Sunday, 18. July 2010
Most of us are painfully aware of the sky-high cost of prescription drugs. The person you’re caring for may be one of the many people 65 and over who have enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to offset those costs. But most Part D drug plans don’t cover any drug costs during the program’s “doughnut hole” — when the patient’s total drug expenses for the year reach $2,700 (in 2009) but his out-of-pocket costs for the year haven’t yet reached $4,350. Or he might not be enrolled in a Part D drug plan. In either case, you’ll want to find ways to save money on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. A number of sources for discounted prescription drugs are described here.
Switching to other drugs
Could the person I’m caring for switch to a generic prescription drug?
He may be taking a brand-name prescription drug that has a generic equivalent. In virtually all cases, there’s no difference whatsoever in the active ingredients between generic and brand-name drugs. If a generic is available, it usually costs far less than the brand name. He can check with his doctor or pharmacist to see whether a generic is available. The pharmacist can also tell him how much he would save by switching. If he has any doubts about whether the generic would work as well for him as the brand-name drug, he can ask his doctor.
Is there an equivalent prescription drug a patient could take?
Different companies within the pharmaceutical industry often produce virtually identical drugs under different brand names. One may be significantly cheaper than another. If a patient is taking a brand-name drug that has no generic equivalent, he can ask his doctor whether another company sells a nearly identical drug under a different name, then ask his pharmacist whether it’s less expensive.
If there’s no cheaper brand-name prescription drug with the same active ingredients, the doctor may know of a somewhat different drug also used to treat the same illness or condition. It may have come on the market after the person in your care began taking the other drug. Or maybe his doctor prescribed the other drug out of habit without considering an alternative. He can ask his pharmacist whether there’s a significantly cheaper option to the drug he is taking. If so, he can check with his doctor whether it’s a good idea to try it. He should ask whether the new drug is likely to be as effective as the one he’s currently taking and what side effects it may have.
Are free sample of drugs from his doctor?
Pharmaceutical companies constantly give doctors loads of free samples of the medications they sell. The reason is simple: They want the doctor to think of their prescription drugs when he’s writing prescriptions. But they also want him to give away the samples to patients in the hope that the drug will be effective and the patient will continue to use it.
Doctors often give away a free drug sample to a patient who only needs one dose. Before the person in your care fills an expensive prescription, he should ask if his doctor has any samples.
Doctors also frequently give a sample to a patient who’s trying out a prescription drug for the first time. But there’s no reason a doctor can’t give away a number of free samples to the same patient. If a patient is without prescription drug coverage for a period of time — for example, when he’s within the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” — he may want to ask whether his doctor could provide him with samples to tide him over until his coverage kicks in again.
Getting financial help
Are there any state or local community assistance programs available? Some states and local communities have programs to help older adults pay for a prescription drug when the drug or the patient isn’t covered by a Medicare Part D plan or by Medicaid. Some of these programs offer discounts on all drugs, while others help only with certain common drugs. Often such programs limit their help to low-income, low-asset seniors. To qualify, a patient would need to provide evidence of his financial situation, which might include tax returns and bank, property, and investment statements.
Who’s eligible for veterans’ benefits drug coverage?
If someone is a veteran, he may be eligible for free or low-cost medical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare providers. Different levels of VA coverage — called “priority groups” — are available to veterans with various types and eras of service, sources of medical condition, and financial status.
VA medical care can include free (for low-income veterans) or low-cost prescription drugs provided at a VA pharmacy. However, a VA doctor must prescribe these drugs. A veteran enrolled in Medicare is entitled to coverage for medical service from either the VA or Medicare but not both. So a patient who normally receives a prescription for a high-priced drug from a non-VA doctor would have to see a VA doctor to get the same prescription and have a VA pharmacy fill it at low or no cost.
To find out more about VA benefits, you can visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website. You can also call the general benefits phone service at 800-827-1000 or the health benefits service at 877-222-8387.
Discount drug programs
Is there a pharmaceutical company discount program for prescription drugs? Some pharmaceutical companies have programs to help low-income seniors by providing certain medications at reduced costs. The programs usually have strict income guidelines and offer only small discounts on certain medicines. Still, even small savings on an expensive medicine can add up if someone takes the drug regularly.
To get the reduced price, a patient must register directly with the pharmaceutical company’s program. His doctor might also have to fill out papers required for enrollment in the program. And some programs provide the drug to the doctor, who then distributes it to the patient.
Are there any nonprofit or retail prescription drug discount programs a patient could join?
Some nonprofit organizations that cater to seniors or have large numbers of seniors in their membership have programs to help members get discounted prescription drugs. These include both national and state organizations, some connected to a particular professional, union, or fraternal group. There may be a membership fee, plus a co-payment for each prescription, and the total savings for any prescription is probably no more than 10 percent. But a 10 percent discount on an expensive medicine can be significant.
Many large pharmacy chains also set up programs to provide discounted prescription drugs for people with Medicare. These programs usually issue a membership card, which a person must present each time he buys a drug at one of the chain’s stores.
Can someone get prescription drugs from Canada?
Hundreds of thousands of people in the United States buy prescription drugs online or by mail order, or travel to Canada from border states to fill their prescriptions. The total runs to billions of dollars a year. The reason? The Canadian healthcare system negotiates with the pharmaceutical companies for reduced prices. Anyone buying these drugs — the same drugs that are sold in the United States for 50 to 80 percent more — in Canada benefits from the discount. The law is murky on this subject; technically, U.S. Customs could seize such drugs, but in practice they almost never do.
To help the person in your care find a reliable Canadian source for prescription drugs, you need to take several steps. First find various options online by searching the Internet for “prescription drugs Canada.” Then investigate any particular source by entering the name of the service in a search engine to look for reports of poor service or fraud. Check with any office of the nonprofit State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) to vet the reputation of a Canadian pharmacy service that you’re considering. You can find the number for a local office online or in the white pages of the phone directory under SHIP or HICAP. Finally, start small — the first time, order only the smallest available amount of one medication. If that works out well, he can expand his orders to include other prescriptions or larger amounts.
How can I find prescription drug discount programs?
The Medicare website has a link called “Lower Your Costs During the Coverage Gap”, which can direct you to several other links with information about state and local government and pharmaceutical company discount programs. You can get the same information by calling Medicare toll-free at 800-634-2273.
Free information on discount drugs is also available from the federal government’s Area Agency on Aging, a clearinghouse for information about many issues concerning older adults. To contact it, go to the Area Agency on Aging website or call 800-677-1116.
Some online clearinghouses for drug discount information can also direct you to pharmaceutical company, retail, and other drug assistance programs. Among them are Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the Medicine Program, and Volunteers in Health Care.
Caring.com Editorial Team
Caring.com features original content focused exclusively on eldercare matters. Our 20+ editors and writers research and fact-check every article meticulously, and our advisory board reviews the site regularly to assure the accuracy and relevance of the material we publish. We have hundreds of articles and checklists on health, housing, finance, legal and family issues, and other caregiving concerns, and we’re adding new articles and other resources every day.
Saving money on prescription drugs
Posted in Articles by Prescription Savings -
Wednesday, 14. July 2010
Most financial planners based their reduced income calculations on the premise that retirees don’t require as much income as they did while working. The fact is, however, retirement income needs are likely to rise with age as health care needs grow. Seniors are living longer. Prices for important consumption items of seniors, such as prescription drugs and long-term care, have risen. While the consumption of other items may decline for retirees, it seems entirely reasonable to think that health care cost increases will more than offset those predicted declines. And if retirees are able to pay off their mortgages during their pre-retirement years, away go the mortgage interest deductions, their number one tax “shelter”. So are their taxes really lowered? For many homeowners, they are not. The sad thing I’ve discovered is that most of us do not believe that we have the power or ability to choose to have more wealth in our lives. I felt the exact same way.
Please believe me when I say that financial planning is a really, really good tool but it alone is not enough to move you to financial freedom. Also believe me when I say that planning in and of itself is not the problem. To put it bluntly, YOU NEED MORE INCOME. Rarely does working on a paycheck-to-paycheck job helping someone else live their dreams allow you to live yours . Saving for retirement is a tough assignment for most people, not to mention reaching financial independence. As Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, and real estate tycoon Donald Trump both have said: “To reach financial independence, you need to have multiple streams of income.” They both have also said that network marketing is the way they would advise the average person to develop those income streams.
You’ve now reached another decision point. You must decide whether you will remain in your present financial status or make a change and move toward more wealth. If you choose not to make any changes in the financial direction of your life, that’s perfectly o.k. with me. I know how difficult it is to make any kind of changes in your life. To paraphrase an old physics theorem: A body at rest tends to remain at rest until put into motion by some force. Habits are hard to break, especially when so few of us even readily identify more than a handful of the hundreds of habits we’ve formed.
If your choice is to desire more wealth in your life and you are willing to put in the work to attract it, congratulations. I’m not talking about any “get rich quick” scheme. I’m talking about committed, sustained, purposeful work. Think about your decision for the next few days, and if you are truly ready, we’ll get started in the next article.
Remember, you do not have to live on less in retirement. No matter where you are right now financially, you can build and enjoy a Million Dollar lifestyle retirement. Peace.
Harold L Lowe retired at age 62 when his six-figure income position was eliminated. He shockingly found a 50% reduction in his (combined pension and Social Security) income. He?s since learned that income reduction is faced by most paycheck-to-paycheck employees. You can get a copy of his Free, eye-opening Report ?Financial Planning for Retirement is not Enough!? at http://www.haroldllowe.com.
Posted in Articles by Prescription Savings -
Monday, 12. July 2010
There can be no magical formula in fixing a weakening bond in marriage. No prescriptions, super-duper secret handshakes or any magical spell which can replace the influence of knowing how to communicate properly and understand each other’s marital needs. And at times, all the talking and planning causes more negative feedback than positive ones. Let us see what a marriage seminar is all about.
In order to face any marriage crisis really depends on the couples that are involved. No matter how hard you attempt to fix whatever damage that has been done, there are simply tons of matters that are tricky for two people to control. Marriage seminars offer a quite special experience that gives you, or any other couples a table of given possibilities if you feel that you and your other half feels low on options. Rather than choosing divorce, why not give marriage seminars a chance?
Here are some of the constructive outcomes that a marriage seminar or workshop can endow with:
A good and balanced duo of the seminar or workshop with the help of professional counseling can offer the couples the guidance and aid that they necessitate. Never make the error of failing to employ the help that is being offered to you. Research and study your options thoroughly, do some comparisons of the advantages against doing practically nothing.
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Sunday, 27. June 2010
Did You Know There Is An Easy Way To Slash Your Gas Or Diesel Bills Without Modifying Or Changing Anything On Your Vehicle? The Idle Effect Is A Straight Forward EBook With Solutions To Cutting Gas And Diesel Costs Within Minutes Of Reading.
The Idle Effect – Saving 10% – 40% On Fuel Everyday.
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Thursday, 24. June 2010
There are many big and small ways to save money. Here are some money saving tips for families for these tough economic times and beyond:
1. If you use credit cards, switch to cards that pay you back – either cash dividends, miles, gas, or goods that you can actually use.
2. Cut your kid’s hair yourself – you can pick up an easy “how to” book at your local library. This money saving tip has the added bonus of flexibility and convenience – you can do it whenever you feel like it.
3. And speaking of the library – you can spend a lot of money on kids books without even realizing it. You see a book your kid really likes and it’s only $5.99 and before you know it you’re out $50. Most likely your kid will read it once or twice and get bored with it. Solution: get a library card and visit your local library on a regular basis. Many libraries also have Story Time and other fun activities for kids of all ages that will have your kids looking forward to the weekly visit.
4. You can save huge money by coloring your own hair or doing your own highlights. You can save about $50 for each color ( x 6 times a year = $300) and about $100 for highlights ( x 4 times a year = $400). It’s really easy to do once you get the hang of it. You can find kits with instructions at your local beauty supply store.
5. Take with you snacks and drinks for the kids on family outings (unless you go to a place that specifically prohibits outside food and beverages). Bring a bottle of water with you and fill it at the water fountain. Not only will you be saving money, but also time standing in long lines and ending up buying junk food and caffeinated sugary drinks you had no intention of buying in the first place.
6. Bake your own muffins, brownies and cakes (from a ready mix) – as a single mom with a full time job I always have to weigh cost savings vs. time savings. To me, If I have to slave over an elaborate cake for a few hours in the kitchen it’s not worth the money savings. But if I buy a ready mix and have a dozen cup cakes ready in minuets and save some money in the process, I’d give it a thumbs up. Better yet – let the kids do the mixing, and you’ve got another fun activity to add to your list.
7. Buy generic: prescription drugs, over the counter drugs, cleaning supplies, groceries, ink cartridges, and anything else you can find.
8. Let your kids wash your car – what kid would say ‘no’ to such a fun activity?
9. Instead of buying 3 extra large Pepperoni Pizzas for $60 for your kid’s birthday party, make little cute sandwiches with Turkey & Cheese and PB & J. Everybody will love them.
10. Cancel your gym membership and ride your bike with your kids.
11. Some people swear by the savings they get by switching from paper napkins to clothe napkins, but I’m not a big fan. You’d still have to spend money, energy and effort on washing, drying, folding and putting them away. Paper towels are just so easy that it’s hard for me to make a case for cloth napkins, but if you like the idea – go for it!
12. Same goes for making your own play doh – some mothers just love making it themselves and love the money savings, but for me it’s just too much work and not enough savings. But again, if you like the idea – go for it!
13. Only run your dishwasher and washing machine when they are full. Another oldie but goodie.
14. Switch your Premium Cable package to Basic package and get Netflix instead.
15. You can find and print free eCards on the Internet for all holidays and any kind of occasion. You can also have your kids make their own cards for Valentine’s Day, their buddies birthday parties, and holidays. Those Hallmark cards are SO expensive!
To find more tips, birthday clubs, coupons and discounts, please visit the “Cool Parents Resources” section of our “Cool Kids Places” website: http://www.cool-kids-places.com/parents-resources/articles/money-saving-tips-for-families.html.
Dee Adams is a mom to an 8 year old boy and the owner of Cool Kids Places, a website for parents looking for fun and interesting places to go with their kids.
Posted in Articles by Prescription Savings -
Wednesday, 12. May 2010
Relationship Rehab For Women Offers 5 Time-tested E-Systems: Relationship Rehab For Women, Secrets To Beating A Cheating Husband, The Secret Principles Of Attraction, Relationship Rehab Secrets & The Relationship Self-Confidence Rocket Booster.
How To Save A Relationship – Saving Relationship Secrets.
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Friday, 2. April 2010
We Provide A Complete Roadmap For Saving Your Marriage Or Relationship – Learn The Secrets Now!
Saving Your Marriage With Trust & Love.
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Friday, 5. March 2010
Discover More Than 119 Green Solutions That Will Put Money In Your Pocket And Help Save The Planet! Tips On Saving Energy, Organic Foods, Recycling, Recycled, Environmental And Eco Products, Lowering Carbon Emissions, Reducing Waste And Solar Products.
Money Saving Green Solutions.
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