When You Can't Afford Medication

[PhylisFeinerJohnson]

This comes from a person posting on the EFA site:

"I have learned while trying to pay for medications when unemployed, like I am, that the best place to get your meds at a very affordable place is Costo.....I just got three months of Lamotragine for $30!"

[Rae1889]

actually, Costco is a great place to buy your Rx. I know my mum and dad go there because they can get my dad his year supply of arthritis meds for super cheap, rather than paying each refill.

[PhylisFeinerJohnson]

Believe it or not, you can save BIG bucks at the drugstore around the corner (some prescription, some generic and some of both, depending upon the pharmacy) if you just do a little homework…

Costco Member Prescription Program — offers a discount on all branded and generic prescription medications. Members (and their dependents) who have no prescription drug coverage available are eligible to join. http://www.envisionrx.com/costco/cmpp.aspx

The CVS/Pharmacy Health Savings Pass allows you to pay only $9.99 for a 90 day supply of your generic prescription. http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/promoConte...LandingId=1046

Target’s FREE Prescription Discount Card saves you up to 80% on Target’s generic medications and up to 15% on Target’s name brand prescriptions. http://www.rxfreecard.com/target-pre...n-savings.html

Walgreens Prescription Savings Club has over 400 generics priced at $12 for a 90-day supply. https://webapp.walgreens.com/MYWCARD...xy/RxSavingsRH

Walmart and Sam’s Club offer you ”special negotiated pricing on prescription drugs” with their PatientAssistance.com Prescription Drug Program. (Sounds kind of fishy to me.) http://www.patientassistance.com/wmt.html

And the RxSavingsPlus is a free drug/prescription discount card, to help lower the price for medication. It can be used at CVS Pharmacy, Target, Rite Aid and 60,000 participating pharmacies nationwide. And offers an average of 20% off the retail price of drugs. (Kind of skimpy, but one-stop shopping.) http://www.rxsavingsplus.com/

Go for it!

[Endless]

Here's a website that lists most of the the available assistance programs for free or discounted pharmaceuticals, all in one place:

http://www.rxassist.org/patients/default.cfm

You type in the drug and it searches the database. It'll tell you the income limits and other requirements for each of the programs for the drug you are looking for, and then provides the application details and a copy of the applicable application form.

[donding]

I am on 'Bridges to access'. I don't know if it covers all meds or just certain ones, but it covers my lamactal. I don't pay anything for it and I take 700MG a day. You have to be at a certain income level to qualify and since I can't work, it isn't that difficult to qualify for me. I couldn't afford the meds without it because I have no insurance now and those meds are not cheep at that dosage. If you want to check it out go to. You have to re-qualify every year and you have to go through your doctor for the the prescription.

[Bernard]

http://www.bridgestoaccess.com/

[irvkay312]

I really appreciate the thoughts put forth by many on this item. I hope to gain some additional items through which I can examine.

Obviously, my medicines for epilepsy, depression and migraine headaches has been set by my epileptologist. My cost so far has been over $1500.00 out of pocket and $11,000.00 overall to date. Fortunately, I bought gap coverage until the end of the year.

Then in 2011, I can't afford $333.50 a month (medical and prescription D) so I transferred to a provider that will cover generic medicines even in the donut hole.

My monthly income from pension and social security is near border, but with my savings puts me over the limit to qualify by $5,000.00.

Maybe sacrifice of one's health is part of the new thought on health care. I also have emphysema and islet cell cancer.

Irv

[Endless]

This link gives advice on saving money on drugs. Most of it is common sense. But what I appreciated is them talking about online prescription scams. I know I've looked at sites that have extremely inexpensive drugs, and I've been tempted to buy from them.

http://www.walletpop.com/2011/02/15/...1_lnk3%7C44596

http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/...linePharmacies

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...ams_learn.html

http://www.bestpharmguide.com/magazi...acy-fraud.html

[PhylisFeinerJohnson]

Try FREE Prescription Drugs at http://epilepsytalk.com/2010/10/08/f...ription-drugs/

[irvkay312]

Thank you for your response and concern on this matter. Shortly after posting my concern, research on anti seizure meds along with my personal history on disc of all medicines
enabled me to select Carbamazepine. Tegretol worked well in past years until it reached a toxic level.

Being retired, not working or driving at present--"it seems to be working fine.

Now, I have to confront myself with islet cell cancer of the pancreas (since 2009) and deal with it, so long as I can keep my seizures and anxiety under control.

[PhylisFeinerJohnson]

OMG! I'm so very sorry to hear that...

[elizzza811]

The NP treating me for Lyme told me about Prescription Hope. Supposedly it is a program that you can join if your income is below a certain level, and then any prescription will be covered and will cost $15. You can google it...I haven't checked it out yet.

[Bernard]

http://www.prescriptionhope.com/

[irvkay312]

Thank you for your insight.

I am a little old to try and consider any other form of change beside basic medicine.

Let alone, dealing with islet cell cancer of the pancreas, tuberous sclerosis on the brain and emphysema, depression and migraines to name a few of my problems being treated.

[MadameJ]

Good for guys for posting this information! Good people

[Blythe]

I love Frontline!!!