The prescription is how much?

[TNT]

I went to the doctor today, and, long story short, I got a prescription for my rapidly re-emerging bipolar disorder. (I also have a gallbladder that's really pissed off about something, but that's another story... I think.)

The cost of said prescription: $815.19 per month. And, if it's effective, I'll presumably be taking it forever.

That's not a prescription... that's a mortgage payment. That's my apartment rent plus payments on a spiffy new car, plus the gas to make it run.

Thankfully, I have very nice insurance. My worry is about those who don't... being intimately acquainted with Bipolar Hell, the thought of someone suffering through that -- day in, endless day out -- for lack of money irritates me.

[blas]

I'd rest assured. We have the bottom of the barrel insurance at the factory, and all of my coworkers seem to be heavily medicated at all times.

[Greenday]

Working in a pharmacy has made me happy to only have to pay $20-$30 for copays on my meds. I've seen people have to literally get a dozen different meds at once, all over $100 each.

[Amethyst Hunter]

Holy rib-cracking Christ on a ten-speeding illegally parked bike! WTF kind of meds are those that would cost that much per month?! :eek: :eek:

I don't have bipolar, but I DO have chronic depression, and it, along with a whole host of other things I suspect I have, will probably eventually squash me. I haven't had insurance since I turned 21 and my mom's then-insurance (also long since gone; my entire family is insurance-less and has been for years) booted me off. (For reference, I'll turn 31 this October.)

Sure hope that things work out all right for you. Depression sucks to have. :(

[Kusanagi]

Try to find the perscription cheaper, either importing it from India or Canada.

That's what I had to do. The doctors care about your medical problem as long as you have the money to pay for it all.

[CanadaGirl]

Try to find the perscription cheaper, either importing it from India or Canada.

That's what I had to do. The doctors care about your medical problem as long as you have the money to pay for it all.

Or don't. That just takes the meds away from Canadians who need it just as much. :rolleyes:

[Kiwi]

My asthma medicine (one of them) is $510 a month and thats WITH the government subsidy.... Most of the medicines have little or no effect on me, since this came out I have gone full days weeks without attacks. I dont have a choice when it comes to leading a normal life... for me its take this stuff or live in fear of rain, stairs, dust, pollen, pets, everyday life.

fun fun fun

because of another medical condition I have I get a special grant which brings it down to $3 a month.... but what about people who dont qualify for that grant?

Apprently my government doesnt believe that breathing or... being alive is a right not a want.....

EDIT: sorry if the post seems grumpy, my asthma has been absoulety shitty the last few months, the worst its been ever and not being able to breath kinda puts a downer on your mood.

[draggar]

What really pissed me off with pescriptions (well, the insurance companies) is that sometimes, if it is too expensive, the insurance company will not cover it and actually say (yes, these have been said to us):

"It's not financially feasible for us to cover that" (so, we pay you to cover pescription costs, but you're not doing that? I'm sorry to hear your Q4 numbers aren't that great, you're the ones who got into this business, not me)

"We don't think you really need it" (funny, I didn't realize that their "customer service" reps were more educated than my own doctor to know enough about me without even being there!)

"There is no generic" (That's not my fauly)

"We don't think it would affect anything that affects your health" (This was for my inhaler, sure, breathing isn't that important!)

If we pulled 1/4 the crap that insurance companies pull on us they would put us in a collection agency and call a lawyer so quickly.

[symposes]

Insurence companies, especially medical and health insurers, call any and all medical payouts as a LOSS. just think about that for a minute.

Damn I envey canadians and britians.

About 6 months ago, the US congress tried to pass a bill to make it legal to import drugs from canada to help people save money. It got shot down. Why you might ask? Because the FDA cannot vouch for the safety of the drugs coming from other countries. Fair enough. or it sounds that way, til you find out Canada has SIGNIFICANTLY stricter rules concerning drugs then the US. Which would say to me that it would be perfectly safe.

The pharmacutical companies arent even monitored over here. Thats another thing to munch on.

[PuckishOne]

Insurence companies, especially medical and health insurers, call any and all medical payouts as a LOSS.

I can't speak to the rest of this post, but I can say that this is not accurate. I work for a medical insurer and have (against my will) become intimately acquainted with our financial reporting. Claims paid are reported as just that: claims paid. They are accounted for on our balance sheet as an expense, which is not the same as a loss.

[Kusanagi]

I imported mine from Canada and now import it from India.

I really don't think it does anything to hurt the canadian economy or else they wouldn't sell it to people in the US that can't afford the medicines they need.

[TNT]

What really pissed me off with pescriptions (well, the insurance companies) is that sometimes, if it is too expensive, the insurance company will not cover it and actually say (yes, these have been said to us):

"It's not financially feasible for us to cover that" (so, we pay you to cover pescription costs, but you're not doing that? I'm sorry to hear your Q4 numbers aren't that great, you're the ones who got into this business, not me)



If anything, I think my insurance may be too easy to get along with... my prescription plan is $10 for generics, $25 for brand names in the formulary, and $35 for everything else -- including the brand name version of a generic, even I decide I'm just too cool to take generics (for the record, I've never felt that cool, although I would use that benefit if I was convinced that the brand-name was significantly better than the generic).

This gives the doctor very little motivation to try cheaper alternatives first. Instead it's, "This is hyper-expensive, but it's the latest and greatest -- it may or may not be better for your specific condition than older generic drugs, but since someone else is paying for it, who cares?"

In the end, though, if it's insurance through an employer, my understanding is that the employer basically decides the terms of coverage. It's not the insurance company that's so easy... it's that the employer has elected to pay the bill for this particular level of coverage.

Reason #122 why benefits count when determining one's actual pay.

[draggar]

Insurence companies, especially medical and health insurers, call any and all medical payouts as a LOSS. just think about that for a minute.

Don't forget about an industry that's larger than the insurance industry, the re-insurance industry.

Not only do insurance companies get to take the hits as a 'loss' and get tax breaks, they have insurance to cover their insurance losses, so they pay a deductible and get most of it back.

So, they get the loss, but since it's the money they get is insurance reimbursements, then they can also add the dedustible as a tax write-off and do NOT need to disclose the reinsurance payment as income.

WTF?

No wonder insurance agencies are the largest lobby group in Washington.

[draggar]

If anything, I think my insurance may be too easy to get along with... my prescription plan is $10 for generics, $25 for brand names in the formulary, and $35 for everything else -- including the brand name version of a generic, even I decide I'm just too cool to take generics (for the record, I've never felt that cool, although I would use that benefit if I was convinced that the brand-name was significantly better than the generic).

Believe that until you need something serious. Just like medical insurance, Aetna backed out AFTER my wife's hip was replaced.

In the end, though, if it's insurance through an employer, my understanding is that the employer basically decides the terms of coverage. It's not the insurance company that's so easy... it's that the employer has elected to pay the bill for this particular level of coverage.

The companies decide on what plans will be available and basics on coverage (amount, company costs, employee costs, etc) , but whether or not this specific one is covered or not is up to the insurance company.