Hello Everyone,
Hopefully someone here has a bit of knowledge concering my question. I am on a metric boatload of narcotic pain killers for chronic pain due to FBSS (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome). Because of my injury (workplace accident) I am no longer able to work and must rely on Social Security Disability to make ends meet. While I am thankful for the benifit (an NO, it is not welfare. I paid into Social Security for 24 years before getting hurt. Sorry, sore spot with me after some very rude comments once) however it is very difficult to make ends meet with what Social Security gives you to live on. A good percentage of my “income” is going to perscription meds. I do have insurance, but the co-pays are running close to $200 a month and that is a huge percentage of what I recieve.
I do understand that there is help available through the drug manufacturers with perscription assistance programs, but I have had little luck finding factual information about them. Does anyone here know how it works? Who qualifies? What pharmacutical companies participate?
I once called one of the manufacturers of one of my meds. They told me that "they don’t offer prescription assistance, becuase they make the “generic” brand of this particular medication. They suggested that I call the firm that holds the patent on the drug but they didn’t tell me who it is. So, I have 4 different meds that I take daily. How do I find out who to call for assistance?
On a personal note, I know that most of you work and I don’t want you to think that I am in anyway a "freeloader’ on the system. As I said above, I worked for 20+ years and I was injured on the job. I hate not working and would give just about anything to be able to return to the workforce. However, I will never be physically able to do what I am trained in again and it is very difficult to try to explain to a potential employer that you might be so tired in the afternoon because of the morphine you might not be able to function, or that there is a good chance that on any given month you might not be able to come in 2 or 3 days because the pain is so extreame getting out of the bed is damn near impossible. So, the point is I paid my dues and unfortunately this is now my life. I don’t want to be here, but I am. If you don’t like it, this is not the place to critisize me. I am only asking for information, I don’t need guilt on top of it. Thanks for understanding.
Well, there are several things I can suggest. For one thing, if you’re on SSDI, then 24 months after that started (or after you applied, don’t recall which) you’re eligible for Medicare, including Part D drug coverage.
As far as prescription assistance programs, tell us which drugs you’re on and maybe we can help identify the proper channels.
Also, the majority of us here are pretty liberal, and would never criticize anyone who accepts what he’s legally entitled to (unless he makes a habit of that himself).
Some prescription drug manufacturers have their own prescription assistance program. Contact the manufacturer directly, ask to speak to someone handling the prescription assistance program.
~VOW
I do have Medicare and a Medicare Advantage plan. However, while there is perscription coverage, the deductibles are problimatic for me. There really isn’t a lot to live on with SSDI.
As far as the prescriptions that I need help with, here they are. If anyone knows a contact for each one I would be very appreciative.
Morphine XR
Testosterone Injectable
Percocet
Lipitor
Adderall (to counter act the sedating effects of the morphine)
Once again, I would like to thank everyone for their advice. I apologize if I seem defensive, I just don’t like the situation that I am in, but lack little power to change it. You could say that it makes me embarssed to be where I am.
help with lipitor I think this link might help you with the morphine , oxycodone/APAP (generic for Percocet) and testosterone as well as many companies make these meds in generic form.
Living on SSDI should make you eligible for a Low Income Subsidy which you can apply for through your Social Security office. Depending on what level they determine you’re eligible for and what state you live in, this could make your Part D premiums and co-pays very low, in fact your premiums could be nothing. You might also want to see if you’re eligible for Medicaid which will help decrease your costs even more.
Lipitor will be coming off patent soon, and will be much cheaper. Meanwhile consider having your doc try simvastatin, which is off patent, and quite effective.
Long-acting morphines and short acting oxycodones are available. And Generic oxycodone is better for a person than the oxycodone/APAP mix that is percocet. Shop around for the lowest priced generics there. Too many long-acting morphines contain the ‘latest’ delayed release mechanism, and as such cost far, far more than the traditional timed release generic forms.
They’re really just a mail order, but their prices are pretty good. You can go and check pricing for your drug and decide from their if you want to participate.
I operate a PAP advocacy company and am not affiliated with Rx Outreach.
My mother uses Bridges To Access, which is for drugs manufactured by GSK only. Other drug manufacturers have their own programs
I’ve dealt with a lot of programs like this for her various problems, that she can’t get covered. She is on disability too. It’s always better to go through a patient advocate as they can cut through a lot of red tape.
But all the programs you can go through yourself. An advocate just does it quicker. The first time we used Bridges To Access, it took about two months and the first prescription was $10.00. Other others were free. We had a patient advocate, (AKA a worker at the doctor’s office) fill out the form and got the meds totally free and the next day.
So find out what drugs you need. Look the manufacturer up and then they most likely have a program for low income people.
Again an advocate is better, because even if you don’t qualify, they can often find ways of getting you in.
Of course this assumes that your doctor will cooperate and fill the forms in. I even had to deal with one doctor that charged $75.00 fee to fill in forms. So not all doctors will be as cooperative as others.