I am very sorry but I cant be of any help. Over here in the UK we ahve to pay per prescription the dr writes but we csome people are exempt form charges. I pay 100 so about $200 each year and get all of my medication for that amount. I will find out more info on it all for you if anyone is interetsed.

Olive

In the U.S. we have "formulary" and "non formulary" drugs! The "non formulary" drugs are usually the only ones that work for you but the insurance won't let you get without jumping through approvals, and hoops. The "formulary" drugs are the ones that the insurance company "perfers" to pay for. Even so, some of those are expensive even with insurance! Just two of my inhalers for my insurance carrier are $25.00 EACH. This is not including my GERD meds, my allergy meds, and any antibiotics or prednisone I may need! It starts to add up very quickly and becomes a burden to pay for.

Htag, check to see if your insurance has a mail away program.

Years ago, I could no longer pay the high cost and a friend taught me about the mail program.

It was $12 for the first 3 months of each. Each drug was given in 3 month scripts by their rules.

After the first one it dropped to $4 per 3 months for each one.

I'm sure it's not that low now but it may be better that what you are getting now.

Your doc can fill out paper work so you get a years worth of meds from each company for each med. There is a program. I dont' remember the name of it.

i would NEVER skimp by and determine "what i can afford" and "what i NEED"
this is my health at hand and i would bitch out those insurance companies until i get the meds i NEED.
i go thru it every month with my insurance company.

Unfortunately, I am like you. When both my husband and I are working, with no time off illnesses, we can usually handle the cost of co-pays. With the amount of time we have both been missing, I am having to pick and choose which meds to get. I know which ones are extremely important to get and others that can hold off. I know this is not "right", but sometimes you do what you have to. We have three people takings meds here and it goes well over $200.00 a month. Sometimes I will do the every other day thing to make them last longer without going completely off them.

I have found a few places that have coupons if you use their meds. Try searching the meds you take to see if they have a program to join. Nasanex gives $10 off, advair has $20 off, and I just found that prevacid has a program too. Just waiting for all the coupons to arrive. I also supplement with samples from the doc office.

I don't think any of us will ever live to see universal healthcare in the US as is in Canada, the UK, and most civilized, industrial nations.

It has to be the cause of the biggest and unrecognized US government-generated genecide ever - responsible for killing even more than the Civil War. And for the sake of mighty dollar in a health industry based on profit.

I only buy and take meds when I have a job and insurance, which is rare. Otherwise I go without. Most times I can last through the spring/summer with no problems. Fall and winter are rough.

$200/year for ALL MEDS, hospitalization and home care?! Pleeez. That will NEVER happen here. Not with insurance, and not even on welfare.

As it is I am now using drugs I will eventually have to replace when and if I get another job and insurance. It is a horrible way to live.

Sometime I think the US founding fathers screwed up in not stating "life, HEALTH, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" (none of which is possible without HEALTH). Failing to create a healthcare system in the first place.

And no matter who wins in November, niether one has a plan for affordable NON-PROFIT universal healthcare.

This is the one issue I am ashamed at this country for - and it should be too. It has killed and continues to kill millions of its own citizens.

There are many people who buy their meds from other countries online. Many buy them from Canada, Mexico and other countries.

There are some seniors who go to Canada once a year and buy a years worth of meds.

I know you can do it monthly in the mail too.

I don't know if you can get government subsidation.

When my late friend went off of disablity, at one point they stopped her government insurance. So I told her to take all of her meds and told them they can pay for the meds or pay for the meds and give her back disability because she still qualified.

They paid the $3000.00 monthly bill of meds.

You can imagine how ill she was and still trying to work.

Something has to change.

I have health insurance and its an HMO. I'm been blessed throughout this ordeal, so far, to have my meds covered by using generics and medicines that they approve. I also have approval of Xolair and now regular allergy shots. All I have to pay are co-pays. I also take advantage of a federal program that allows you to have regular deductions from your paycheck, called a Health Savings Account, that lets me use a special credit card whenever I have medical visits and pharmacy purchases. I like this because whenever I have a medical visit it is pre-paid and doesn't have to cause a drain on my monthly budget (in a round about way...because I am actually pre-paying).

I know there are many people in the United States in the position of not having the ability to get their prescribed meds. Do you ask your physicians for samples? Animal gave a good way to cut costs by mail order. Orson writes of her ability to buy meds. As far as travelling to other countries to buy meds, well, I'd be hesitant to do that. I live close to Mexico and there is less regulation and I'm partial to the quality controls present here in the States.

I think I am only a few breaths from your situation (Orson and htag) as I can really lose my job and be stuck without insurance. Then, I wonder what to do.

What I think would be a good suggestion is private or commercial enterprise. I think government programs don't do anything well, at least in the US. We have a large population and don't think this country can afford the high cost of universal care. I think these pharmaceutical companies that are profiting so much from the insurance dollar need to have a sector of their company to use as a 'sponsorship program' for those in need. The wealthy can sponsor people, receive accolades for being generous, and sponsor the sick and disabled by providing meds for them. If not the pharmaceutical companies, maybe the insurance companies. Instead of saying "denied", have it go to their other arm of their company that provides medication (their budget can be generated by benefactors and charities designed to sponsor someone with asthma, for example).

Is this thinking outside the box or too impossible to do? What are your thoughts? Something has got to change!

You guys are absolutely right! Things need to change. I have heard that the cost to actually MAKE the meds is WAY less then the cost to purchase them! I feel that the pharmacutical companies need to give us a better break on the cost of meds in general!

People I've spoken to have said, with great belief, "you always have money for what you really want in life". To some extent, it may be true, but the reality of it is, I choose to eat well and be able to get to work in a car over the cost of my meds. I choose to be able to live in a house with a yard for my dog to run in as opposed to giving my money away to a landlord! Am I selfish for not riding my bike to work when I'm able to breathe? Am I selfish to want to eat when it just cost me $56.00 for 19 items at the grocery store? Why in the world would the pharmacutical companies want to make it this impossible to afford the well needed medications of us and the elderly!?

This conversation also goes to the "new inhaler" post. Why would they go so far as to save the earth over saving the patients using their product? Something DOES need to change! I'm just glad that I'm not the only person who struggles to stay in control of my life and health on a daily basis. Thank you for all of your support guys!

I mentioned Canada too. Canada gets med from the exact same companies that we do. They cost less in Canada.

The USA people literally pay the highest prices. These companies are American companies screwing Amereicans.

It is a well known fact and has been on 20/20 0r 60 Minutes news magazine.

Remember you can get 1 year worth of meds for free if your doc fills out the paper work.

THere is a website that maybe able to help you with medication. The website is called needymeds.com Hope this will help

Thanks a ton bamababe! I will look into this and have stored it into my favorites.
Animal: I think I'm going to have to ask about the program that you're talking about. I'm not sure how to go about getting into the mail order program, but I'll call the insurance company and see. I never though that you could save any money with that program, so I never inquired about it.

Rona: I have flex spending available to me, and keep trying to push my husband into using it. He hates the "use it or lose it" part of the plan, and refuses to sign up with either of our employers. I know that this can help to pinch some pennys too.

Thank you all for your help and info. I'm just happy to know that I'm not the only one faced with this on going issue in my life.

Htag, with the Health Savings Account, it is true, you lose money if it isn't spent. , the first year I was in it they were very strict...the next year they extended it to March of the following year and this past year they extended it past that.

Having so many medical expenses, I always run out way before the year is over, so this year, I increased it and am more than half way through my money with only 6 months left of the year. So, I'm saying I've never lost money. I obviously underestimate it. If hubby is in good health, he should estimate low and then see how he does. You can always increase it the following year.

I have no suggestions. Just another rant I guess. Fortunately I do have health insurance and I can't be cancelled because it's through my government retirement group. But it costs me $6000 a year. You couple that with $150 a month average in med copays and that's a pretty sizeable chunk of my pension. It's a shame.
Tom

thp636: I'm just glad that I'm not the only one feeling the cruch! I'm going to look into some of the suggestions that I have gotten on this post. It's just sad that you tend to "need" more meds as you age anyway, and you have less income when you need it the most! I hate to even think about where my med costs are going to be at when I go to retire! LOL!