I was looking at an insurance site about Medicare D. You know that's the time you are responsible for 100% of your medicine costs. Anyway it gave a place where you could look up each drug cost. Avonex was over $2,000!!!!!!! I never knew it was that high. What does everyone do during the 'donut hole' part of Medicare D? Of course it would definitely get me into and out of the donut hole quicker and into the catastrophic period. But what is the cost in that time. Is it still 5% or do the specialty drugs have their own category?

I would speak to Avonex folks and ask if they provide help for you during the donought hole time. Most companies provide assistance for those in those times.

ALL of the DMD drugs are over 2k per month. My Copaoxone is 2.5k.

Biogen does have assistance for you through the 'donut hole'. It is from a foundation they set up since the Medicare D rules say that assistance from a Drug company doesn't count towards the donut hole. But, the latest news on the overhaul of Insurance is that they are going to reduce the donut hole working towards eliminating it.

Once you are in catastrophic coverage your cost is 5% no matter what the drug is. Retail Avonex is about $30,000 per year.

I guess I need help understanding how to get through the donut hole. If I get finacial assistance on my Avonex I am stuck in the hole longer and have to pay for my other drugs 100%. Don't I want to get out of the hole as quick as I can?

If you are on any other drugs, while in the donut hole, you will pay full price for them also, and that goes toward the figure you need to come out of the hole. You pay full price for drugs where there is no generic. Some of my drugs have a generic, so I only have a small copay for them during that time. Some of the drug plans cover in the hole for generics and some don't. I am on Rebif and have help paying for it and the amount paid goes toward that figure.

IT WOULD SURE HELP IF THEY DID AWAY WITH THE DONUT HOLE.

And yes, you do want to come out of the hole as fast as you can. With the cost of the DMD's, it doesn't take long.

I talked to an insurance agent today and she said I will probably be OUT of the hole by the end of March. I have an appointment tomorrow with the plan that I like the best. They are going to take my med list and try to run a cost list for the entire year. My husband has picked his policy, I am about to pick mine and we are going for Cobra for the month of December. So it looks like this is actually going to happen.

I fixed an old standby for supper tonight. You have to remember I don't cook at home very often. So the dear husband reminds me that if we are going to make this work in retirement about eating at home more often that I need some new menu plans. I reminded him that since he is retired, he can do some menu plans of his own and treat me to dinner. After my sister had her double mastectomy and chemo for a year her husband did almost all of the cooking and housecleaning, grocery shopping and worked full time. So my hubbie has no excuse. I guess I know what to get him for Christmas.