Yikes, Lisa. I don't even know what to say. I try to stay positive, but I'd want to rip someone's head off in your situation. I agree that Medicare's option is ludicrous (I got rid of it to have the measly extra $100/month), but I'm not sure what's a good idea in your situation. I hope Obama and Biden win so maybe things will get better for everyone in the coming four years. I'm sorry I don't have an answer.
No suggestions are really needed. I do appreciate your thoughtfulness however.
I certainly screamed (softly), ranted, fumed, cried, and sometimes argued while going through these experiences (and there were even more than what I included).
When thinking of the many people who may not have the persistence, strength, or understanding, it helps me to KNOW that I have gone through all of this for a reason. The full extend of that has yet to be seen.
But without these experiences and direct hands-on knowledge of how it all works (or doesn't work), I would never have started a blog in the first place. And look at what I'm doing now....
I spent some time today with a friend who was dropped yesterday from a MS study where she was getting her meds. She is out of work and depressed beyond belief.She said that she was pleading them for help. They would not even put into writing why they were dropping her and they did not offer her any meds to keep her going till she could get scheduled back to a doctor of her own.
I dont even know where to start to look for help for her. Any suggestions? This is not something that I care to believe that we have thousands of people facing.
I tell ya...it makes me nervous just reading all of this. I have looked into the various drugs and I am very limited as far as what my insurance will cover. One of the drugs was not even an option as it would cost more than my mortgage each month!
I am not on any of the MS drugs yet. But things are probably going to change soon when I go for my annual MRI in October and....well we will see. Cost should not enter into my decision but it absolutely does.
Very informative post Lisa. I am hoping others will chime in and talk about their experience with how they pay for their medication.
Thanks Merely,
I'm finding that there are many, many folks for whom the actual price tag (cost) of their medication is an abstract, non-applicable piece of fiction.
"How much does your xxxx drug cost?"
"$20 each month."
"No, the actual cost. What does the pharmacy charge to your insurance company?"
"I don't know. What does it matter the cost if my co-pay is only $20?"
This is truly at the center of the problem with how our healthcare is delivered. Very few people want to know all the details.
To whomever and anyone,
My neurologist has changed my MS drug from Copaxone to Tysabri. Unfortunately, it was right after I received a shipment of 1 month of Copaxone. I have been trying to donate the unopened box to some one without insurance and it is impossible. This medicine is $2000/month. I have tried the drug company, my neurologist, MS society, open door clinic and missionaries and not one place wants it for legal reasons.
I do not want to throw away this very expensive medication. Can I post this here and hope that some one will want it?
Donna
Hi Donna,
If you still have that copaxone I would gladly take it. I was diagnosed 2 yrs ago with rr/ms. I started copaxone 19 days ago. I recevied 90 doses coverd by state assistants. How ever I dont qualify for that insurane anymore. I did see the bill the state picked up before I was droped.($8,000) So when I use these 90 dose's I don't know what to do.
I know this is an old post but still had to try.
Patrick
Hi Pat,
I am so sorry....I just disposed of the Copaxone a couple of days ago. I tried really hard to donate and no one would take it. If you call the drug company they may be able to help. A lot of drug companies have drug help now because they charge so much, people without insurance cannot afford it. You can also try shared solutions which you should be a part of if you're on copaxone. You can get the info by going to their website, if you don't have online access at home, your local library will. I have a 1 million dollar cap on my health insurance. When I get to that point, I will not be able to afford the Tysabri, whicj I found out, costs $22,000/month not including the hospital fees and supplies used for the IV. I still can't fathum that. I little, tiny vial of powder that gets mixed with water. We are in the wrong business.
Again, I am so sorry about your insurance problems and not having the drug when you needed it the most :(
Donna
my betaferon, which i am told xosts the NHS £600 a month costs me nothing, they even wavie the £7.10 prescription fee that you have to pay for everything else. i was however under the impression that long term illnesses were treated for free in the US. Ps quite shocking really that such a progressed country would allow people to suffer.
This is an absolute crime and I have started inquiring if there is a lawfirm that will start a class action lawsuit. Most, if not all, of these companies have been around much longer than their original patent allowed. (some companies have been around for 20 years!) Doesn't anyone else wonder wny the heck there are not any generics of these drugs? It is because they change one small thing in the compound and then they get another patent. This has got to stop!
Sad to say the doctors are given many gifts from these companies including caterled lunch everyday, trips, gifts and money. My doctor was SURE that my co-pay would only be $50.00. NOT TRUE! It was that way when I has A+++ coverage. I now am on Social Security with Medicare and Medicare Supplement. I too applied for assistance from MS LifeLines. After submitting a mound of paperwork proving I am poor, I was denied assistance! I think they denied it because my husband has a small pension from long before we were married.
Honestly, it has been suggested that if we get divorced, I could qualify immediately! WHAT?????????
When the pharmacy called to arrange delivery, they told me that the first month (my cost) would be $900 per month. the second month would be at least $2,500 AND THEN ONLY $600 per month after that. They honestly asked if I wanted to speak to someone in the financing department. ABSOLUTELY NOT! I refuse to finance drug costs. I would rather become paralyzed than to finance drug costs.
Think about this example for 1 second:
Let's say there are 250,000 people with MS in the United States. And also let's say one company has just 10% of those patients. (That is 25,000 patients) And also let's assume that the cost of the drug is $2,500 per month.
That drug company is making, are you ready? $62,500,000 (sixty two million, five hundred thousand PER MONTH! And $750,000,000 (Seven hundred and fifty million!) PER YEAR!
They can't afford to extend assistance?
I'll jump down from my soapbox now, but be assured that I am not going to give up until they are forced to allow generics.
I think the number of patients in this country should be able to change something.
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There is always the option of using toxic waste instead from the nearby stream. The results are likely pretty much the same.
So how do I turn toxic waste into an endless source of finances with which to pay all debt?