Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Expensive meds !!
        
(Message started by: UN-solved on Nov 21^st, 2006, 12:49am)

Title: Expensive meds !!
Post by UN-solved on Nov 21^st, 2006, 12:49am

I know alot of the meds we take are expensive. For example...Imitrex jabs are outragously priced !

Today I went to pick up an RX for 8 Actiq 'lollipops' (pain meds) and it cost $300 !! Now that's the most expensive suckers I've ever heard of !! :o

UNsolved >:(

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by sandie99 on Nov 21^st, 2006, 7:37am

That's one of the reasons I'm looking into other treatments. Basically, meds are far too expensive (and cause too many side effects to me). Especially, because my insurance doesn't cover any medical expences anymore.

Sanna

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by Karla on Nov 21^st, 2006, 1:46pm

Unsolved just curious do you have no insurance or is that a co-pay? I am sorry you are going broke to find a peace of mind.

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by goof1031 on Nov 21^st, 2006, 1:52pm

The insurance companies make me so angry. With my co-pay I spent $130.00 for 6 Imitrex NS. You would think the insurance would cover the cost since our premiums are so high. I was going to ask my Dr. about the Imitrex injection but i probably couldnt afford it anyways.

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by CynthiaB on Nov 21^st, 2006, 6:21pm

When my husband went to pick up my Topamax Friday, it wasn't filled. The insurance company wouldn't pay without an doctor's pre-authorization. Well, what the hell is a prescription? My heart goes out to people without the resources to cover these expenses. If I had to add financial stress to this other shit, I know I would lose my mind. I know pain is said to be the great equalizer, but it isn't quite so equal when you don't know how you're going to pay for the meds that you need. This is something that makes it on my gratitude list EVERY day.

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by jmorgan52 on Nov 24^th, 2006, 8:53am

Unsolved

I have always had to pay cash for my Imigran Imjections with no financial help from my Medical Aid which is just a disguised hospital plan but still costs a fortune each month. A 3 month cycle of Imigran/Imitrex can leave you broke so I know how you feel!

I personally found the inj to be nothing less than a miracle at first but always tended to keep them back for emergency use only, because of the cost and availability of enough. I used the "tip" for most hits during the last few cycles but found my cycles got longer. It's been said by many here that the more Trex you use the more CH you get.

I decided several years ago to look for a totally med free alternative and have a method that works really well for me since for the past 4 years to break or prevent a cycle with a strict fruit and veg and water diet.

Unsolved I am sure you will have read my many posts on the subject in the past.

I have always been quite amazed at how many injections you say you have to use to beat this bastard. I hope you are not doing yourself any permanent damage with so much Trex.

I hope you manage to come right soon - hang in there.

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by UN solved on Nov 24^th, 2006, 5:04pm

Thanks for your kind words ppl.

Yes Karla, I do have insurance. It's Medicare Part D and IN. Medicaid but it will not pay for Actiq (so far). I'm not willing to dish out the cash for pain meds that probably won't help anyways.

Thank goodness I get all my Trex injects free from my local neuro's office. They get and give me TONS of it for free. Always have. They've saved me tons of pain. They've kept me alive and sane (<--argueable :P ) for many years.

UNsolved

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by Linda_Howell on Nov 24^th, 2006, 6:10pm

Quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The insurance companies make me so angry. With my co-pay I spent $130.00 for 6 Imitrex NS. You would think the insurance would cover the cost since our premiums are so high. I was going to ask my Dr. about the Imitrex injection but i probably couldnt afford it anyways

What the Ins. co's do....bless their heart, is they will only allow 2 injectables for the same price as 6 nasal sprays. So if you can afford the nasal sprays you can afford the inj. Just make sure you only have 2 headaches per month. bleah!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by HeadhurtinMama on Nov 24^th, 2006, 9:45pm

Yeah, I get 4 shots a month for the same copay as 6 nasal sprays, so at least they do give me two boxes of injections.

Bridget

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by kcopelin on Nov 25^th, 2006, 9:08am

If you are on Medicaide (MediCal in California) and the Rx is not covered, you can ask your doctor to write a Treatment Authorization Request. Often this does the trick-though not always. Also, check out www.needymeds.com. You may be eligible for a Patients Assistance Program from the pharmaceutical company. PM me if you need help-used to help Medicare beneficiaries for a living.
PFDAN
kathy

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by chewy on Nov 25^th, 2006, 9:49am

Always, Always, Always, fight the bastards.

http://headaches.about.com/cs/advocacy/a/trip_limits.htm

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by stacy3675 on Nov 26^th, 2006, 11:56pm

This is truly a problem for you all I didn't realize how bad it is My copay is only 10.00 no matter what and I getmuch more than you all. I am going to kiss my ins guy next time I go to pay my premium.

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by jon019 on Nov 27^th, 2006, 12:42am

on 11/25/06 at 09:49:57, chewy wrote:

Always, Always, Always, fight the bastards.

http://headaches.about.com/cs/advocacy/a/trip_limits.htm

Sorry Un for the tough choices you have to make.

Oh yeah! Chewy is right (and that's a great link). Using it and advice from Linda and others I appealed my 6 zomig limit. Ins co upped it to 12 (max my neuro would allow) and at the SAME copay of $20. Makes no friggin sense. Also allow 5 vials Imi inject vials at the same time for the same $20 copay. (NO, I don't use them wo 24 hr wait).

Point is ins co follows no discernible logic so APPEAL. They are so busy screwing people that sometimes they screw themselves. Or at least that's what it looks like. Maybe just incompetent and they will catch on to my fortune. Sure helps to have a good Doc that will support you too.

BTW Stacy, could you share with us the insurance company (&/or plan) you use. Pretty please.

Regards

Jon

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by Bgorsh on Nov 30^th, 2006, 1:53pm

A prior authorization as its called is something you might need in addition to a prescription; it basically lets the insurance company know that nothing else is working for you and that you need the medication. Otherwise, the doctor would just be able to prescribe you something else that is cheaper than the original medication. I work in a pharmacy so I know how out of hand the insurance companies have gotten with the prior auths. But in some cases depending on your insurance they will cover a lot of the cost if you get one from your doctor also depending on whether the medication is on your insurances list of formularies.

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by liquidsuspension on Nov 30^th, 2006, 4:43pm

yea i just started using imitrex injections this cycle. i can't really afford the $26 refill cost, so i've only used 4 shots since i've been getting them. its a shame, they work great for me, but i have use then sparingly. i was getting the nasal sprays $25 for 6 units, and i could get that twice a month, but those didn't work as well for me.

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by CraigA27 on Nov 30^th, 2006, 9:41pm

Dam you guys have to pay a lot. Thought i was getting ripped off last year when my doc prescribed me eight injections and i had to pay £6.60($13) prescription charge at the chemist.

Dosent make me feel so bad about paying national insurance over here now. How you guys survive on paying for these must need meds amazes me

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by jmorgan52 on Dec 1^st, 2006, 5:09am

8 injections cost me around £140 ($70)

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by Tybo on Dec 1^st, 2006, 12:04pm

on 11/30/06 at 21:41:44, CraigA27 wrote:

I got ten last week on a prescription for the £6.60.
After they'd tried making me feel guilty about it,after telling me they were £44 for two.
If they mention it again,i'm gonna bring up how much it costs them to supply Methadone every day to the scrote standing in front of me in the chemist >:(

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by Giovanni on Dec 1^st, 2006, 12:53pm

I know this is off topic a bit with CH, but my wife was speaking to a cashier at Food Lion Store and she was being treated for thyroid cancer.

Her doc came in with a rubber suit on and gave her one pill and told her to go straight home and stay in one room for one week; flush the toilet 3 times after each use.

Guess what..........the pill was billed at $33,000.00. Yep, as in thirty-three thousand dollars.

John [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by Tata on Dec 1^st, 2006, 2:05pm

on 12/01/06 at 12:04:07, Tybo wrote:

I got ten last week on a prescription for the £6.60.
After they'd tried making me feel guilty about it,after telling me they were £44 for two.
>:(

Take a hammer and screwdriver with you next time and volunteer to show them how badly a CH feels by driving the screwdriver into their eyeball. I'll wager you don't get any volunteers and the guilt trip BS disappears very quickly. ( Sorry for the rant, but I can't get over how badly CH'ers are treated at times.)

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by LeLimey on Dec 1^st, 2006, 2:11pm

on 12/01/06 at 12:04:07, Tybo wrote:

Actually Ty be grateful he has old figures, its actually £56 for two ;;D Have you got a pre payment prescription certificate? Even at 10 for a single prescription fee it soon adds up hon.
Have a look at http://www.ppa.org.uk/ppa/ppc_intro.htm

Helen

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by pattik on Dec 1^st, 2006, 4:57pm

on 12/01/06 at 12:53:10, Giovanni wrote:

Her doc came in with a rubber suit on and gave her one pill and told her to go straight home and stay in one room for one week; flush the toilet 3 times after each use.

Guess what..........the pill was billed at $33,000.00. Yep, as in thirty-three thousand dollars.

John [smiley=huh.gif]

I'm pretty sure that was a radioactive pill, and she would certainly have to be in quarantine for a while after taking it, not to mention practically glowing in the dark.

Title: Re: Expensive meds !!
Post by stacy3675 on Dec 3^rd, 2006, 3:11pm

well I have John deer but I think it has more to do with my neuo then ins. My dr. writes 12 nasal for two weeks wth 1 reill as medical neccessary and so get 24 a month for only 2 copays. He writes imitrx injections as quanity 40 so I get 8 boxes at a tme for 1 copay. So thnk it is ust how the dr. writes it.