topic Re: Drug Prices in Wellness

Drug Prices

Mom2Dogs — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 17:41:29 GMT

...major sticker shock on my husbands a-fib meds for 2017. The drug went from tier 3 to tier 4. We were told in November (Silver Scripts customer service agent) what the price was for 3 months for 2017....but when DH went to fill the script it was no where near that price!!

I would like to understand how drugs are priced.....if someone understands the in and outs I would appreciate a lesson, if not can you give me a web site that lays it out....in a non political way? Thanks

And ontop of the price increase he went in for his wellness check last year and just got the paperwork from the insurance company.....it was coded wrong and he was billed for the entire amount and to add insult to injury they billed him twice!

Re: Drug Prices

sidsmom — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 17:48:12 GMT

http://www.businessinsider.com/prescription-drug-costs-explained-2016-10

Re: Drug Prices

Gram W — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 18:00:39 GMT

@Mom2Dogs. The tiers of all my drugs changed in 2017. I dread filling the new RXs this month. They cost me more than groceries. Taking them is not a choice if I want to watch my grands grow up. I have been a widow for many years and I want to be independent and as healthy as I can be.

Two years ago I had a procedure billed under the wrong code. Both my specialist and insurance company understood. I was reimbursed quickly for the amount I had paid. All the paper work was redone with the correct code and I did not owe anything for the procedure.

I would talk to your facedoctors office and the insurance company immediately. It sounds like your doctor's office needs to reinvoice with the correct code and look into their double billing. I would keep a complete record of all conversations regarding this problem for future use and backup just in case. Some times others "forget" they discussed this problem with you and you will have needed complete information to jog their memory and protect your credit with all concerned.

Good luck.

Re: Drug Prices

Gram W — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 18:02:56 GMT

@sidsmom. Thank you for this information. It is very helpful.

Re: Drug Prices

Mom2Dogs — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 18:21:44 GMT

@sidsmom...thanks for the visual and web site....I will take the time to understand how this works!

and @Gram W....Monday morning the calling will start. This is not the first time I have had something coded wrong but the first time we were double billed on the insurance company paperwork. Ya gotta stay on your toes!

This is the 2nd full year my dh has been on any medication, it has been a learning curve, he got caught in the donut hole in November.

Re: Drug Prices

151949 — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 18:36:54 GMT

IMO - there is no one on earth who are dirtier dogs than Insurance companies. Who invented this krap of tiers of drugs? - they did. And, yes, as drugs become more necessary or more popular they move them up the tiers. Right now my DH is buying his diabetes drugs from Canada Pharmacy .com because of this. ( it's a very long story). Have you looked at buying from Canada - the government controls how much they can charge for drugs up there because the government pays for them under their health plan. I recommend you look into Canada drugs.com. It doesn't hurt to look! And it is the exact same drugs from the exact same companies as here.

Re: Drug Prices

Mom2Dogs — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 19:19:16 GMT

@151949...thanks. We have talked about it but not looked into it....I will assume you think it is safe.

Re: Drug Prices

Mz iMac — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 19:45:46 GMT

http://www.rxassist.org/

Re: Drug Prices

Mom2Dogs — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 20:56:48 GMT

@Mz iMac...thanks. DH has a drug plan and we earn to much money to get assistance. Hopefully someone that can use the information will see it.

Re: Drug Prices

software — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 21:11:53 GMT

When my late husband was diagnosed with lymphoma, he got assistance from the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. It didn't matter your financial situation, you just needed something from a doctor comfirming the diagnosis.

They are huge into fundraising and they set aside some of that money to assist patients not just for research..

So whatever the diagnosis I would check with the local cancer society or whoever.

I donate to some of these myself and I like the idea that the money is used to help people who need it. Even if someone has money doesn't mean that they should be disregarded. A devastating diagnosis is the great equalizer. Your bank account should be irrelevent.

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@Mz iMac...thanks. DH has a drug plan and we earn to much money to get assistance. Hopefully someone that can use the information will see it.

Re: Drug Prices

151949 — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 00:47:18 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@151949...thanks. We have talked about it but not looked into it....I will assume you think it is safe.

My DH's diabetes drug was moved up to tier 3 so the copay for a 30 day supply was $200. He buys it now from Canada drug.com for $60 + S&H adds another $10 for a 90 day supply.Just amazing!

Re: Drug Prices

cherry — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 00:49:19 GMT

@151949 thats awful. I take metformin and it's very cheap

Re: Drug Prices

151949 — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 00:52:47 GMT

@cherry wrote:
@151949 thats awful. I take metformin and it's very cheap

He takes a metformin combo drug and no matter what else they have tried he has some bad reaction so this is not the drug of choice - it is THE only drug. So far the Canada thing is working ok for him. Of course, we have our fingers crossed that this new administration won't do something to ruin us being able to get it.

Re: Drug Prices

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 02:36:01 GMT

@151949...I went online and created a profile for DH at the pharmacy you indicated....the drug he needs is more expensie than buying it thru our local pharmacy... We were hoping to save some money, sigh.

Re: Drug Prices

hckynut — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 03:08:21 GMT

I have 2 prescriptions that fall into my pharmacies "control level drug". Talked with them yesterday and my 90 supply went up $5 on both of them. On these prescriptions, my mail order pharmacy, will not do an "auto refill" every 90 days, as they do with my other prescriptions.

My doctor has to write these 2 prescriptions for them to be refilled. With my other 3 prescriptions they auto fill them with just 1 prescription for 12 months of refills each 90 day period.

Not sure if my other 3 prices have also gone up. Will wait till they are shipped and check the invoice.

hckynut(john)

Re: Drug Prices

Kachina624 — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 04:49:30 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@151949...thanks. We have talked about it but not looked into it....I will assume you think it is safe.

@Mom2Dogs I've bought drugs in Canada and it's as safe or safer, than buying here. Why wouldn't it be? Canada is hardly a third world country. Mexico, on the other hand, is a different story.

Re: Drug Prices

151949 — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 12:35:25 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@151949...I went online and created a profile for DH at the pharmacy you indicated....the drug he needs is more expensie than buying it thru our local pharmacy... We were hoping to save some money, sigh.

Sorry. I haven't any other ideas for you. Have you discussed this with your doctor? Maybe there is another drug he cpould take instead.

Re: Drug Prices

Witchy Woman — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 12:40:30 GMT

I've also been buying from Canada Drugs and pricing is very good. They are curteous and safe.

Re: Drug Prices

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 13:15:10 GMT

@151949....Dh is calling the doctor Monday morning to see if he can be switched to a less expensive drug. Currently he is on Eliquis...Pradaxa appears to be less expensive.

Re: Drug Prices

151949 — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 16:35:04 GMT

Good luck. I hope he finds some help from the doctor.