyone with a sincere need to check them out. Between my two children and I we have 13 scripts to be filled per month. pparx.org

The cost of healthcare is outrageous! I found Ameriplan and was so pleased with the savings that I became a broker and now sell the plans. Ameriplan is a consumer driven health benefits company that puts healthcare back into the hands of the patient and provider. We offer a discount dental plan that includes prescription, vision, and chiropractic for as low as $19.95 per month for a complete household. If you want more information you can go to my website http://trymybiz.com/kimcovert I'll be happy to answer any questions you have. It's an awesome plan. We have medical available nationally now also for $59.95 per month for a complete household.

Our May special for our Dental Plan is $1.00 per month for the first three months plus the one time registration fee of $20.00, so for your first three months you would only be paying $23.00.

This company is awesome! My kids are going to need braces soon and without insurance and without Ameriplan it would have been $5,000.00 but with Ameriplan I will only be paying $2100.00. My brother-in-law is a chiropractor and he is one of Ameriplan's providers.

I hope this helps! :)

luvmylife1010 ...How good is this for someone who has a serious illness that requires multiple hospital stays and expensive medications ? Is this like regular insurance or does it only cover certain things ?

That really sucks Kathryn. I hate prescrip drug companies. My mom has breast cancer and her one medicine is every other day. Its experimental so its not really covered by her insurance yet even though her doc thinks its the only thing that will help her. It costs her over 800 dollars for a 45 day supply. :(

Sweetie - check to see if the site I posted carries it - and I can give you an email addy if you don\'t see it...How awful for your mom. That is SO NOT FAIR the insurance company doesn\'t cover her prescription - Our country needs a total overhaul for health care. It\'s awful. That\'s to save her LIFE and they are saying NO ? Shame on them~! :(