Posted by softheprairie on February 17, 2010, at 7:43:44
In reply to dumb question re:paying for meds, posted by Roslynn on February 12, 2010, at 15:05:46
>
>
> I know this is a dumb question but how do folks afford meds, especially brand name? I don't qualify for any of the pharm companies financial assistance programs because I have insurance.. yet I have a very high deductible to meet each year before insurance will kick in.
You may still qualify for the drug company's assistance program! I think they like to keep it not-well-known that they sometimes give the drug for free to people who do have drug coverage, but can't afford the co-pay or deductible. Why don't you just apply and see if they accept you? That's what I did in around 2008 or first part of 2009. I was honest and answered the question on their form that yes, I had insurance, and yes, I had pharmacy benefits, but I couldn't afford the co-pay on my Bystolic (which isn't even that expensive of a drug, and I know lots of people pay more for other meds than the $45 co-pay I had, but really, even that was too much for me). They accepted me!!! It was embarrassing to have to take the assistance form to my doctor and get her to sign it and agree to it being delivered to their office, but I guess my poverty was more powerful to me than my embarrassment, lol. Since then I have gotten on Medicare for being disabled long enough, and am just barely poor enough to qualify for Medicare's "Extra Help," which subsidizes my Plan D such that I have a low co-pay on it now that I can afford, and don't need to go through the drug maker and the extra steps of them sending it to my doctor's office.
poster:softheprairie
thread:936843
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100216/msgs/937221.html