Diabetes / Insulin Resistance / Metabolic Syndrome For discussion of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.


advertisement
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-04-2015, 10:54 PM #1
MelodyL's Avatar
MelodyL MelodyL is offline
Wise Elder
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,292
15 yr Member
MelodyL MelodyL is offline
Wise Elder
MelodyL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,292
15 yr Member
Default Cost of Levemir went UP

Hi all.

I am on medicare advantage plan. Don't qualify for medicaid. And thank god I refilled yesterday and I paid $139 for two months of Flex pens.

I see the cost of insulin rising substantially. I have tried looking for some patient assistance program but they all indicate "you do not qualify if you are presently on some federally funded program like Medicare, Medicaid, blah blah.

Of course I don't qualify because I have medicare part D.

So what is a person supposed to do when they have to pay bills, pay rent, pay for this and that and pay for Insulin? Is there any patient assistant diabetic programs that help people who already have prescription coverage but can't afford what the prescriptions cost??

Any input is appreciated.

Thanks much, Melody
__________________

.


CONSUMER REPORTER
SPROUT-LADY



.
MelodyL is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote

advertisement
Old 12-07-2015, 10:07 PM #2
Aussie99's Avatar
Aussie99 Aussie99 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 933
15 yr Member
Aussie99 Aussie99 is offline
Member
Aussie99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 933
15 yr Member
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MelodyL View Post
Hi all.

I am on medicare advantage plan. Don't qualify for medicaid. And thank god I refilled yesterday and I paid $139 for two months of Flex pens.

I see the cost of insulin rising substantially. I have tried looking for some patient assistance program but they all indicate "you do not qualify if you are presently on some federally funded program like Medicare, Medicaid, blah blah.

Of course I don't qualify because I have medicare part D.

So what is a person supposed to do when they have to pay bills, pay rent, pay for this and that and pay for Insulin? Is there any patient assistant diabetic programs that help people who already have prescription coverage but can't afford what the prescriptions cost??

Any input is appreciated.

Thanks much, Melody

Hi Mel,

Sorry I cannot offer advice about the American health system. But in Oz, your doctor can assist you with getting medication at cheaper rates depending on how they write up the script. I dont understand it very much because i ususally dont qualify for anything, but before Lyrica was put onto the PBS (pharmaceutical benefit scheme) scheme it was very expensive. My neurologist wrote it up in a certain way for me to get access to it much cheaper. I think maybe you should speak to your GP in case there is a loophole? xx
Aussie99 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 12-07-2015, 10:28 PM #3
Hopeless Hopeless is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: USA
Posts: 1,232
10 yr Member
Hopeless Hopeless is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: USA
Posts: 1,232
10 yr Member
Default

Hi Melody,

Oh, I know what you mean. When I am in the gap, "the donut hole", I pay $199 for 5 pens of one of my insulin meds and $172 for 5 pens of the other insulin.

The first month of the year, one pack of 5 pens costs me $341 during the deductible period.

I also get the "if you have drug coverage" you don't qualify for any discounts. And isn't it the law in the US to have drug coverage or be fined?

I believe that according to Medicare, you MUST enroll in Part D, or have drug coverage under an Advantage Plan or you are fined.

If the costs on insulin are going up, this is BAD news. The amounts I quoted are what I paid out of MY pocket during 2015 AFTER insurance picked up their portion.

A pen only lasts me about 5 or 6 days. When I need more insulin, the pen runs out even faster. As you have mentioned in prior posts, using the pen, you waste 2 units each time you inject to prime the needle. I inject 4 times a day so I am wasting 8 units per day and that adds up. That doesn't take into consideration when the pen only has a small amount remaining and your dose for ONE treatment gets split into two pens. Then you are wasting 4 units for ONE treatment, 2 units to prime the needle for the pen that is inadequate for the full dosage and then 2 more units to prime the needle for the new pen to complete the dosage.

I have compared the prices of using vials and syringes instead of the pens and there is not much difference and the convenience of the pen is nice, especially with my failing eyesight.

If you can call it good news, I am on so many meds that I hit Stage 4 "catastrophic level" early and then my insulin cost really drops. That also means I hit the GAP, Stage 3, even earlier, and pay a fortune during that stage.

If I find out any way WE can get a discount or save money somehow, I will surely post it.

Last edited by Hopeless; 12-07-2015 at 10:44 PM.
Hopeless is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Levemir and Lantus MelodyL Diabetes / Insulin Resistance / Metabolic Syndrome 8 09-24-2011 11:30 AM
SCS Cost and future cost bugguy8 SCS & Pain Pumps 3 07-25-2010 12:14 AM
If something cost $500 American dollars in 1968, how much would it cost now in 2006? clouds z Social Chat 0 08-20-2007 12:35 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:15 PM.

Powered by vBulletin • Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise v2.7.1 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
 

NeuroTalk Forums

Helping support those with neurological and related conditions.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment
provided by a qualified health care provider.


Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.