Community Chat

[hyacinth003]

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@JillyMarie wrote:

Wow.  This is great news.  Free drugs -- just call the pharms and you are good to go.  I will take personal responsibiity.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Thanks again @winamac1

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Nothing in this world is "free."  Someone pays for it. 

In the case of free drugs, the people who DO PAY will pay for those who get it for "free."

It is merely cost shifting.

Hyacinth

[hyacinth003]

My husband just switched from private insurance to Medicare.

So, we've purchased Medicare and prescription drug supplements.

The drugs that we paid one amount for now cost more!  Very same medications he took for years and paid a certain amount for went up with that change.

Based on what company your prescription drug card is from is what the pharmacy charges you.  Same drug - different price charged.

Now we are trying to understand a whole new system of health care costs.

Hyacinth

[Cakers3]

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@hyacinth003 wrote:

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@JillyMarie wrote:

Wow.  This is great news.  Free drugs -- just call the pharms and you are good to go.  I will take personal responsibiity.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Thanks again @winamac1

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Nothing in this world is "free."  Someone pays for it. 

In the case of free drugs, the people who DO PAY will pay for those who get it for "free."

It is merely cost shifting.

Hyacinth

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@hyacinth003 @JillyMarie  Not all Pharma companies offer "free" meds. They may offer coupons one can take to a pharmacy to reduce out of pocket costs but the catch is that you must have insurance to use these coupons.

Cost shifting is a good way of putting it - "free" programs still cost others who may not be at poverty level but are still having to decide- meds/food/mortgage/-which is the priortiy for this month.

[winamac1]

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@JillyMarie wrote:

Wow.  This is great news.  Free drugs -- just call the pharms and you are good to go.  I will take personal responsibiity.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Thanks again @winamac1

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You don't have to be facetious.  I didn't say "free drugs for every drug or for everyone".  I stated that MANY of the branded, expensive biologics are being sold by major companies (not generic drugs), and they do offer free programs.  I was only trying to help some who may not have known about the many programs offered!

I've dealt with this for years, and I do know that with the product I carry, many Medicare patients won't call the support teams back to even get screened for the free drug program.  So, yes...some should take personal responsibility to SEE if, perhaps, the product they are on...if it's a branded drug, offers assistance.

I also don't know about compounded drugs.  They may not offer the programs the Big Pharma branded products do.

[winamac1]

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@Cakers3 wrote:

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@hyacinth003 wrote:

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@JillyMarie wrote:

Wow.  This is great news.  Free drugs -- just call the pharms and you are good to go.  I will take personal responsibiity.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Thanks again @winamac1

---

Nothing in this world is "free."  Someone pays for it. 

In the case of free drugs, the people who DO PAY will pay for those who get it for "free."

It is merely cost shifting.

Hyacinth

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@hyacinth003 @JillyMarie  Not all Pharma companies offer "free" meds. They may offer coupons one can take to a pharmacy to reduce out of pocket costs but the catch is that you must have insurance to use these coupons.

Cost shifting is a good way of putting it - "free" programs still cost others who may not be at poverty level but are still having to decide- meds/food/mortgage/-which is the priortiy for this month.

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You are exactly right--in order to use "co pay cards", one has to have insurance.

But, if one falls up to 135% of the Federal Poverty Level (and they are Medicare Part D), the government will give meds at a cost of 0 to $7.40 a month.  That's called the "Low Income Subsidy" or "Extra Help" Program.  One has to call Social Security to get screened for that program.

[itiswhatitis]

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@winamac1 wrote:

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@Cakers3 wrote:

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@hyacinth003 wrote:

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@JillyMarie wrote:

Wow.  This is great news.  Free drugs -- just call the pharms and you are good to go.  I will take personal responsibiity.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Thanks again @winamac1

---

Nothing in this world is "free."  Someone pays for it. 

In the case of free drugs, the people who DO PAY will pay for those who get it for "free."

It is merely cost shifting.

Hyacinth

---

@hyacinth003 @JillyMarie  Not all Pharma companies offer "free" meds. They may offer coupons one can take to a pharmacy to reduce out of pocket costs but the catch is that you must have insurance to use these coupons.

Cost shifting is a good way of putting it - "free" programs still cost others who may not be at poverty level but are still having to decide- meds/food/mortgage/-which is the priortiy for this month.

---

You are exactly right--in order to use "co pay cards", one has to have insurance.

But, if one falls up to 135% of the Federal Poverty Level (and they are Medicare Part D), the government will give meds at a cost of 0 to $7.40 a month.  That's called the "Low Income Subsidy" or "Extra Help" Program.  One has to call Social Security to get screened for that program.

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@winamac1  Medicaid.  Meicaid picks up these costs.  Under ACA, not all States expanded Medicaid, but they may still be eligible so yes, this is a good idea.

[winamac1]

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@itiswhatitis wrote:

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@winamac1 wrote:

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@Cakers3 wrote:

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@hyacinth003 wrote:

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@JillyMarie wrote:

Wow.  This is great news.  Free drugs -- just call the pharms and you are good to go.  I will take personal responsibiity.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Thanks again @winamac1

---

Nothing in this world is "free."  Someone pays for it. 

In the case of free drugs, the people who DO PAY will pay for those who get it for "free."

It is merely cost shifting.

Hyacinth

---

@hyacinth003 @JillyMarie  Not all Pharma companies offer "free" meds. They may offer coupons one can take to a pharmacy to reduce out of pocket costs but the catch is that you must have insurance to use these coupons.

Cost shifting is a good way of putting it - "free" programs still cost others who may not be at poverty level but are still having to decide- meds/food/mortgage/-which is the priortiy for this month.

---

You are exactly right--in order to use "co pay cards", one has to have insurance.

But, if one falls up to 135% of the Federal Poverty Level (and they are Medicare Part D), the government will give meds at a cost of 0 to $7.40 a month.  That's called the "Low Income Subsidy" or "Extra Help" Program.  One has to call Social Security to get screened for that program.

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@winamac1  Medicaid.  Meicaid picks up these costs.  Under ACA, not all States expanded Medicaid, but they may still be eligible so yes, this is a good idea.

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Medicaid is totally separate from Low Income Subsidy.  Low Income Subsidy is for Medicare Part D patients. 

[winamac1]

Eligible beneficiaries who have limited income may qualify for a government program that helps pay for Medicare Part D prescription drug costs. Medicare beneficiaries receiving the low-income subsidy (LIS) get assistance in paying for their Part D monthly premium, annual deductible, coinsurance, and copayments.
Low-Income Subsidy -- Medicare Extra Help Program
www.ehealthmedicare.com/medicare-part-d-prescription/low-income-subsidy/

[winamac1]

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@itiswhatitis wrote:

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@winamac1 wrote:

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@Cakers3 wrote:

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@hyacinth003 wrote:

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@JillyMarie wrote:

Wow.  This is great news.  Free drugs -- just call the pharms and you are good to go.  I will take personal responsibiity.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Thanks again @winamac1

---

Nothing in this world is "free."  Someone pays for it. 

In the case of free drugs, the people who DO PAY will pay for those who get it for "free."

It is merely cost shifting.

Hyacinth

---

@hyacinth003 @JillyMarie  Not all Pharma companies offer "free" meds. They may offer coupons one can take to a pharmacy to reduce out of pocket costs but the catch is that you must have insurance to use these coupons.

Cost shifting is a good way of putting it - "free" programs still cost others who may not be at poverty level but are still having to decide- meds/food/mortgage/-which is the priortiy for this month.

---

You are exactly right--in order to use "co pay cards", one has to have insurance.

But, if one falls up to 135% of the Federal Poverty Level (and they are Medicare Part D), the government will give meds at a cost of 0 to $7.40 a month.  That's called the "Low Income Subsidy" or "Extra Help" Program.  One has to call Social Security to get screened for that program.

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@winamac1  Medicaid.  Meicaid picks up these costs.  Under ACA, not all States expanded Medicaid, but they may still be eligible so yes, this is a good idea.

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No...here's more info for you... 

https://www.ehealthmedicare.com/medicare-part-d-prescription/low-income-subsidy/?redirectFromHTTP

[winamac1]

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@Cakers3 wrote:

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@hyacinth003 wrote:

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@JillyMarie wrote:

Wow.  This is great news.  Free drugs -- just call the pharms and you are good to go.  I will take personal responsibiity.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Thanks again @winamac1

---

Nothing in this world is "free."  Someone pays for it. 

In the case of free drugs, the people who DO PAY will pay for those who get it for "free."

It is merely cost shifting.

Hyacinth

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@hyacinth003 @JillyMarie  Not all Pharma companies offer "free" meds. They may offer coupons one can take to a pharmacy to reduce out of pocket costs but the catch is that you must have insurance to use these coupons.

Cost shifting is a good way of putting it - "free" programs still cost others who may not be at poverty level but are still having to decide- meds/food/mortgage/-which is the priortiy for this month.

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You are correct...the government low income subsidy help is paid for by the taxpayers.  The free drug programs that some pharma companies have are paid for by the pharma companies--higher prices...yes...we help pay (meaning taxpayers).