I just got back from my pharmacy. I'm in shock.

[zanana1]

A prescription that used to cost me $14 with Medicare Part D now costs $90, effective Jan. 1. I had read that big Pharma was preparing to raise prices before the new legislation went into effect, but this is unbelievable. I can no longer afford this prescription. Well, I guess we showed them, huh?

[gateley]

1. Whoa. This is truly an outrage.

It should be required for all members of the Senate and Congress to LIVE with an "average" family for one week, see the income, the expenses, the prescription costs. I am convinced they have no clue -- we're statistics -- they just don't GET it.

Lots of times manufactuers will provide a drug (not sure if it's free or discounted) if you can't afford it. It might be worth checking in to. But it shouldn't have to come to that. :grr:

[zanana1]

5. I try to get free prescriptions when I fall into the "donut hole"...

But since Medicare Part D came into being, they've put the cabash on most prescriptions you can get through these programs if you have any kind of prescription coverage, even if you can't use it anymore.

[Maraya1969]

123. A friend told me to get this card. She said she now pays $4 for a benzodiazapine

She is not even on disability and they ask no questions about your income. Worth a try I say (she goes to CVS, I go to Walgreens, when I go to pick up my script tomorrow I will see if they honor it; if not I will go to CVS too.

http://unarxcard.com/index.php

It also has some vision and other things on it.

[Maraya1969]

164. Alert. The card only took off about $3 at Walgreens. I only filled $8.00 worth and am going to CVS

[walldude]

7. +1 Clueless they are. Living in a bubble.

No idea what it's like off the hill and out in the real world..

[Ticonderoga]

128. They know what's happening

out here but they just don't care. All they are concerned about is where is their next pile of cash coming from.

[SoCalDem]

11. They are OUR "employees", aren't they?

Perhaps we all need to CANCEL their coverage.. Could we do it state-by-state, as we "send" them there?

They are the only batch of employees I know of, who get to determine their own wages & benefits, and we HAVE to pay it..

[gateley]

31. Yes -- they ARE our employees but we certainly seem to be

impotent when it comes to what we want them to do for their pay. Here in Washington State years ago, We The People voted NO on a Senate pay raise, but they gave it to themselves during a midnight session. We did nothing.

People keep saying that a government should be afraid of its citizenry -- our government laughs at us and just blows us off. :grr:

And I honestly don't understand WHY we couldn't do something like you suggest, except one of them would have to propose it and fat chance it would ever see the light of day. Don't know if we can override somehow. But if we could, I bet there would be a LOT of public support.

[bluethruandthru]

37. +1000

[bobbolink]

108. There was a candidate who campaigned on just that.

Said that if a comprehensive health care bill wasn't passed by Congress by July, said candidate would do everything possible to cut off the health care to Congress.

[BB1]

58. People would come to see them,

then shoot them. Not so much a good idea. Why do you think you never see one on the streets?

[Kablooie]

107. Medical outrages are de rigueur nowadays.

Any self respecting Medical corporation has to outrage customers in order to be held in high esteem by other corporations.

[tango-tee]

124. "They just don't get it".

Very true! The members (with few exceptions, perhaps) of Senate and Congress are so far removed from knowing the daily grind average folks face, that they have no idea what it is like having to budget for rent, groceries, electric, heating and water bills, etc. And if there is an unexpected snag somewhere, it all comes tumbling down.

Sometimes I think of Marie Antoinette's "Let them eat cake" remark, and we all know what happened...

[virgogal]

2. My God,that is awful.

[daa]

3. After Obamacare passes what changes??? nt

[zanana1]

I don't know what changes about prescriptions and the donut hole...

Maybe somebody can fill us in.

[laughingliberal]

94. All I know is that the drug companies agreed to give back enough to cover 1/2 the cost of the Rx's

that fall into the donut hole. However, it only applies to brand name drugs so it may, actually, cost more in some cases. You may have a generic you could pay for out of pocket which is $50 but the brand name drug is $120. Your cost would then be $60. In addition, the deal Obama made with Tauzin was for $80 billion dollars in savings over 10 years which represented an 8% savings per year. A story about 2 months ago showed the drug companies raising prices ahead of the bill going into affect by 10%. We've all seen those sales where you go in and realize they inflated the price before they discounted it. That is what is going on now with this. Raise the costs 10% now and then give us an 8% savings on the inflated price when the bill takes effect.

[Name removed]

57. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[laughingliberal]

95. I had that same thought when I saw that term. nt

[countmyvote4real]

110. Whatever President Obama signs will have his name on it.

And from reports, it looks like the compromises thus far have been directed by the White House.

[elocs]

141. Yes, they are the only ones I've heard refer to it as "Obamacare".

I have a Republican friend who uses that term and he specifically uses it because he says after all, he is a "Republican".

We don't need to embrace Republican terms.

[Name removed]

120. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jgraz]

4. Yep. My insurance co-pay just went up to $40 for simple allergy meds

The hogs are back at the trough.

And guess who's in the trough.

[Horse with no Name]

161. Lucky you

Mine excludes allergy meds.:(

[Little Star]

6. Same thing happened to my MIL. Damn the crooks! n/t

[slutticus]

8. Some companies have programs where they help you pay for prescriptions (or you get them free)

What company makes the drug?

[zanana1]

10. I used to be in a program like that...

Until my doctor convinced me to get Medicare Part D. The problem is, once you fall into that famous "donut hole", there are very few prescriptions you can get through those programs, because you have "prescription coverage".

[slutticus]

17. That sucks. Sorry.

I know some companies still help you even if you have part D. Has your doctor offered any advice?

[jbnow]

142. Did you talk to your insurance company? Sounds like that they might

have dropped that drug from their formulary or put it in a different tier that you have to go through some rigmarole to have covered
AIn this comment you are talking about the donut hole but I assume you aren't talking about that in your original post. (Since it is January)
After you talk to your insurance company you get back with your doctor and he can either do what insurance company needs done (like showing you'd already tried other drugs, whatever) or prescribe something equivalent if it is no longer carried.

Good luck

[Paper Roses]

9. Things just keep getting better and better, don't they!

I can't even afford part D. If I get sick, I'll have to find a high bridge and a cement block.

[timefortherevolution]

101. My friend calls it the Smith and Wesson Retirement Plan.

[wial]

129. what about holding up pharmacies with shotguns?

that would get their attention anyhow.

[zanana1]

150. That's a good one. nt

[w8liftinglady]

12. my doc was good about giving me several months of samples for one of mine that costed 180/mo

you might try that.

[Warpy]

13. That's horrible.

Your best resource at this point is your doc. Ask him whether or not there is something generic that will do the same job.

Generics are being jacked up, too. Fortunately, mine are all on lists at Wally's, Target and Costco, so I haven't been hit by them. Yet.

In some ways, this is a good sign. That last minute money grab means they know there are things in HCR that will derail the usual gravy train and they're trying to grab money up front. That's good news for us in the long term, although nothing is really settled as yet.

[zanana1]

33. That prescription IS a generic! nt

[Warpy]

36. Get the lists from whichever cheap places are close to you

The lists of discounted drugs are available online at their websites.

Present that to the doc and ask him if one of the generics on the list might work.

Good luck. They really love to rip off the sick, don't they?

[geezerpk]

145. Is the drug you're taking on your Part D Insurance formulary?

I switched to a plan this year that pays 100% on all generics with no deductible. If you could find a similar plan that has your drug on its formulary you could potiential save a bundle. Without knowing the generic name, I couldn't say for sure. It's possible that no part D insurer has it on its formulary I guess it's probably too late to switch plans for this year, as the period for making changes is Nov. 15-Dec. 31 of the previous year. Maybe there are exceptions, though.

[zanana1]

148. I have the best Plan D that AARP provides....

I just called AARP Medicare Part D. The price is real, all right. My prescription was for Venlafaxine, the generic form of Effexor, which is a popular antidepressant. I also found out that prices change from state to state. Now that I didn't know. (I'm from NH). I was told that I could have my doctor call their "clinical line" to ask that my prescription be put in another "tier" so it would cost less. However, I've already arranged with her to take a less expensive antidepressant. Gee--I hope it works.

[geezerpk]

159. WellCare Part D Plan - Venlafaxine

I just checked my Welcare plan formulary. They classify Venlafaxine hcl as a tier 1 drug. For my plan, that means the drug is fully covered with no co-pay. Venlafaxine hcl ER (extended release) is listed as tier 3 drug and could have a co-pay of up to about $80. Big difference. If you're taking the ER version is it possible you could make do with the standard version? It might involve more than one dose a day I guess. Just a thought. Good luck.

[xxqqqzme]

61. Check around. I didn't know my local market

offered $4 generic prescriptions until I saw a sign in the pharmacy section one day. My scripts all come from there now.

[katkat]

65. generic prices

The brand of a prescription I take will be $381 a month if I can't get the insurance company to cover it (they are not automatically covering it this year). The generic is very close to it in price, although I don't remember the exact price, maybe $20 less. I was in shock about that too, I was expecting a significant difference.

[cui bono]

147. They're grabbing because they can. No last ditch effort needed.

This bill isn't going to hurt them one bit. How would it?

[inna]

14. That's crazy. Totally outrageous.

:grr: :mad:


I'm so sorry you have to deal with this... :cry: :hug:


No other civilized country treats its citizens in such a deplorable way. :(

[notadmblnd]

15. Well we wanted change. Too bad they didn't tell us the change would be from our 100 dollar bills.

[ceile]

16. Disgusting. n/t

[hlthe2b]

18. It might behoove those on prescriptions to request a consult

with the pharmacist and their physician to look at other options....

I thank my lucky stars that, (for now at least) I manage not to be on any prescription meds... That is not to say I couldn't benefit from some (especially Imitrex or other migraine meds), but if they weren't absolutely necessary or I could gain control from dietary changes, supplements, or exercise means, I have opted out. Not a solution for most people, I recognize (and please don't think I am suggesting so)--thus the importance of having a consultation session with doc and, perhaps, the pharmacist.

[asjr]

19. I griped about the same thing earlier so I called

Part D people about a new price. I was told it took care of my deductible which I didn't realize I had. That has been taken care of so I will not be charged that high price again. Maybe yours is the same thing.

[enough]

27. This might be the explanation, especially since we're at the start of the new year,

when the deductible kicks in again. Definitely worth checking this out.

[sharp_stick]

20. Are you in the donut hole?

if so, try calling the manufacturer you may qualify for a subsidy or free medication.

A raise from $14 to $90 under medicare is probably the result of the now famous donut hole not a random price increase.

on edit: just talked with a co-worker... Could you need to cover a deductible? If so it probably takes effect at the beginning of a calendar year.

[katkat]

66. sharp

No one is in the donut hole on January 11th. You have to buy meds whose full price (not your copays) is about $2000(?) to get in the donut hole, so you'd have to be on chemo or something to get in that early.

[WillowTree]

76. "No one is in the donut hole on January 11th." Wanna bet?

My sister takes one med that takes her to and through the donut hole all by itself. (And no, I don't remember what the drug is.) She orders that one up the first week of January and then she's done with that hole for the rest of the year.

[katkat]

97. like I said in the remainder of my message

except people on extremely expensive meds like chemo.

[sharp_stick]

82. One months supply of

some of the new arthritis drugs will put you down $2,000 at retail in a month.

[cui bono]

149. What is the "donut hole"? eom

[Jack Rabbit]

21. It sounds like class struggle just became open warfare

Fellow peasants, take no prisoners.

[FreeJG]

22. GO TO COSCO, it's guaranteed to be cheaper....lots! And, you don't have to be a member!

[Quantess]

64. I think you do have to be a COSTCO member

unless their policy changed.

[nashville_brook]

68. their policy has always been to offer pharmacy to non-members...have you had trouble with this?

[Quantess]

Yes, before I became a member I had a hassle.

[nashville_brook]

104. damn, that sucks. maybe it's an over-zealous greeter?

[nashville_brook]

105. here's an explainer of non-member benefits:

No Costco Membership? Shopping At Costco Still Saves Money

1. You do not have to be a Costco member to get a flu shot there. Unless you have access to a free shot, Costco has the lowest price I have found so far for the flu shot, at $20. The pneumonia shot is $35. Call ahead to see what dates and times they are administering the vaccines. Some restrictions apply. Prices creep up if you go elsewhere. Walgreens is giving flu shots for $25, a slight drop from last year’s standard $30 charge. A benefit of the recession! Rite aid has the flu shot for $30 and the pneumonia shot for $45.

2. Non-members can use the pharmacy. Just tell the employee at the entrance that you are headed there and they will waive you in without a membership card. The Costco pharmacy takes cash and credit cards. I paid $5 for a generic prescription with my Visa that another chain wanted $80 for. One of my blog readers saved $200 getting prescriptions filled at Costco.

3. Members can purchase Costco cash cards and give them to non-members. This was a little known fact about shopping at Costco that a new friend shared with me. Recipients can get a free one-day membership to use the cash card on gas or warehouse items. The cards are also good online.

Cash cards make great gifts and they are useful for employees, students living away from home, and friends who are dying to buy 20 pounds of strawberries. Costco’s page on cash cards lacks details but it may be possible for the recipient to re-load a card as long as they leave some money on it. It also looks like recipients can buy goods for more than the card is worth as long as they can pay for the remainder in cash.

It is unclear if a non-member who receives a Costco cash card is limited to a certain number of uses per year. I suppose if they start recognizing you, you’ll need to pony up $50 and get a membership. Otherwise, the usage guidelines are somewhat open to interpretation. Just remember to bring cash.

4. Non-members can purchase items at Costco.com, though you’ll pay a small surcharge for not being a member. Not a bad idea to price check before making purchases, especially if you are in the market for a coffin.

5. Consider splitting a membership with a friend if you do want to take advantage of the full warehouse. Costco has no problem if the second person on the membership lives at a different address! (If you need prescription glasses, this would be a fabulous deal that makes it worthwhile to join.)

Costco can be a major money suck: huge carts, huge portions, huge bills. That’s why I am not a member. But strangely enough, some of their best deals are open to non-members!

[BrklynLiberal]

156. Thank you very much for this info

:thumbsup: :hi:

[dogday]

74. Costco has never given me any problems with my prescriptions

and I am not a member.. They are so cheap. One prescription I have cost 220.00 at Walgreens, it is 24.00 at Costco... They offer great savings.

[stubtoe]

78. Thank you for this

I'm going to look into it asap

[Quantess]

163. Overall cost of prescriptions

seems to be lower at COSTCO compared to WalMart. WalMart is famous for their $5 or so prescriptions for common meds, but some of their other prescriptions are pretty expensive.

[quiller4]

113. Membership not required for pharmacy or optical. n/t

[Digit]

83. Don't assume it is automatically cheaper at Costco

I love Costco but was surprised when I asked them for quotes on my meds that they were more expensive for 2 out of 3. Since they are 30 miles round trip from my home it was not worth it.

They should also be able to give you a quote over the phone (most places do), but I was there anyway and had my scripts.

[flyarm]

23. call costco..they have the cheapest prices by far!..eom

[vanboggie]

90. Check Costco prices online

They make it pretty easy to find out what you meds will cost thru them.

Costco Online Price Checker

[midnight]

24. Wow...

[David Zephyr]

25. My 92-year old mom's prescriptions were $484 this month.

.

[frebrd]

26. The $14 sounds like a "generic" co-pay, the $90...

sounds like a "branded" co-pay. Are you sure you weren't switched from a generic med to a branded one? If I were you, I'd give the pharmacy a call and find out for sure. Good luck!

Edited to add:

If it turns out that the generic is no longer
available, call your Part D plan to seee if there other covered generics that could be substituted. If so, run them by your doctor to see if he can switch you to one of them.

[LuckyLib]

38. Then tell your pharmacy that you are switching, due to the fact that they no longer carry your

generic -- then do it!

[Ms. Toad]

127. That was my reaction as well - either that

or a change in formulary (the allowed list of drugs on the particular plan). I have a vague recollection that many of the Medicar plans were going to change formularies and that quite a few folks on Medicare would need to change meds or plans (to find one with a formulary that covers the new med).

The best thing to do is to ask the pharmacist why the difference (s/he can probably tell if it was a manufacturer price increase, generic to brand name switch, or change in formulary).

[zanana1]

153. No, it's generic all right. nt

[dflprincess]

28. My insurance will no longer cover prescriptions until I've met the annual deductible of $1200

(that's a deductible for all covered services, not just prescription).

So far, I'm lucky and only have one presciption and it's generic, but I haven't asked what it will cost yet.

[sabrina 1]

29. Sorry this has happened to you. I found out what 'the donut hole'

meant after I was asked to help an elderly family member with her prescription drugs. I, like you, found out when I went to pick up one of her prescriptions, Ultrase, at the Pharmacy. It had jumped to at least four times what she had been paying for it. I couldn't pick it up without letting her know what it would cost.


Two of her meds, Plavix and Ultrase, are extremely expensive I discovered. I tried to get a generic version for her, but couldn't. She did get some samples from her doctor, but that was a temporary solution. Now out of the donut hole, the price appears to have gone up, besides with these two drugs alone, she will be back in the donut hole in a few months.

We have already looked into ordering them from Canada where they are four times cheaper. For now, that seems to be the only solution.

P.S. Regarding the suggestion about getting them free from the manufacturer. We looked into that also, and she doesn't qualify. I think you have to be fairly destitute for those programs.

[glinda]

39. Husband's meds $45/mo. In donut hole $350/mo.(x3) There is no generic of what he needs either.

[AndyA]

30. How awful. I'm sure you are in shock, you have good reason to be.

Who could have possibly predicted that Pharma would raise prices like this to beat the new legislation?

We have fools in Congress. Or they're all just so corrupt they don't care. Either way, the American people are the ones getting screwed.

Sorry for your bad news, I guess there's no generic equivalent? (I know you probably would have already thought of this, just grasping at straws...)

[NorthCarolina]

32. If your prescription is for a Generic, there is a good possibility you can get it

filled for $4/mo or $10/3 mo at Walmart. I know, I know...it's "Walmart"...but if it is the difference between getting your needed prescription, or not, I'd go with the Walmart option. If you just can't do the Walmart thing though, and you have Bi-Lo Supermarkets in your area, I believe they offer the same reduced pricing for generics as Walmart does.

[sandyj999]

53. Target does this also. n/t

[quiller4]

56. COSTCO, Target and Fredy Meyer also have $4/month generic lists

and the Fred Meyer list covers almost twice as many drugs as WalMart.

I'm getting my Metoprolol, Provastin and Levothyroxine at Fred Meyers for $10/3 month supply

[PSzymeczek]

98. Any Kroger subsidiary

has $4 generics, I think. I know Fry's does.

[uppityperson]

34. Sounds like an insurance issue, hoping you gethelp with it.

[zanana1]

35. I'd like to thank everybody for trying to help with suggestions.

I complain about DU sometimes, but when you get right down to it there is no better class of people. Thanks again. :hug:

[PatSeg]

40. When drug manufacturers knew

that health care reform was coming, they started raising prices unreasonable amounts. I used to use a HFA steroid inhaler that retailed for about $75 a few years ago. With insurance I paid $25. I no longer have insurance and when I went to get a prescription filled last year, the same medication had gone up to $143. There still is no generic version of this medication. I had to go without it.

Regular CFC asthma inhalers were banned last year supposedly for the environment and the new and less effective inhalers have tripled in price. It turns out that the environment was NOT the primary concern. The drug manufacturers supported the ban of CFC inhalers so they could charge more for inhalers that have no generic versions. Millions of people use Albuterol inhalers daily, so there was a fortune to be made.

The pharmacist always seems embarrassed and apologetic and tries to find coupons to bring down the price.

[Better Believe It]

43. So those CFC asthma inhalers were destroying the environment and caused global warming.

Sure they did.

So what government agency made that decision and when did they do it?

[PatSeg]

46. "CFC inhaler emissions world-wide, at their peak

production, accounted for less than .5% of total CFC emissions from all sources."

"............the EPA ignored much more significant sources of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), due to the political power of the lobbies that wanted these other sources to be exempt from the ODS ban. For example, just four space shuttle launches inject more ODS directly into the ozone layer than all of the CFC inhalers used to treat asthma and COPD in the U.S. for a year. And space shuttle launches are not regulated by the Montreal Protocol. Neither is pesticide methyl bromide in its Quarantine/Pre-Shipment application (the spraying of produce shipped in wooden crates). The above two ODS uses were never regulated by the Montreal Protocol due to the powerful lobbies that demanded that they be exempt from the ODS ban."

"America's 40 million asthma and pulmonary patients, on the other hand, had no similar lobby fighting for their rights. Instead, they had nine treacherous Patient Front Groups (the so-called 'U.S. Stakeholders' Group on MDI Transition'), heavily financed by IPAC (the drug companies), which continue to undermine and betray them to this day."

http://www.savecfcinhalers.org/THE_PETITION.html

The ban went into effect last January. Now the FDA is working with IPAC to come up with a replacement for HFA propellants. I wonder how much they will charge for that.

[katkat]

67. coupons

re: "The pharmacist always seems embarrassed and apologetic and tries to find coupons to bring down the price."

My pharmacist stuffs my hands with coupons also. They must see a lot of pain. The problem is the damn OTC version of my med, which is what the coupons are for, seems to simply not work. WTF. Supposedly the same active ingredient, same dose. I had been so happy when it went OTC, and it turns out it is useless.

[PatSeg]

71. It must truly be difficult

when people come in and don't have enough money for medication they need to survive. When the manufacturer's coupons for the Albuterol inhalers ran out, they spent 1/2 hour looking for another way to bring down the price without me saying a thing. They weren't able to bring down the price as much as from the coupons, but it did help.

That is bizarre that the OTC version isn't effective. Have you done a Google search? There are probably other people who have the same problem.

[NJCher]

135. on the frontlines

It must truly be difficult when people come in and don't have enough money for medication they need to survive.

That's a side-effect that many haven't thought about: the stress on the pharmacist when they see people have to go without their medication.

I have a friend who is a pharmacist and she had to quit because of the stress of having to fill so many prescriptions in the allotted time.

Now pharmacists have to deal with stress from a different source.

Regarding stress and the job, I knew someone who worked in human resources for AT&T back in the days of massive layoffs. She had to quit, too, as seeing the daily human misery of people losing their jobs was just too much.

Zanana1, I think you should contact your representative and senators, too, to let them know what is really going on in the real world.



Cher

[crazyjoe]

41. you are never going to win with these guys......

this is exactly why the whole "health care reform" scares me. same thing with the credit cards, now that they can't charge you for being late on your payment, they are going to charge everyone a yearly fee. So that means I have to pay for the people who can't seem to pay there credit card bill on time.
ya, that's fair.

[truedelphi]

99. This mess really changes the meaning of the word "reform" doesn't it?

However beleive me, you're not paying for the people who do not pay on time (in terms of credit cards)

They bill the poor slobs who don't pay on time, often at least $ 29 for being late, and if that causes them to go over the limit (for poor people it often does) then they get slapped with another $ 29 bucks.

The reason they are initiating the yearly fee is that our wonderful Congress is letting them. period.

[Better Believe It]

42. Just got a notice that my insurance will no longer cover my GERD prescription, Nexium

I will have to change to a less effective drug that will cost the insurance company less money.

Boy, this new health insurance industry bill is already having a wonderful impact and it hasn't even become operational yet!

[katkat]

69. Better Believe It

I am struggling with my insurance about Prevacid. We can be buddies in the esophageal cancer ward in a few years.

[martymar64]

92. Prevacid is now OTC. I bought a bottle last week.

But on the main point of the OP, it is shameful that the supposedly richest nation in the world forces its people to jump through all these bureaucratic hoops and spend themselves into pauperdom just to get medicine.

[katkat]

96. Prevacid OTC does not work for me

I was very surprised. It supposedly has the same active ingredient, but it was like taking nothing.

[martymar64]

132. Sorry to hear that. I have chronic acid reflux so I'm always looking for otc solutions

Nexium is simply out of my price range. Sometimes all I can afford to do a combination of generic prilosec and with a tums chaser as needed.

[katkat]

155. picks self up off floor

I hesitate to even type this, in case I jinx it or something, but I faxed a note to my doc on Friday asking them to ask for a preapproval for Prevacid, and I just got a recorded phone call from my AARP Medicare Plan D that the approval had been granted. Will save me darn near $300 a month, until I fall into the donut hole.

What a difference from when UHC managed my old employer HP's plan. UHC manages the AARP plan as well, so I guess now I know who stuck it to me before. Thanks for nothing, HP.

[martymar64]

166. Goddamned hoops they make us jump through just to get medicine

All the stress just to get medicine is making my stomach churn as I speak.

Good luck to you.

[Horse with no Name]

165. Okay here is what I did

My reflux is pretty severe so I have to have Nexium.
I had esophageal surgery to correct it a few years ago because of the severity.
At that time, I was taking Prevacid 30 mg twice a day to control symptoms.
It wasn't cutting it.
After the surgery, I didn't need anything for many years.
It has only been in the last year that I have had symptoms again.
Initially, under the advice of my doctor, I took Pepcid Complete--3 of them whenever symptoms were out of control.
That helped for awhile.
Then after it didn't, I started taking the OTC Prevacid at the 30 mg (same RX strength--but had to take 2). They cost almost $30 a box, so it is costing about $60 a month for that.
I did go to the Nexium website and found a coupon for $50 a month off of the prescription, which will actually bring it to less than I am paying for the OTC Prevacid, even though I have to pay for it out of pocket.
http://www.purplepill.com/tools/card.aspx
Anyway, good luck to you.
This REALLY REALLY sucks.

[Jennicut]

44. I went to get my diabetes strips two days ago and the price went up

It was not much, a few bucks but when you have 5 different prescriptions for different types of insulin and a different diabetes meds, it adds up.

[WillowTree]

79. Check e-Bay for your test strips.

I got 50 Contour test strips AND 50 lancets, all sealed in original packaging with an expiration date well into 2011 for $20 including shipping last week. WAY cheaper than any pharmacy.

[Jennicut]

91. $20?! I pay $40 WITH insurance. It is outrageous, isn't it?

I am actually thinking about doing mail order through Express Scripts. You have to order more but it is cheaper in bulk. I have test strips, metformin, Lantus and Humalog and now my Dr. wants me on Lipitor too because my cholesterol is a bit high. Plus needles every few months and lancets. Uggg. It is getting to be too much and I am only 34 and already on all this stuff. I guess it is only going to get worse every year and I have about 40 more years or more of dealing with it.

[femrap]

45. They won. nt

[Rosa Luxemburg]

47. Complain to your Congressmen and write to the Editor of the newspapers

[icee]

48. That will do nothing...............

[Rosa Luxemburg]

89. hound them

[hunter]

49. Talk to your doctor, see if there are generic alternatives.

Tell them you are not going to put up with this shit any more.

In many cases the generics are actually better drugs. In many cases one can avoid drugs altogether by lifestyle changes. I think when doctors start clubbing pharmacy reps over the head with patient complaints, or even begin to ban reps from their offices, then these reps might get the message back to their evil corporate masters.

Pharmacy reps ought to be returning to their home offices with their hair on fire and a look of absolute terror on their faces.

We need to start a revolution.

[PSzymeczek]

100. So-called "generic" Imitrex is worthless.

"Dr. Reddy's" or whatever. My daughter had gotten me some. I had a migraine after not having one for a couple of years or so. Took the Dr. Reddy's sumatriptan 100mg. Didn't do a damn thing. Finally threw up and started to feel better. Did some research on the 'Net - most people who had used Imitrex got no relief fron Dr. Reddy's.

[greenbird]

125. I have to respectfully disagree that it's worthless.

I use generic Imitrex and it works for me. Migraines are such an individual thing, though, that I wouldn't expect it to work for all migraine sufferers. I know that years ago, when I was given generic Xanax, it didn't work at all like the brand.

[flyarm]

137. the "generic" Imitrex does nothing for me either..it is like a placibo..does zilch..eom

[debbierlus]

50. The White House thinks the 'Angst' will just go away - they do not live in the same world

We do.

Obama is making a really obvious and stupid mistake with his back room deals with big pharma & his sell out the insurance industry.

This isn't some abstract foreign policy or complicated financial legislation that no one understand.

This is the legislation that will enable the insurance companies and drug companies that have pushed off to the edge to finally push us over the cliff. People will not forget. People will be enraged.

This is not my party. These people do not represent me.

[change_notfinetuning]

51. Hey, economists: try guns vs. drugs instead of guns vs. butter. Last time I

bought butter, it was $2/lb. Drugs, not so cheap.

Currently, we don't have the decency to provide medicine that affects life and death of Americans, not at a reasonable cost anyway. If we stopped squandering our money on all of this military bullshit and wars, we would have plenty of money to supply what people need to live. Although we still probably wouldn't have the decency, even if the money was there.

[sandyj999]

52. I went to the doctor today and am now taking all generic.

I researched and found the generic for the three prescriptions I take and asked her to write new scripts for them. They have raised my co-pay for a 90 day supply of name brand to 117.00. I explained that I had to take generic or would have to stop completely. Two years ago co-pay was 78.00, last year it was 99.00 and this year went up to 117.00. I can get a 90 day supply of generic for 10.00.

[LaPera]

54. The Republicans, Pharma & insurance plan, is to blame it all on Obama & Dems-on health car reform

The republicans, Pharma & insurance companies will take no resposability as always they point fingers and blame on a much needed health care program by the Democrats and never address the republicans inept & costly wars draining the economy.

Republicans are lying greedy filthy bastards aren't they!

[Zhade]

109. The sad thing is, they won't be completely off-base.

And that's a tragedy. I can never get conservatives to trust my political arguments again, all because of orahma's lies and broken promises.

[The Backlash Cometh]

55. We pay more upfront, but less in co-pay.

They'll get you one way or another.

[stubtoe]

73. We have $1500 deductible per person for prescriptions

Plus the same for medical care, plus after that the insurance covers only 70%. All for only $700/month premium(we're in our 50's).

It's ugly out here.

I'll take any reform we can get!

[NNN0LHI]

59. Whats the name of the drug?

[zanana1]

152. The drug name is Venlafaxine....

It's the generic form of "Effexor", a popular antidepressant.

[Jakes Progress]

60. Lots of posts in the thread

from people trying to help. Advice about how to avoid the donut hole. Places to try for respite. Information about the arcane policies and hidden fees and how to get around them.

All of this just avoids the issue. In France or Britain or Canada or any other civilized country you would just go in a pick up the medicine your doctor says you need. We are sheep who put up with being prodded for the fun and profit of the ruling class.

[Sancho]

62. One of our prescriptions just went from $20 to $60 dollars...

We are in a war folks, and the terrorists don't live in the middle East! They are here.

:dem:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

63. word to the wise.

overseas internet pharms.

You can import a 90 day supply for your own personal use.

I have a couple of asthma & BP meds that are NOT generic and are horrifically expensive.

Also, they are trying to cut off the supply of natural Armour Thyroid and kill us off with autoimmune disease (Hashimoto's thyroiditis). We could die without our meds.

[katkat]

70. Re overseas internet pharms.

I used to be able to buy my primary med from Canada. Not any more. The manufacturer stopped selling it to Canadian pharmacies that sell to US patients.

[PatSeg]

72. Do they realize

that DEAD people don't use medication?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

86. Only 30 to 40 million people in the US with thyroid problems.

Autoimmune diseases are rampant and connected with obesity.

Armour Thyroid is much cheaper than Synthroid. Docs are brainwashed to recommend synthroid. I have argued with several endocrinologists about it. Synthroid is not as effective for many people.

more info--this site reads like the ttory of my life:

www.stopthethyroidmadness.com

[quiller4]

114. Armour Thyroid makes me horribly ill generic synthroid doesn't and it far cheaper.

My Levothyroxine is only $10 for a 3 month supply. I paid nearly $20 to try Armour and that was for a two week supply that I had to discontinue after two days.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

139. That's interesting.

Armour has T3 and T4 both. Synthroid is T4 only. I have read recently about something where your body converts T3 to a stereoisomer called "reverse T3" that actually blocks T3, so then you have to supplement with more T3.

People vary in what they need. It's an autoimmune disease rather than just an endocrine disease, so they don't know as much about treating it as they should.

[defendandprotect]

75. Unbelieveable . . . and how many people will have this happen and not understand why????

They'll simply think that drug company expenses have gone up and they "had" to

increase prices!!!

And, of course, our Congress had to know this was happening?

And, neither are Social Security recepients UNIONZED either ---

All they have is AARP -- an insurance company!!!

How many others using Medicare Part D are now finding out their prescriptions have

increased almost 650% its original cost!!

[zanana1]

154. I asked the AARP Medicare Part D representative about that.

She said "we've had very few complaints". My ass.

[defendandprotect]

158. Exactly . . .

Sounds to me as though people don't understand the WHY of it --

Of course, the privatizing of Medicare with Part D was largely to blame --

Congress -- Bush --

But, Dems haven't been doing anything I'm aware of to correct it --

In fact, Obama's meeting with Pharma in White House was a move in the wrong direction!!

And, Byron Dorgan is out!!!

The wrong people are leaving!!!

[depakid]

77. How fortunate we are that the administration has aligned itself with PhaRMA

[shadowknows69]

80. Great. I can't wait to see what my non-insurance scrp costs me.

[havbrush]

81. Prescription costs

Industry groups seem to be in charge of the country even though the Dem’s won the election. The big banks gorged on the nation’s treasure with the bailout money and won’t lend it out to help the economy recover even though they had a huge hand in creating the crisis with their lobbying to repeal Glass-Steagall and all the money they made fueling the housing boom that busted. The oil industry had their turn a couple of summers ago when the price of gas was over $4.00 for months. And look, the price is creeping back up again. The insurance industry will get theirs when this inadequate HC bill passes -- everyone will have to buy insurance from the big companies because there’s no public option. Big Pharma’s plan, and it’s working, is to get everyone on some kind of drug, even if they have to invent them. Who ever heard of ‘Restless leg syndrome’ before that TV commercial for the newly created drug that allegedly cures it -- pay no attention to the endless list of side effects that run on and on after the pitch for the drug. And of course if you ever have to go to the hospital you’re not coming out without at least four prescriptions you have to spent lots of money on to get filled every month. And of course they’re about to raise the prices to gouge us even more.

[davidwparker]

84. My deductible went from $350 to $1250 as of January. Yes, we showed them

good.

Is this the change we can all believe in?

Good thing there is a Dem controlled House/Senate/WH or we'd all be singing the blues.

[Digit]

85. Go online and print out the generic low cost drugs

Someone else on this thread mentioned it and I have personally done exactly that.

This includes many grocery stores that have pharmacy depts, almost all drug stores, Walmart, Target, Costco, K-Mart etc
Their lists of drugs with the discounts do differ!

Also if someone reading this knows of places outside the country to get cheap reliable meds, please share the information. Post the phone number, website or whatever you have.
Although my meds are not that expensive (last I checked), others would appreciate the information, I'm sure.

[pansypoo53219]

87. how about changes in law become instant on PASSAGE.

don't give the bastards a chance to do this ANYMORE.

[pundaint]

93. Duh, The people we are forced to do business with by this bill are in the business

of manipulation of laws, congress and public opinion and raising prices. Anybody who thinks the current bill, leaving them in charge, is any part of reform is aggressively gullible.

[elleng]

88. Inform your congress-critters, AND HHS.

[islandspirit]

102. order from Canada

We have no problem getting any meds filled in Canada from a reputable on-line company. You need to send in your prescription. But the drug cost is about 25-30% of what it would be here.........at least check out the price on-line.

[cyclezealot]

119. We are Americans living in France on the Fr. Health care plan..

Having to order from Canada. US health care problems sound so 'foreign.' Here , everything is a 2 euro deductible.. Everything. As long as your Dr says you need it.. Sometimes , We wonder when we should come back. This report makes us think , maybe never.

[Generic Other]

103. Every pill that costs a consumer more this year will cost a Democrat a vote

Not like people haven't been screaming their heads off about it here on DU and getting shouted down.

Our elected lobbyists for big pharma, insurance companies, and banksters in D.C. have seen to it that they get the corporate fat and we get to gnaw on the bones.

This is going to hurt us big. People do vote with their pocketbooks. And people notice this kind of price increase.

I am so sorry to hear that you can no longer afford your prescription. Let your doctor know. Mine loads patients up with free samples all the time because he knows seniors are struggling. I have more than once snickered at his practice of sending patients out the door with a bag of freebies even jokingly calling him Dr. FeelGood. That is until he told me he had patients who paid upward of $1000 a month for meds. That shut me right up! Thank god for doctors like him!

[Zhade]

106. It's only going to get worse under this atrocity of a bill.

And I guarantee -- FUCKING GUARANTEE! -- that the same morons pushing for it now will come back later and admit how wrong they were.

It'd be nice if they'd listen to those of us who know what's up once in a while.

[winyanstaz]

111. I am so sorry that happened to you :(

and to the rest of America as well.
This is so upsetting on so many levels.

[Piewhacket]

112. Practical advice.

Your part D provider probably reshuffled their formulary.
Look carefully for an alternative/generic.

I think it is still legal to get prescriptions in Canada.
Doctors there seem sympathetic and willing to help.
Makes a good vacation, too.

Yup, a nightmare and no wake-up call in sight.

I cheered when Rahm was appointed COS. My bad.
Now I just want to run him down with my car.
Some damn genius, huh?

[earcandle]

116. Run him down with your language skills! You are doing great!

[Cali_Democrat]

144. You're mean. n/t

[earcandle]

160. True, dat.

[earcandle]

115. what can one do about sadistic economics?

turn to enlightened capitalism for starters.

then make socialism more sophisticated.

then practice sophisticated capitalism. 

Those are my thoughts on the matter!

[Divine Discontent]

117. sigh... is this all gonna end with millions of us in the streets of DC??? makes ya wonder.

[WT Fuheck]

118. But Captain Reid got that 60th vote!

Hoo-ray for "our" team!

Rah rah rah fucking rah.


Maybe you won't die before 2014, when the democrat's new healthcare will drop that exorbitant $90 down to a much more reasonable $86. Thank the President when you see him on C-SPAN.

[zoff]

121. These price increases mean that our country is inching to the left.

Truly, there is a special place in hell for all the thugs that allowed this rape to happen.

[upi402]

146. We traded all our raises for better coverage. Now we get taxed on our medical?

"Change we can believe in"? Hell, I need a cardboard sign asking for spare change now. I sure hope this is dropped!

[GreenMetalFlake]

122. Uniquely American

[perdita9]

126. Way to go Blue Dogs and Republicans!

For enabling the price gouging of sick people.

[mod mom]

130. and remind me why members of our own party voted against importation of drugs.

:mad:

[NikRik]

131. HMO out of control ?

Our health insurance does not even seem like any kind of insurance that would make you feel secure that if some illness had taken hold of you you are covered and will be taken care of. Let me explain they have a plan called the deductable plan not only do we pay $600+ a month to "cover" my wife and my two kids and myself our co-pay went from ten dollares to $30 and every memeber of our family must pay the first $3,000 each year of any treatment they recieve. This insane coverage makes you stay away from seeing them, the copay for emergency care is $500! I was recieveing teastosterone shots two times a month for years and they helped me extememly well ,now they charge me $98 per shot so I stopped going . My son fell off his bike and we took him to the woud and injury clinic they cleaned up his hands that had a few layers of skin torn off them and his elbow also! Then they said they wanted to x-ray the wounds to make sure they did not have any little rocks still in them ,they took nine x-rays and sent us a bill for $300 ,now remember all along they are still taking 600+ a month out of my pay check (is this some kind of joke) Just so you know to stay away the Health Care Provider is Kiaser Permanante. Their idea of health care is telling you to live healthier so you dont have to bother them.They call it hemophathic care, I could tell you more stories however it would be to long of a post,I just thought I should let others know what HMO's are allowed to get away with. We are looking into another provider ,with better Dr's and better pricing ,this should not be to hard to do ,Kiaser is the worst of the worst !
Sincerely NikRik

[Manifestor_of_Light]

140. Testosterone is very helpful for both men and women.

Unfortunately, in our society testosterone and all other steroids are demonized because athletes use them to bulk up. They are useful for people with wasting diseases such as AIDS.

[earth mom]

133. Those bastards won't be happy until we are ALL taking pills and shelling out the big bucks for em.

That way they can own us all.

We all should be looking into natural cures and remedies.

That's what I do.

I'm not gonna let those bastards own me.

[earcandle]

162. Go Girl! That's Democracy at work!

[ksmith14]

134. Prescription Help

There are several companies that might be able to help you. Maybe you could buy your medicine from Canada or another country. Or perhaps a discount drug card could help? I know it isn't a huge savings but every dollar counts these days. I had a friend use Prescription Drug Help to get her medicine. They did charge her $55.00 a month but that is a far cry from the $625 that she was paying before. In general you have to be without insurance drug coverage or in the donut hole. Your income also needs to be at 200% of the Federal Poverty level or less. Some drug companies actually have limits that are higher than that. I know that $55 isnt free but for someone spending a lot more than that it sure is a good deal since they deal with the companies, doctors and all that STUFF. Good luck and God Bless.

[T Wolf]

136. Wife's employer switched to cheaper coverage - Rx co-pay went from $5 to $50 per. With

eight per month, it adds up.

[tjwash]

138. Jan 1st is the new year...as soon as you hit your deductable, it will go back to normal

My insurance just reset as well. That won't stop the massive wailing and gnashing of teeth from the reactionary freeper-lite "we hate everything that Obama has ever proposed" infestation at DU though.

Good on you...you made them all crawl out from under their rocks.

This place has become a disgusting cesspool of negativity.

[OneBlueSky]

143. same experience here, though not as dramatic (yet) . . .

my three-month refills cost me $18 last year . . . as of January 1 they're costing me $38.26 -- an increase of 112.5%! . . . like I said, not as dramatic as your increase, but still infuriating . . . and since I need the meds, they got me by the short & curlies . . .

that's what you get when the healthcare system is in the hands of mega-corps whose ONLY interest is profit . . . they have absolutely zero interest in helping patients (or consumers, as they call them) . . . only in charging as much as they can get away with (which seems limitless) and then refusing as much treatment as they can get away with (pretty close to limitless) . . .

but, hey -- the shareholders are happy . . .

[flyarm]

151. How Corrupt Reid/Obama PhRMA Deal Undermined Byron Dorgan, Pt. 1

How Corrupt Reid/Obama PhRMA Deal Undermined Byron Dorgan, Pt. 1
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/01/12/how-corrupt-reidobama-phrma-deal-undermined-byron-dorgan-pt-1/

By: Jane Hamsher Tuesday January 12, 2010 6:30 am


Byron Dorgan worked on drug reimportation for 10 years. It would have saved consumers a minimum of $100 billion over ten years, and 4-5 times that if it had succeeded in bringing US pharmaceutical prices down. Dorgan had the magic “60 votes” for an amendment too, but that would have violated the secret PhRMA deal negotiated by the White House. And after all, as Tom Carper said, PhRMA paid for it with advertising.

Harry Reid kept the vote off the floor until PhRMA managed to whip the votes against it. Here’s part 1 of the video of Dorgan from the Senate floor on December 15, 2009, the day that Reid finally allowed the amendment to come to a vote:

SENATOR DORGAN: The amendment we are offering, a bipartisan amendment dealing with the price of prescription drugs, is a very important amendment. We are going to get our vote on that, but then there is also going to be a vote on a poison pill amendment that nullifies it. It says if you pass the second amendment, it means nothing happens and prescription drug prices keep going through the roof.

[BrklynLiberal]

157. Too late to rec, but I can still kick.

We are all in deep sheet...

[Locut0s]

167. Move up here to Canada :-) nt