OT=my personal RX research. | Arthritis Information

I went to Mayo clinic online, and using meds listed for RA there, did research on how my Medicare Prescription Insurance would cover the meds: Medrol-4 tabs .00, Hydrocortisone 10mg 30tabs .00, Plaquenil 30days .00, Ridaura 3mg 60tabs .00, Azulfidine 500mg 30days .00, Dynacin 100mg 60 tabs .00, Doxycycline 100mg 30tabs .00, Minocin 100mg 30day .00, Rheumatrex 2.5mg 24 tabs .00, Remicade (not covered) costs 5.00 100mg vial, Arava 30days only 5.00,(prior authonly), Imuran 5.00 prior auth only, Neoral 0.00 prior auth only, Sandimmune 0.00 prior auth only, Cytoxan 0.00 step therapy only, Enbrel 0.00 step therapy only......NOTE: prior auth and step therapy only means THE Script Insurance Co will not approve the prescription, so I would pay full price....on a pension I just cannot afford this RA!!!

Oh that reminds me I need to call in my refills. *goes to call in refills*

Hawkeye, I was assured that Remicade was covered. It may be covered with special authorization. Lindy

Minocin at that price is a steal! If you 'pulsed' it would only be a month.

Anybody know why he can't do doxy?

Pip

P.S. Is the above for the generic? Sometimes the generic Mino is even cheaper.

Don, I am sympathize with you on the cost of drugs because I have to pay out of pocket too and that is why I am not on Enbrel and other injectables.
To the tune of "side by side" Oh we ain't got a barrel of money, maybe we're crippled and funny, but we'll hobble along, singing our song, side by side. La de da!

Lindy my check w/humana script ins this am shows it is not covered. Sometimes things change when u actually turn in a script tho....I had exp not long ago where they would only cover "Lamisil" in step therapy, which means they want me to take a less costly pill for a couple years before they consider lamisil....I sent to canada for it...have a good one...

don

[QUOTE=now & then]
To the tune of "side by side" Oh we ain't got a barrel of money, maybe we're crippled and funny, but we'll hobble along, singing our song, side by side. La de da!

[/QUOTE]

Very clever thanks for the chuckle.

RAJay39358.4793518518

""NOW" lol, I haven't heard that tune in years!!! LOL....

don

Don,

You might want to check around on those prices. Some seem a bit high. Walgreens.com and drugstore.com allow you to look up prices on their websites.
remicade is covered under regular medicare not the prescription plan as its an infusion provided in a medical office. Same for rituxan and orencia.

Buckeye, that's good to know if the time comes...thanks a bunch!

don

I was just going to post about part b picking up Remicade. Because Medicare is eff. 10/1 for me I did a search, out of curiousity to see what part d would pay for my rxs. Also, depending on the plan you choose for part d, the amounts paid will vary for the same drugs. It's very confusing for the elderly to understand. I taught a class for seniors in affliation with the Univ. of Nev. on part d when it was first introduced. Since then they've made modifications and have actually improved the payment schedule. I worked in the health ins. industry and dealt with Medicare everyday and it was difficult for me to understand, much less a senior who's cognitive skills aren't up to par. I felt really sorry for them and so many of them would choose not to take part d because they didn't understand the plan and how it worked and that made them more suspicious of the government. Sort of got off topic, sorry. Lindy

I've been on Enbrel for 1 year and it has been working for me. However, I changed jobs and won't be able to afford it anymore. I swear, this sucks. Who knows what will happen with my joints now.

Can't a workin' girl catch a break? I'm without insurance until end of November. I hope nothing happens

Phatgirl

Phats - Can you swing Cobra through November? I know it's a fortune, but I'd be so scared to risk messing up something that is working.

Suzanne,

Great thought, but even when my new ins. kicks in, my copay is going from .00/3 months to OVER 0.00/MONTH.

There is no way I can do that, unless I sell my house. I'm not ready to do that just yet. I don't know what to do. It's a shame that we have to be forced to make decisions like this everyday.

Phats

Don,

I don't know much about most of the meds but Plaquenil. They've always given me the generic for Hydroxychloroquine(sp). I wonder if that would be less expensive if you can take the generic. I know there are some people that can't.