Co-Payments for Expensive Drugs Soar
Apr 15th 2008, 11:20 am
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Avon Lake, OH
Posts: 5,270
Re: Co-Payments for Expensive Drugs Soar
Duncan, are these brand scripts that you are given? Has your doctor looked for alternatives other than what's been advertised for your condition(s)? There's a trend for doctors to prescribe the latest thing they've been pushed by the pharmaceutical sales industry. This is one of the things that also lead to senior citizens being faced with high drug costs on meds they shouldn't be one. Believe it or not your doctor is not really educated on the wide variety of medications that are available to treat conditions. There are times where they get checked by pharmacists because doctors prescribe several meds to a patient that create contraindications within the drug cocktail. I'd look into the meds you are taking and see if there are cheaper alternatives that your drug plan will cover at a higher rate. Of course you might be on a script that can't be changed like I am. My highest costing med has a $15 copay but there is a $4 med out there that works just as well but makes me feel crappy. Go out and do your homework and don't be the target of a trend in prescribing.
Apr 15th 2008, 11:44 am
#32
Riding on silver wings
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,543
Re: Co-Payments for Expensive Drugs Soar
No alternative to this one, well there is one but it has other issues and I have tried it. The doctor is a specialist in the area and is fully aware of the cost, he tries to help me out when he can with rebate offers and samples although I can pay for my drugs so I only take his offers as a last resort. I do use one drug on the $4 list so that's good but unfortunately, a great deal of the better treatments for me are still under patent and will be for the next few years at least. Some will be for the next decade.
Apr 15th 2008, 1:29 pm
#33
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: My Old KY Home!
Posts: 6,498
Re: Co-Payments for Expensive Drugs Soar
I have one of the conditions the OP mentioned, and I will always worry about the cost of these drugs, and trying to maintain good insurance coverage. Luckily, I'm only paying $40 every 3 months (via mail order), but you never know when situations will change. I wouldn't mind going into my own business, but because of medical insurance I don't think I will (until there is a universal health coverage). There are also a lot of charity organizations that provide monetary help to those requiring these expensive drugs, but a lot of people are just unaware of their existence.
Apr 15th 2008, 1:34 pm
#34
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Co-Payments for Expensive Drugs Soar
Most people I work with, most people I know, do not have Corporate Medical Insurance.
Akin to Final Salary Pensions schemes
Akin to Final Salary Pensions schemes
Apr 15th 2008, 1:52 pm
#35
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,388
Re: Co-Payments for Expensive Drugs Soar
Completely aside from the few other posts I have seen in reply to yours, I would ask if you have prescription insurance and if so, have you checked with a great source within the US for prescribed medicines...MEDCO.
I take several different pills for my diabetes and to prevent a variety of health issues caused by diabetes. Medco saves me thousands of dollars per year on my meds. Normally the 90 day supply will cost the same co-pay as I would pay at the pharmacy for a 30 day supply.
Unfortunately, there is one med that there is no generic substitute for and in some cases, a generic is not a good substitution. I've also learned from members of my family and friends who work in the pharmacuetical fields that there are differences in the same meds from one country to another even though made by the same manufacturer. Thus one must be quite sure that the medication obtained from Canada or elsewhere contains the exact properties that your doctor wants you to have.
Apr 15th 2008, 2:00 pm
#36
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Co-Payments for Expensive Drugs Soar
Can we have some links substantiating this claim, please? As it's really quite a significant one, hearsay seems rather insufficient IMO.
Apr 15th 2008, 2:31 pm
#37
Riding on silver wings
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,543
Re: Co-Payments for Expensive Drugs Soar
Completely aside from the few other posts I have seen in reply to yours, I would ask if you have prescription insurance and if so, have you checked with a great source within the US for prescribed medicines...MEDCO.
I take several different pills for my diabetes and to prevent a variety of health issues caused by diabetes. Medco saves me thousands of dollars per year on my meds. Normally the 90 day supply will cost the same co-pay as I would pay at the pharmacy for a 30 day supply.
Unfortunately, there is one med that there is no generic substitute for and in some cases, a generic is not a good substitution. I've also learned from members of my family and friends who work in the pharmacuetical fields that there are differences in the same meds from one country to another even though made by the same manufacturer. Thus one must be quite sure that the medication obtained from Canada or elsewhere contains the exact properties that your doctor wants you to have.
I take several different pills for my diabetes and to prevent a variety of health issues caused by diabetes. Medco saves me thousands of dollars per year on my meds. Normally the 90 day supply will cost the same co-pay as I would pay at the pharmacy for a 30 day supply.
Unfortunately, there is one med that there is no generic substitute for and in some cases, a generic is not a good substitution. I've also learned from members of my family and friends who work in the pharmacuetical fields that there are differences in the same meds from one country to another even though made by the same manufacturer. Thus one must be quite sure that the medication obtained from Canada or elsewhere contains the exact properties that your doctor wants you to have.
I know this because my sister is a 5th year PharmD candidate (graduates this May with Honours) and I've learned a lot by-proxy from her. And to be clear which pharmaceutical companies do they work for. Pharmacists actually recommend generics if available to keep costs low for the patient and to assure patient compliance when taking the medication. If the medication costs $100 and they are on welfare, there's a fat chance that they won't take that medication properly because they need to save the money. If you give that same patient a $4 generic then patient compliance is more likely and the condition that was prescribed for is being treated.
Apr 15th 2008, 2:43 pm
#38
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,388
Re: Co-Payments for Expensive Drugs Soar
That's a misnomer. The fillers might be different but the chemical structure is the same. Generics are no more harmful than the original patented medication.
I know this because my sister is a 5th year PharmD candidate (graduates this May with Honours) and I've learned a lot by-proxy from her. And to be clear which pharmaceutical companies do they work for. Pharmacists actually recommend generics if available to keep costs low for the patient and to assure patient compliance when taking the medication. If the medication costs $100 and they are on welfare, there's a fat chance that they won't take that medication properly because they need to save the money. If you give that same patient a $4 generic then patient compliance is more likely and the condition that was prescribed for is being treated.
I know this because my sister is a 5th year PharmD candidate (graduates this May with Honours) and I've learned a lot by-proxy from her. And to be clear which pharmaceutical companies do they work for. Pharmacists actually recommend generics if available to keep costs low for the patient and to assure patient compliance when taking the medication. If the medication costs $100 and they are on welfare, there's a fat chance that they won't take that medication properly because they need to save the money. If you give that same patient a $4 generic then patient compliance is more likely and the condition that was prescribed for is being treated.
You need only go to Post 17 by snowbunny to see there is a difference in the chemical makeup. If there weren't then the same tolerance for the name brand would carry over to the generic brand.
I'm very pleased for your sister Ugascrew. Mine has worked in the industry for 17 years.
Apr 15th 2008, 3:00 pm
#39
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 4,792
Apr 15th 2008, 3:03 pm
#41
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Co-Payments for Expensive Drugs Soar
You need only go to Post 17 by snowbunny to see there is a difference in the chemical makeup. If there weren't then the same tolerance for the name brand would carry over to the generic brand.
I'm very pleased for your sister Ugascrew. Mine has worked in the industry for 17 years.
I'm very pleased for your sister Ugascrew. Mine has worked in the industry for 17 years.
Perhaps your sister knows some links where we could actually read about this?
Apr 15th 2008, 3:07 pm
#42
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 4,792
Re: Co-Payments for Expensive Drugs Soar
The British gov, got back millions of pounds from the drug companies, when they found out, that they were paying more then other countries for same bulk product.
Apr 15th 2008, 3:14 pm
#43
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Co-Payments for Expensive Drugs Soar
Even the drug companies have discussed it. Their excuse, they need the money for research. State Governors have been on the news discussing the rip off. Thousands of people are buying their drugs from Canada, because they are cheaper. Did you sleep through the last few years?
The British gov, got back millions of pounds from the drug companies, when they found out, that they were paying more then other countries for same bulk product.
The British gov, got back millions of pounds from the drug companies, when they found out, that they were paying more then other countries for same bulk product.
Apr 15th 2008, 4:03 pm
#44
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,388
Re: Co-Payments for Expensive Drugs Soar
Apr 15th 2008, 4:05 pm
#45
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,388
Re: Co-Payments for Expensive Drugs Soar
BUT there would have to be additional ingredients if the same user can tolerate a name brand but not the generic. I don't think that is so very difficult to understand.
http://www.roadback.org/index.cfm/fu...ay_id/120.html
Last edited by Rete; Apr 15th 2008 at 4:07 pm.