High cost of drugs

[pdpatty]

Especially Sensipar. I am getting very close to donuthole. Can't afford $800+ a month for this.
How do you do it ,if you are taking one of the expensive drugs. Oh yes,I live in US.

[Rerun]

I have pretty good insurance so I pay 65 for 3 months of sensipar.  Now you tell me how I can pay so little and you pay so much.  You can't tell me that my insurance company is paing $800 a month for that drug.  It is a scam. 

Ask your doctor if he has samples. 

[okarol]

More info about paying for Sensipar.
It gives the impression that MOST patients should be covered.
If you are not covered, contact them and ask if they have a medication assistance program.
http://www.sensipar.com/national_coverage_distribution.html

[RightSide]

More info about paying for Sensipar.
It gives the impression that MOST patients should be covered.
If you are not covered, contact them and ask if they have a medication assistance program.
http://www.sensipar.com/national_coverage_distribution.html

They do.

http://www.sensipar.com/patient_access_options.html

They also list some other possible resources to try, like the American Kidney Fund.

[pdpatty]

The social worker and dietician have been looking for help for me.I have PartD insurance. Some won't help because of this ,some say they will help when I get to donuthole.

Yes ,it does cost this much,wish I had a scanner.Walgreens had only 10 tabs Wed. Retail price for 10 is $158.33. Picked up rest of script today.Retail price for 50 30mg tabs is $791.66. total $949.99. I paid $42 co pay.

Without some aid ,when I am in the donuthole,I will pay full price + have to pay my PartD premium. Doesn't seem fair.

If I live until 2014 (and the Republicans don't gain controll) the donuthole will be closed.If they gain controll ,they all say they will repeal healthcare reform.

[Zach]

The American Kidney Fund has a grant program to assist with Part D:

http://www.kidneyfund.org/patient-grants/medicare-part-d-grants/

"Qualified dialysis patients may receive grants to help with their deductibles, co-pays and coverage gap (donut hole) costs for prescribed bone care medications that are covered by Medicare Part D. Part D Premium assistance is not available. Eligible patients may apply to receive up to $2,000 per year. Grants are provided in the form of a pharmacy benefit card that may be used at most pharmacies nationwide."

"To be eligible to receive a grant from the American Kidney Fund’s Medicare Part D Grant Program for Prescription Bone Medications, a patient must meet certain criteria:
 
Eligibility Criteria:
1 ... Applicant must be receiving dialysis in the US or one of its territories AND currently enrolled in a Part D prescription plan.

2 ... All other sources of funding must be utilized first, including alternative insurance, public programs, reimbursement through employee flexible spending plans and help from other charitable organizations. Financial assistance through the American Kidney Fund is considered “last resort” funding.

 3... ESRD dual eligibles and patients receiving the Limited Income Subsidy (LIS) from Social Security for extra help with Medicare Part D are eligible for partial grants up to $500.

 4... Patients seeking assistance must have an annual household income not to exceed 350% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) (see program guidelines for more information)."

This should help a little.



Also, just as a comparison, here is one Part D policy's drug price for Sensipar, 30 mg twice a day (60 tablets per month):

[Aubrey]

God, this sounds horrible. I don't have to take Sensipar, but I do have to take a lot of others, on and off. I am really glad to be living in England. I don't mean that in a smug way, just relief.

[Stoday]

God, this sounds horrible. I don't have to take Sensipar

You might be taking Sensipar. In the UK it's known as Cinacalcet.

[Treasure]

I don't have part D, and I don't have private insurance, so I'll be paying the out-of-pocket amounts until I find another job. When I had part D my share was still over $400 a month's supply. I haven't applied to the programs, because I'm thinking I won't qualify since I sold my house and I have the proceeds in the bank (even after we buy a new place in Texas we'll still have a lot in the bank). I hope I find another job with benefits soon, because Sensipar and Renvela are way expensive without prescription coverage

[Zach]

You may want to check out The American Kidney Fund program for those without any insurance:

Genzyme Patient Assistance Programs
http://www.kidneyfund.org/patient-grants/renagel.html

[Treasure]

You may want to check out The American Kidney Fund program for those without any insurance:

Genzyme Patient Assistance Programs
http://www.kidneyfund.org/patient-grants/renagel.html

If you intended that for me, Zach, I think I would be ineligible for assistance once I truthfully answer about my savings account balance-- since I have the proceeds from the sale of my house sitting in there. hehehe. I can afford to pay 2k for each of my medications, I just don't want to spend that much on them. yikes...