The high cost of prescription drugs has left many patients in financial and medical despair. Here are some small ways to save big on drugs.
- Lifestyle changes first, meds second. Lifestyle changes like regular exercise and weight loss are an effective first-line defense against arthritis pain. “People who take care of themselves have better outcomes with their condition, develop fewer health problems, and spend less money on medical services,” says Daniel Clauw, MD, a rheumatologist and professor of medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
- Newer isn’t always better. “Studies show that inexpensive diuretics are as effective as pricier meds at lowering high blood pressure,” says David Nganele, PhD, author of The Best Healthcare for Less (John Wiley & Sons, 2003). For relief of Osteoarthritis pain, many experts recommend that you start off with good ol’ acetaminophen – at about $12 for 500 generic pills – before requesting a prescription for the newer, pricier treatments you see advertised.
- Make use of your insurance plan. Most health plans have mail-order pharmacies that save you money if you buy in bulk. Buying three months’ worth of medication at one time costs one or two months’ worth of co-pays instead of the usual three for separate prescriptions. If your monthly co-pay is $20, that’s a savings of $80 to $160 a year, depending on the plan.
- Know your health plan’s formulary. Get a copy of your plan’s formulary – the list of drugs it will cover – from your health insurance company. Share the list with your doctor so he can prescribe the most effective drug that costs the least. Insurance plans charge a hefty fee for nonformulary drugs, if they pay at all.
- Ask for free samples. Don’t commit to and pay for a 30-day supply of a drug you’ve never taken before. Instead, ask your doctor for at least a week’s worth of samples to see if the medication agrees with you.
- Know the inside tricks. If you are taking methotrexate pills for RA, you could save money by opting for liquid methotrexate. A four-month supply of pills can cost more than $500; a four-month supply of liquid is around $25. You can either inject the liquid or, if you’re squeamish about syringes, take it orally. (Note: Some experts question whether liquid methotrexate taken orally is absorbed as well as pills or injections. Monitor your symptoms to see if it works for you.)
- Use generic meds. You’ll get the same compound but save substantially.
I believe it would be advisable for each of us to do the research to assure that we have the best drug coverage available for our personal needs.
Between my husband and I we take Nuvigil, Cymbalta, Lexapro, and Nexium, just to name a few. I take Adderall XR, which costs $90.00 a month, even with drug insurance. My doctor has to write for a "not quite equivalent" generic option. If I had no drug insurance my routine monthly medication cost would be a little over $2000. I am sure many of you have costs way over that. I have been on SSD for the past 13 yrs. I elected to choose Part A only coverage, since my husband's insurance covered me. My husband is gazing longingly at retirement in the next couple of years. We have to be very cautious in trying to decide when he can afford to retire. I can go onto Medicare part B immediately (of course I would have to have a supplement.) My husband will have to wait two years to qualify for SS. It's all an awful lot to consider!
I appreciate the suggestions that many of you have mentioned. If anyone has any suggestions or would like to share how they handled health care in the face of retirement, I'd be honored to hear them.
Went to the doctor and discussed with him the possibality of the generic Celebrex could be the cause of the increased problem with GERDS since nothing else could be causing the problem. he wrote another script for "Celebrex only no subs" within a week I was feeling better. Some gernic are fine some need to be questioned.
Good for you. I also have the headaches and dizziness with my RA and FMS and OA. However, I am still able to work at this time. I pray that everyone can obtain an attitude that you deal with each day as you come to it and with Gods help you will get thru it.
I have found that I can get my perscriptions cheaper at Sams without my insurance, the generics. I am now on the injectible MTX and it is wonderful ! I only have one med that requires a $45 copay and next visit I am going to try and deal with that.
I thank God for my job and that I am most days able to be here.
God Bless
TOnie
I wasn't aware of the Enbrel Co-pay assistance program thanks for the info, I will definately look into it.
I _strongly_ suggest everyone find out exactly what their policy coverage is before following advice like that in the article above. You absolutely do NOT want to find out that because you spent all your available funds for just one medication in a month that you can't afford to get any of the others you need to take.
I live with mild RA and right now because I had to change jobs. I can not pay for all my medications so I buy the necessary meds and use over the counter for other medical conditions that I have which are becoming worst because I can not afford to buy prescription too.
Yes, I eat well and excercise but there are days I am in so much pain I wish I could be on steady medication to control ALL symptoms.
Your rheumatologist has the paper work.
Hope this helps!
www.freemedicinefoundation.com, Patient Access Network Foundation, Health Well Foundation might be able to help you get your medicine.
Have you tried taking Ultracet for pain yet? I have fibromyalgia and wouldn't be up and walking around without it. By the way it comes in generic and a three month supply costs me $13.50 after Medicare Part D pays it's share.
Blessings to people who run the drug company Abbott and those like them! i do Yoga and Pilates and it does wonders for me. Kudos to those who can stay off of drugs - I can only say you have not had a real "flare" then and lost the use of your hands and feet like I have. The drugs helped me regain their use. I would suggest vitamins and exercise for pain control along with your pain pills for those who take pain killers. Exercise is a pain killer in itself... just take it slow and work with professionals!
good luck to one and all!
any suggestions?
TRAMODOL (FOR PAIN- DOESN'T CLOUD MY BRAIN), HEP C (in remission), bad lungs, 9 FRACTURES
IN MY BACK ( HAD KIFORPLASTY) ON 6- SUPPOSED TO HAVE ANOTHER SURGERY (3 AT A TIME) BUT I HAVE NOW DEVELOPED SOME BLEEDING ON MY COLON ( WHERE I HAVE A BIG SCAR FROM HAVING A KIDNEY.SPLEEN OUT), LOW NOW IN IRON AND LOW RCC, ENERGY, ETC...BUT I KEEP TRYING HAVE TO.
LOST 4-5 " HEIGHT AND NOW AM BENT OVER. NEED TO DO THE BACK THING BUT HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE BLEEDING ISSUE,
i TAKE GENERIC PLACOENIL. I ALSO TAKE FORTEO SHOTS DAILY, IT IS THE LASTEST BEST THING. IT WAS ON 60 MINE. OR ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS
SAYING IT IS GREAT.. U CAN ONLY TAKE IT FOR 2 YRS AND IS EXPENSIVE-HELPS REGROW BONE. I CAN'T STAND ANOTHER FRACTURE.
I suffer from a multiplicity of medical maladies and have been for the past 7 years.
I was 'forced-into-an-early-retirement" 3 years ago, due to SEVERE HEADACHES & SEVERE
DIZZY SPELLS from my own Gardening Maintenance Business.(that was really hard !!!)
I,too am a sufferer of Rheumatoid Arthritis,and
its gradually worsening,the pain so severe at-times it brings tears to the eyes,daily and often.
One of the monumental gifts GOD gave to
mankind is FREE-AGENCY....the FREEDOM to CHOOSE...as with all gifts, we can use it and be blessed, or "NOT" use it and be the
harbinger of our own demise-wholistically.
I agree with Irudayam.Y, exercise some way. I cannot walk or lift weights like I did, but I found a class at the YMCA, deep water aerobics, it is great ! Just liek a major workout on land, with the resisitance, and you are weightless. Yoga, stretching, elipticals. Oh it makes you feel better and have less pain. FOr those of us who have it all the time even a "turn down on the volume"
is a relief.
God Bless and remember to pray,
I do not feel any different or maybe feel better without any meds. I need to increase my excersize and I know that would help
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