I'm Looking For Individual Prescription Plan...

[Chuysmom]

My Cobra Insurance is coming to an end soon. I need to find a Prescription plan that is a decent one and that I can afford. Does anyone current use a Prescription plan that they are satisfied with?

Mahalo!

Carrie Rojo[]

[Frankie says relax]

Carrie, I'd like to help but don't know what to tell you other than if you served any time in the military at all, check with the Veterans Administration. I didn't think I'd qualify since I just served 2 years, long ago, but I now get my presciptions thru the VA for a $9 co-pay. Which is a lot less than the prescriptions would cost me at the drug store. (The GOP will probably take care of this soon and I won't get it for long but here's hoping...)

Just FYI, here's a very interesting video I viewed yesterday. http://www.vegsource.com/news/2011/03/fo...-scam.html

And I'm finding more and more natural resources for conditions almost every day. I eat okinawan spinach which grows here very well instead of taking statins for blood pressure. Yesterday I learned about the effects on your brainpower from rosemary. Just wanting to help...

Frankie Stapleton

[Chuysmom]

You're awesome, Frankie. No, no military for me, but Tony was a Marine at Kaneohe. That might be good information for him.

It's so hard to maneuver the insurance gauntlet for sure. All I want is to be able to cover monthly Rx. I am going to an individual insurance plan, but NONE of them offer Rx attachment like they did through the State. It was a given then.

The older we get the more I realize what seniors have gone through for so long...sure they have benefits - to a point. Then they cut their meds in half or worse.

Well, if something's too expensive, it's just that.

Carrie

[missydog1]

Carrie,
I don't know of any plans (but I have never looked so hope there are some choices).

I do know there are some ways to get a few breaks without coverage. Walmart has a program where it sells generic drugs at cost, and by cost I mean $4 or not much more. Safeway will sometimes match Walmart.

Safeway has a cash pay discount of roughly 50% for those without insurance and be sure to get the script card stamped for each one, as you get a gift card when it's full.

There was a kama'aina program that didn't help us a whole lot, but it's out there.
It's tough to be in the space between employer coverage and Medicare coverage.

Obviously there is social service coverage if your assets get down to a certain very low point.

Oh, and many drug companies will provide medicine they manufacture for free if you don't have coverage or a lot of income. Google the pharmaceutical website.

[Carey]

Might want to look at signing up for some UH courses! (I was asked when I first returned to college if I was in it for insurance, I thought the questioner was asking about courses IN insurance!) 3 credit hours summer, or 6 fall/spring qualifies for insurance coverage....(I think this can be included on some financial aid offers...)

The UHH student insurance does offer a drug option - Summer insurance enrollment begins 4/25, coverage starts 5/20....
Plans available link:
http://www.hmsa.com/portal/?gid=student&pg=2

[Kapohocat]

Check what companies supply your drugs and many of them offer a low income or discount coupon if you are insuranceless.

One of Robert's was almost 75% off.

Plus we found mail order companies that are shipping the drugs to us for about 50% less than the cash price.

KathyH - once again safeway strikes. I called about a cash price and was quoted higher prices than Puna Pharm (overall lowest prices), Longs Walmart, etc. I started my query with them - "we have no prescription coverage and are paying cash..."

Edits in italics!

[missydog1]

It is true that Safeway has higher prices than Walmart, although in some cases they will match them to get your business. They told me they don't have the volume to compete. (yes, I am sure that PunaPharm has less volume than Safeway by far).

I only mentioned Safeway because I use their pharmacy with my insurance, so I've seen their cash discount sign. It would certainly be best to shop around.

Cat, what you said about the drug suppliers offering discounts and coupons was the same thing I had suggested although I worded it differently -- just so Carrie knows it's the same otion, and it's great for the expensive meds. My big ticket item is asthma medicine, and Glaxo Smith Kline has a program for that (for Advair).

Doctors are also given the coupons Cat mentioned by pharm reps. Coupons are no good if you also have insurance coverage, so I don't take them, but I've seen some for $50 or more.

Frankie, how do you consume the rosemary for brain power? I have a pot of it outside, guess I should be doing something with it beyond smelling it!

[Frankie says relax]

I just read all this yesterday on this link:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-easy-...z1IzfwhE26

Rosemary: itÕs good for sharpening memory
When British herbalist Anne McIntyre was a student, she kept rosemary sprigs on her desk during classes, squeezing the oils onto her hands. ÒThe scent stimulates blood flow to the brain and aids concentration,Ó says McIntyre, author of The Medicinal Garden and ten other herb-related books. Years later, science came to the same conclusion. In a 1998 study, University of Miami researchers exposed 40 adults to three minutes of rosemary scent. The group showed increased alertness and worked math problems fasterÑand no less accuratelyÑthan they had before the aromatherapy session.

How To Use It: Ancient scholars used to wear wreaths of rosemary around their heads, but you donÕt have to go that far. Nurse Dorie Byers, author of Herbal Remedy Gardens, simmers a cup of rosemary needles in two quarts of uncovered water, letting the smell waft through the house whenever sheÕs doing brain work. Or you can brew rosemary tea, adding one to two teaspoons of rosemary needles to one cup boiling water. Steep it for five minutes, strain the herbs, add a squirt of lime juice, and enjoy. Of course, if youÕre feeling both forgetful and hungry, rubbing chopped rosemary over chicken or fish creates a dish youÕre bound to remember.


Frankie Stapleton

[Bob Orts]

quote:

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Originally posted by Chuysmom

My Cobra Insurance is coming to an end soon. I need to find a Prescription plan that is a decent one and that I can afford. Does anyone current use a Prescription plan that they are satisfied with?

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Good news is that since you're on COBRA I believe you fall under HIPPA rule. Check you current RX Administrator and see if they also offer individual prescription drug insurance in Hawaii and get a HIPPA quote from them.

Many prescription drug plans are administered by third party companies. You may have a AETNA plan that uses Caremark as the administrators. Caremark may have their own individual plans or may offer a drug discount program. even if no HIPPA plans are available.

Don’t overlook the national pharmacies who administer their own discount programs. Again, Caremark owns CVS and they have plans that provide deep discounts. Costco also has a plan. Of course you have to use the national chain they are aligned with, but saving money is saving money

The drug companies do offer discounts and programs but often its only for their expensive non generic drugs. The idea is to get you hooked on that specific drug. Many programs are limited to certain time periods such as a year only, or can only cover what the average out of pocket cost would be. The goal is to get you using their drug so when the program ends or you're no longer eligible, you won’t switch to another competing company that uses a different drug.

[missydog1]

Thanks, Frankie! I'm almost afraid to do the on the stove simmer, as if it doesn't work for me I might forget and boil the pot dry. []

I'll try crushing it and releasing the essence.
Island Naturals sells essential oils. They probably have it, comes in a little capped bottle suitable for taking whiffs.

Bob, not all medications come in generic, so it's one name brand or another ...
There is no generic for Advair or any of the Advair-like drugs for asthma -- in fact the alternatives my doctor has mentioned are even more expensive.

Another thing -- doctors who get samples are often willing to help patients without drug coverage, with at least a small supply of samples.