Cost of prescriptions
Dec 29th 2008, 10:21 am
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 83
Cost of prescriptions
Continuing to do the sums!
Like many folk, I'm on regular medication and wonder whether its possible to buy the sort of quarterly/annual 'pre-payment' card I can in the UK. (You buy it for £27.85 for a three month period and get all precriptions 'free' during the card's validity.)
If its not possible to do that, how does it work (in SA if there are regional differences) when you're getting, say, 4-5 different meds which have to be taken daily?
Alistair (Nowhere near as ill as that makes him sound!!!
)
Like many folk, I'm on regular medication and wonder whether its possible to buy the sort of quarterly/annual 'pre-payment' card I can in the UK. (You buy it for £27.85 for a three month period and get all precriptions 'free' during the card's validity.)
If its not possible to do that, how does it work (in SA if there are regional differences) when you're getting, say, 4-5 different meds which have to be taken daily?
Alistair (Nowhere near as ill as that makes him sound!!!
)
Dec 29th 2008, 10:52 am
#2
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Posts: n/a
Re: Cost of prescriptions
A standard prescription cost from 1st Jan 2008 is $31.30 for general patients.
This should be the Maximum figure you pay for a standard Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription. Sometimes the figure will be lower; in April 2008 I paid $31.30 for one and $27.80 for another.
There are two safety net thresholds - one for general patients and the other for Concession Card patients.
The general patient safety net threshold for 2008 is $1,141.80
When patients and/or their families have spent that amount, they can apply for a Safety Net Concession Card and pay only $5.00 per prescription for the rest of that calendar year.
http://www.britzinoz.com/page.php?83
This should be the Maximum figure you pay for a standard Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription. Sometimes the figure will be lower; in April 2008 I paid $31.30 for one and $27.80 for another.
There are two safety net thresholds - one for general patients and the other for Concession Card patients.
The general patient safety net threshold for 2008 is $1,141.80
When patients and/or their families have spent that amount, they can apply for a Safety Net Concession Card and pay only $5.00 per prescription for the rest of that calendar year.
http://www.britzinoz.com/page.php?83
Dec 29th 2008, 11:42 am
#3
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Location: Wollongong
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Re: Cost of prescriptions
also alot of meds arent necessarily on prescription here... things I can think of are my antihistamines which admittedly cost me $30/month but no need to see the dr and argue with them which antihistamines they will or will not prescribe when I know which ones work for me (which used to happen in the uk) ... and my ventolin is available over the counter at around $6...
Dec 30th 2008, 7:46 am
#4
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Re: Cost of prescriptions
Thanks both. Most helpful!
Alistair
Alistair
Dec 30th 2008, 8:52 am
#5
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Posts: 1,761
Re: Cost of prescriptions
Some prescriptions are more expensive than the standard fee I pay $35 for one of mine.
If you are on specific medication you should also check with your doctor and on the pharmaceutical web site to see if they are on the pharmaceutical benefits list here in Australia. If they are not then you would have to pay full price.
My friend is on byetta for her diabetes but she has to pay full price for it at one hundred and fifty dollars a month.
There are other drugs where you need a special prescription because they are not on the pharmaceutical list but available to certain patients who require them. My daughter takes Keppra which is one of these drugs and its cost is one hundred and five dollars a month but because she is a special case she gets it for the normal fee.
If you are on specific medication you should also check with your doctor and on the pharmaceutical web site to see if they are on the pharmaceutical benefits list here in Australia. If they are not then you would have to pay full price.
My friend is on byetta for her diabetes but she has to pay full price for it at one hundred and fifty dollars a month.
There are other drugs where you need a special prescription because they are not on the pharmaceutical list but available to certain patients who require them. My daughter takes Keppra which is one of these drugs and its cost is one hundred and five dollars a month but because she is a special case she gets it for the normal fee.
Dec 30th 2008, 9:00 pm
#6
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 160
Re: Cost of prescriptions
Continuing to do the sums!
Like many folk, I'm on regular medication and wonder whether its possible to buy the sort of quarterly/annual 'pre-payment' card I can in the UK. (You buy it for £27.85 for a three month period and get all precriptions 'free' during the card's validity.)
If its not possible to do that, how does it work (in SA if there are regional differences) when you're getting, say, 4-5 different meds which have to be taken daily?
Alistair (Nowhere near as ill as that makes him sound!!! )
Like many folk, I'm on regular medication and wonder whether its possible to buy the sort of quarterly/annual 'pre-payment' card I can in the UK. (You buy it for £27.85 for a three month period and get all precriptions 'free' during the card's validity.)
If its not possible to do that, how does it work (in SA if there are regional differences) when you're getting, say, 4-5 different meds which have to be taken daily?
Alistair (Nowhere near as ill as that makes him sound!!!
)I and my friends have found that nearly all our meds are cheaper from there.
The PBS has guidelines for the price of meds and it can either be a fixed price or the Pharmacies are given a max they can go up to for meds and most charge the max they can.Not all places charge the same unless the price is a fixed one. NOT like the UK each med has a different price.Hope this helps
Dec 30th 2008, 9:09 pm
#7
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Posts: 4,079
Re: Cost of prescriptions
When you get here if you are coming to South Aus check out Chemist Warehouse they have several shops and are online ,put in your meds and they will give you their price.
I and my friends have found that nearly all our meds are cheaper from there.
The PBS has guidelines for the price of meds and it can either be a fixed price or the Pharmacies are given a max they can go up to for meds and most charge the max they can.Not all places charge the same unless the price is a fixed one. NOT like the UK each med has a different price.Hope this helps
I and my friends have found that nearly all our meds are cheaper from there.
The PBS has guidelines for the price of meds and it can either be a fixed price or the Pharmacies are given a max they can go up to for meds and most charge the max they can.Not all places charge the same unless the price is a fixed one. NOT like the UK each med has a different price.Hope this helps
The 1141 threshold is also not just on prescriptions its also attending your doctor (difference between rebate and what you pay) and any specialists.
We exceeded that threshold in the first 6 weeks of the year.
Dec 31st 2008, 12:53 am
#8
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Posts: n/a
Re: Cost of prescriptions
Generic medicines are an equal choice and contain the same active ingredient as the original brand medicine.
A generic medicine does the same job as a branded medicine.
Generic medicines are manufactured to the same high Australian standards as original brand medicines.
Generic medicines are as safe and effective as the original medicines.
http://nps.org.au/sem_generics/generics
National Prescribing Service Limited. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
A generic medicine does the same job as a branded medicine.
Generic medicines are manufactured to the same high Australian standards as original brand medicines.
Generic medicines are as safe and effective as the original medicines.
http://nps.org.au/sem_generics/generics
National Prescribing Service Limited. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
Patients' concerns about generic prescriptions are very common and often centre on the perception that cheaper drugs may be inferior.
http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40025027/
http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40025027/
Dec 31st 2008, 12:59 am
#9
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Re: Cost of prescriptions
Pharmaceutical Benefits Safety Net.The safety net threshold for 2008 is $1,141.80
This covers prescriptions:
If you or your family need a lot of medicine in a calendar year, the PBS Safety Net helps you with the cost of your medicine. Once you or your family reach a safety net threshold, you can apply for a PBS Safety Net card––your PBS medicine will be less expensive or free† for the rest of the calendar year.
If you choose a more expensive brand of medicine, or if your doctor prescribes one, the extra amount you pay won’t count towards your PBS Safety Net
If you choose a more expensive brand of medicine, or if your doctor prescribes one, the extra amount you pay won’t count towards your PBS Safety Net
The general Medicare Safety Net Threshold from Jan 1st 2008 is $1,058.70
This covers doctors fees:
If you need to see doctors or have tests regularly you could end up with high medical costs—the Medicare Safety Net is designed to help you when you need it most.
It means that once you reach a safety net threshold, visits to your doctor or having tests may end up costing you less.
It means that once you reach a safety net threshold, visits to your doctor or having tests may end up costing you less.
Dec 31st 2008, 1:35 am
#10
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 28,994
Re: Cost of prescriptions
And dont always op for a generic brand - they are not always as effective or less expensive.
The 1141 threshold is also not just on prescriptions its also attending your doctor (difference between rebate and what you pay) and any specialists.
We exceeded that threshold in the first 6 weeks of the year.
The 1141 threshold is also not just on prescriptions its also attending your doctor (difference between rebate and what you pay) and any specialists.
We exceeded that threshold in the first 6 weeks of the year.
Dec 31st 2008, 1:38 am
#11
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Posts: 4,079
Re: Cost of prescriptions
[QUOTE=ABCDiamond;7113055]That is interesting as I always thought that the generic brand had to be exactly the same as the original.
So did I but my wife (the biochemist) assures me there are differences and she is the biggest user so I'm going on that.
So did I but my wife (the biochemist) assures me there are differences and she is the biggest user so I'm going on that.
