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

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

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.