Are your meds. taking a chunk of your paycheck.

J

Just plain me

Member
I just stated in another post that we spent $108. for part of our medicine for the month Monday. It seems to me that we pay an awful lot to Medicare for a prescription drug plan to have to pay as much as we do for medicines. And that is with extra help paying part of the premiums. Anyone else got any thoughts on this subject. Seems the pharmacy has raised their prices since the Medicare prescription drug plan went into effect. I could participate in Walgreen's $12 plan until I got Medicare and now tho it is cheaper than some of my co-pays I am not allowed access since I have Madicare prescription plan. Hardly seems fair.
 

My wife take a lot of meds. Here drug plan started at $34 a month in 2013 then after the not so affordable care act it jumped to $54 a month this year. There is no copay though.
 
In Ontario after you turn 65 most meds are covered by provincial health plan - I only pay a tiny portion for dispensing fee. Of course it comes out of our taxes.
 

First, Medicare doesn't have a drug plan. This plan comes from companies that are approved by Medicare to sell a drug plan. The same goes for a Supplement Plan for Medicare B. The Supplement Plan helps pay for some medical stuff that Medicare doesn't pay fully for.

I was getting my prescriptions thru the VA Medical, but will be getting them thru Humana Rx Plan. We will be paying $15.70 per month (Premium) for the Plan and $23 total, every 90 days, for 4 prescriptions I get. That's definitely cheaper than I was getting thru the VA. The other prescription that I need, Metformin for diabetes, I will get free (every 30 days) for a local grocery store. I don't take any heavy-duty/high costing drugs.

So, no, prescription drugs are not "taking a chunk" out of us.
 
We have United Healthcare, AARP, as our gap insurance. The copays to the doctors have gone up as well as the prescriptions copay. As I mentioned in a different thread, I am now in the donut hole until the end of the year.
Instead of paying a $45 copay for Xarelto, I now pay $145. Same with the Symbicort, for COPD, $145.
This is kicking the crap out of retirement income and when I read what other countries are doing for their folks, i m amazed that the U.S. can't do better than present situation.
 
Pappy said:
We have United Healthcare, AARP, as our gap insurance. The copays to the doctors have gone up as well as the prescriptions copay. As I mentioned in a different thread, I am now in the donut hole until the end of the year.
Instead of paying a $45 copay for Xarelto, I now pay $145. Same with the Symbicort, for COPD, $145.
This is kicking the crap out of retirement income and when I read what other countries are doing for their folks, i m amazed that the U.S. can't do better than present situation.
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As far as I know, the US is the only industrialised country that doesn't have socialised medicine. Americans always balk at anything that sounds 'socialist' even though they have plenty of socialist programmes - education, welfare, etc.
 
England is the only part of the UK that charges for prescription meds, eye tests etc... It's all free elsewhere. In England a pre-pay certificate costs ÂŁ104 ($165) a year for all meds. However, meds are free for those in full time education (up to age 17) and those over 60. Others may get exemption due to their circumstances (eg pregnancy) or medical condition. The treatments for some illnesses are also free (eg Diabetes).
 
Ameriscot said:
As far as I know, the US is the only industrialised country that doesn't have socialised medicine. Americans always balk at anything that sounds 'socialist' even though they have plenty of socialist programmes - education, welfare, etc.
Click to expand...

This is true.. however Medicare IS a form of socialized medicine, and I don't know anyone who hates their Medicare. We finally got some sort of program for younger people in the ACA...I understand that there are provisions to close that dreaded donut hole. However, it is said that the first order of business in the 114th Congress starting in January will be to repeal and defund it.. so back to millions more with no insurance, and Seniors having to decide if they want to eat or take their meds.. Sad..
 
I get my prescribed meds through the Veterans Administration. So does my wife. Our monthly cost averages about $130. Enough to take a bite out of our income. I sometime find myself wondering what i can best do without.
 
QuickSilver said:
This is true.. however Medicare IS a form of socialized medicine, and I don't know anyone who hates their Medicare. We finally got some sort of program for younger people in the ACA...I understand that there are provisions to close that dreaded donut hole. However, it is said that the first order of business in the 114th Congress starting in January will be to repeal and defund it.. so back to millions more with no insurance, and Seniors having to decide if they want to eat or take their meds.. Sad..
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But the only 'free' Medicare is part A, not part B.
 
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