Hello GaryWva....Welcome to this group

I had the exact same problem w/neb meds (Brovana & Pulmicort), but by the tome they billed me I owed $464.00 ..almost lead to a full blown major breathing attack. I realized that Medicare part B covers these expenses and that represents 80% Medicare payment and 20% is my responsibility.Certainly can't afford that on a long-term monthly basis.
Meantime, I had a very good pharmacy insurance plan .I contacted my Pulmo Doc and told him that, first, I saw no improvement since he changed my meds and, second, I can't afford to continue these meds on any long term program. I asked him to change back to regular pharmacy meds. No problem, he put me back on Advair (which is expensive but my pharma plan requires a very modest copay). I also take Spiriva, that also has an affordable copay.

Like you mentioned, Albuterol solution for neb is affordable but you could/should request a change from the other recent neb solutions.

Sometimes, the doctor just needs to be reminded about the costs involved with the different medical/pharma plans.

Hope to see you visiting this Board more often.

Once again, Welcoime and Good Luck to You !!

I have the albuterol nebulizer, but rarely use it as it doesn't seem to help me.
your other meds I'm not familiar with.
I assume you have switched to nebulizer treatments because you have a hard time inhaling the regular inhalers?

I have used do Spiriva daily for a few years now as it was easier for me to inhale.
The new "respimat" inhaler works great for me as it is a mist that one slowly inhales.
I believe a few brands of inhalers are going to this "respimat" inhaler now.

All of our inhalers seem absurdly expensive to me and if I get mine through my Part D plan I end up in "the gap/donut hole".

Many people use an overseas online pharmacy in india called "all day chemist" to get their inhalers at an affordable price.

Personally, I have filled out the "patient assistance" form that all of these companies have available and I get my spiriva mailed to me free from the company.
I have to fill out the application yearly & send them my financial information. It has enabled me to have my medication with my limited income (not rich/not poor)
They mail me a 90 day supply 4 times a year.

As I said, all of the manufacturers have some type of financial help for those of us that are "too rich for medicaid & too poor to afford our inhaler.
Here is a site for brovana; it has a phone number that says you can call for information & reimbursement;
http://www.respistory.com/c/resources-support.html?tab=about-c
it can't hurt to call & see if there is any help with cost that you might be eligible for.

is budesonide symbicort? if so that is an astra zeneca product & here is their link to financial help.
http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/medicines/help-affording-your-medicines/azandme-prescription-savings-programs
i'm not sure if the symbicort covers the nebulized budesonide or not; once again, it can't hurt to look into or call the company.

good luck to you. I think most of us have problems affording our overpriced inhalers, but there are ways! I had a dr actually tell me to try an online pharmacy for my medications.

Thank you Whatsuname. Nice to meet you.

The sad part is that the new nebulizers meds, Brovana & Pulmicort really seemed to help me alot. but not at those prices. So, the next plan is that I made a list of affordable meds for my nebulizer and I will take that list to my pulm doc and see what would be best. I was just hoping that the others were cheaper somehow.

Thank you jarca. Nice to meet you too.
Yes, the doctor switched me because I do have a hard time with inhaling the regular inhalers.
Thanks for the advice about mailing the companies to receive free/ or discounted meds. I am in the process of that now.
Thanks for getting me the links too. One of those I had not found and that will be a great help!!
I am currently back on my old inhalers of Spiriva & Advair. And take the nebulizer albuterol beforehand, hoping it will help the inhalers go in a little easier.


Thanks for your support and welcome!!

here is the spiriva link for help;
http://us.boehringer-ingelheim.com/our_responsibility/patients-families.html
(i get mine for free :) )

and here is the one for advair;
http://www.gskforyou.com/patient-assistance-programs/drugslist.html

Many people don't know that Medicare has a program called "extra help" that you fill out once and if accepted it will pay your Part D costs. (I didn't find out about it until I applied for the free spiriva & they requested I try that first)
Here is the info about "Extra Help" a medicare program;
at the bottom is where you can apply or see if you are eligible.
https://secure.ssa.gov/i1020/start
if you receive it, it will help pay your prescriptions costs,so you won't need to go thru companies to get your meds.
if you are denied it; save the denial & make copies to send to these programs above when you apply for help.

so either way, it is worth applying for "extra help" (i didn't know they had that for many years while i was on Part D!!! they don't really explain that well when someone applies for Part D coverage.
good luck :)

I don't understand medicare, but does your prescription plan help at all?
some of us use a pharmacy in India called, all day chemist that sell generics cheap.
others can tell you more, some have been ordering from there for years
found brovana but not the other

http://www.alldaychemist.com/foratec-respules-4932.html

brovana and budesonide cost close to 1,900 a month....the 20% you pay out of pocket is about 200 dollars....I know because I take these meds.I have a medigap policy which covers the 20%.....Breathing is not cheap but a matter of life or death to us.......as jarca said try to get help from some of the sites she gave in here...welcome to our group and good luck to you

Hi Gary n welcome..

So as i understand it people in the US can only access meds that are approved by their insurance companies??????

Maybe thats why we lot in UK, Europe n Oz seem to be on the more current new meds or is it cos your FDA is slow on approvals?

Another trend im picking up recently is the dropping off of Spiriva as a stand alone inhaler,,,,,,mine has a spiriva component built in, as a once daily inhaler...To be honest i do not feel any adverse effects since i dropped spiriva competely.......

I agree inhaler prices are ridiculous for what they are and i was paying those when i was overseas and it was a struggle....no wonder i read about people not taking any meds because they just cannot afford it and don;t know about free samples or approaching the company for help..

Seems really unfair when we can pay only around $6.15 approx for all our inhalers and prescription meds....anyway things might change hopefully for you...

Take care...Peter

Thanks so much for all the help from everyone.

I received assistance and got my Advair and Spiriva for just $10. So that was a lot better than $45 each.

I also am in the process of getting assistance for the Pulmicort.

Unfortunately, Brovana does not offer any assistance for their medication. :( I have looked into the medicare extra help that was suggested but do not believe I qualify for that one.

I am cautious about the alldaychemist drugs. I've heard read so many things about buying medications from cananda/india, etc. that I am worried about the quality. :( Has anyone experienced issues with the quality?