Friday, June 23, 2017

Say hello to Generic Drugs because you won't get anything else. By Geniusofdespair

On my plan they stuck all the drugs in tiers. And, they move them to a higher more expensive tier at will. One of my generics doubled in price because of a tier move. And brand name drug I want, $400. A lidocaine patch 1% stronger than over the counter ($7.99) is $400. And then they remove your drug from the plan altogether. I now get my drugs through Romania and Turkey. I only get antibiotics through my drug plan United. They suck. So unless you want a generic or antibiotics, or you are expecting to use a drug with no generic equivalent, you are screwed.

Doctors are so tired of writing letters to try to move your drug to a cheaper tier, they are supplying patients with cheaper pharmacies--- no drug plan involved.

What is your experience?

 We are getting screwed even in our plans! And I have great insurance, just a lot of drug bills.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Me too. All my doctors are giving me specialty pharmacy numbers for the drugs they prescribe.

Grace said...

Mental health drugs, although they have generics are not the same as brand. Also is there an endocrinologist alive that doesn't prescribe synthroid for thyroid conditions even thought there are dozens of generics available?

Anonymous said...

My eye doctor and my dermatologist gave me a pharmacy number where I could get my drugs cheaper.

Anonymous said...

I am peeing blood clots at the moment, at least Cipro is covered.

P.S. Yes it is fucking painful. It is like passing softer kidney stones.

Geniusofdespair said...

Gross. Not so literal please.

Geniusofdespair said...

Just take 2 aspirin and call me in the morning... if you are still alive.

Anonymous said...

LAKELAND, Fla., Dec. 1, 2015 — Beginning today, Publix Pharmacies will offer free 90-day supply of metformin, Lisinopril and amlodipine, all currently part of Publix’s free medication programs, to customers with a prescription for the medications. Previously, 30-day supplies of the medications were offered with a prescription. The program enhancement is being made to assist our customers’ medication adherence.

The free medications offered, treatment and dosages include:

Lisinopril — an ACE inhibitor used to prevent, treat or improve symptoms of high blood pressure, certain heart conditions, diabetes and certain chronic kidney conditions. Maximum of 90-day supply (up to 180 tablets). Lisinopril-HCTZ combination products excluded.
Metformin — a medication used to treat diabetes. Maximum of 90-day supply of generic immediate-release metformin (up to 360 500-mg tablets, 270 850-mg or 225 1000-mg).
Amlodipine — a calcium-channel blocker commonly used to treat high blood pressure and angina (chest pain). Maximum of 90-day supply (up to 180 2.5-mg or 5-mg tablets, or 90 10-mg tablets). Amlodipine combination products are excluded.
Publix Pharmacy also offers a 14-day supply of the following generic oral antibiotics free:

amoxicillin
ampicillin
ciprofloxacin (excluding Ciprofloxacin XR)
penicillin VK and
sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim (SMZ-TMP)
For more information, please visit www.publix.com/pharmacy.

“The Publix Pharmacy continues to enhance our free medications programs to best serve the needs of our customers,” said Media and Community Relations Director Maria Brous. “With health care and prescription costs continuing to rise, medication adherence may prove challenging. The enhancement to our free prescription programs and pharmacy services allows our customers to focus on staying healthy and achieving their overall wellness goals.”

Anonymous said...

Costco - you don't have to be a member to use their pharmacy.

How It Works:

To Join
Complete the enrollment form or at any participating Costco pharmacy and return it to your Costco pharmacist. There is no additional charge for Costco members to participate in the Program.

This program is NOT insurance. The program is a value added benefit of Costco membership that provides eligible Costco members and their eligible dependents the ability to obtain lower prices for certain prescriptions on the Program's Preferred Drug List.

Savings
Savings are estimated up to 70% off and calculated at the time of sale. View some examples of savings that you and your family can begin taking advantage of immediately. The amount of any price reduction is determined at the time of purchase, and may change from time to time. Contact your local Costco Pharmacist for current Program pricing information.

Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to your Frequently Asked Questions about the Costco Member Prescription Program.

Pet Medication
Costco Member Prescription Program is also open for Costco member pet medications. Contact your local Costco Pharmacy for details.
We've made saving money easy!

Enrollment in the Program is open to Costco members (and their dependents) who have no prescription drug coverage available. Anyone receiving benefits from a publicly funded health care program, such as Medicare or Medicaid, is not eligible.

Anonymous said...

There's a very good app called GoodRx - you type in your drug name and it maps all of the drugstores' prices for that item.

Geniusofdespair said...

Thanks for all the tips. But you prove my point that prescription insurance sucks.

Anonymous said...

Grace, I'm not sure why you say generics for psych meds are not the same. I thought generics were supposed to be the same formulation but without all the name brand advertising.

The right likes to complain about the money we send overseas in aid to foreign nations. Consider this though. We are also subsidizing big pharma. Medications are much cheaper outside the US. Now I know that research isn't cheap and FDA requires tons of it prior to approving a med for sale in the US whether it is or isn't developed in the US. I don't disagree with this. But the pharmas are banking on getting P.A.I.D. in the US.

The Costco and Publix and Walmart models are an example of just how cheap these meds can be. Those companies, and others, are using the hook to get people into their stores. Of course they only offer the benefit on the lower tier, generic drugs.

The US needs to stop subsidizing pharma worldwide.