Does Your State Have A Discount RX Program For Seniors?

OneEyedDiva

OneEyedDiva

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Location
New Jersey
The state of New Jersey offers PAAD, which stands for Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled. My mother had PAAD and at the time, she only had to pay $5 for her prescriptions. One of them, according to her visiting nurse, cost $1,000 a pop and I had to administer it to her once a week (the nurse taught me how). I'm actually surprised to see how high the income levels are to be eligible. You can read about the program here: Division of Aging Services

I don't need PAAD because I have great coverage via my state retiree health benefits plan with Optum RX. Do you have access to a similar discount benefit program in your state? If not, have you found other ways to save on your prescriptions?
 

We have health prescription benefits. We get 80% off of our drugs. Itā€™s an either or thing. Our province in Canada has a seniors discount but not for those who already have discounts ( which is perfectly understandable)
 
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My EPIC deductible changes each year based on the taxable income on my state income tax return from the previous year.

This year the deductible is $795.00.

As an example, My prescription for Ozempic under Medicare and with my BCBS advantage plan is $47.00/month.

When I enter the donut hole the cost goes up to $227.86/month until I meet the $795.00 deductible.

After the deductible is met it goes back down to $47.00/month for the remainder of the year.

This isnā€™t exact because all of my prescriptions except insulin increase until the EPIC deductible is met.

I like the program because after you apply the figures are automatically updated annually.

The pharmacy runs all prescriptions against both the advantage plan and EPIC automatically.

I would estimate that it saves me approximately $2,000.00/year.
 
Aunt Bea said:
My EPIC deductible changes each year based on the taxable income on my state income tax return from the previous year.

This year the deductible is $795.00.

As an example, My prescription for Ozempic under Medicare and with my BCBS advantage plan is $47.00/month.

When I enter the donut hole the cost goes up to $227.86/month until I meet the $795.00 deductible.

After the deductible is met it goes back down to $47.00/month for the remainder of the year.

This isnā€™t exact because all of my prescriptions except insulin increase until the EPIC deductible is met.

I like the program because after you apply the figures are automatically updated annually.

The pharmacy runs all prescriptions against both the advantage plan and EPIC automatically.

I would estimate that it saves me approximately $2,000.00/year.
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I take a lot of stuff, so I'm glad I'm not paying $47 a month for my RXs. The cheapest is $3 and change for 90 days and the most expensive ones are $28 for 90 days; those are my three eyedrops, Farxiga and Eliquis. Most of my meds are $5. Here is a partial listing of what I paid vs. what some of my meds cost (each is for 90 days).

20240814_171844-EDIT.jpg
 
OneEyedDiva said:
I take a lot of stuff, so I'm glad I'm not paying $47 a month for my RXs. The cheapest is $3 and change for 90 days and the most expensive ones are $28 for 90 days; those are my three eyedrops, Farxiga and Eliquis. Most of my meds are $5. Here is a partial listing of what I paid vs. what some of my meds cost (each is for 90 days).

View attachment 363287
Click to expand...
The copay depends on the tier in the insurance companies drug formulary.

Many of my generic maintenance prescriptions have no copay or cost to me.

The Ozempic retails for around $980.00 without insurance so, for me, the copay of $47.00/month seems reasonable especially when my Advantage Plan and my EPIC program have no monthly premium only the annual deductibles.

Every plan is different and this works for
me.
 
Most drug manufactures have patient assistance programs that are either free or cost very little based on your income.
 
Aunt Bea said:
The copay depends on the tier in the insurance companies drug formulary.

Many of my generic maintenance prescriptions have no copay or cost to me.

The Ozempic retails for around $980.00 without insurance so, for me, the copay of $47.00/month seems reasonable especially when my Advantage Plan and my EPIC program have no monthly premium only the annual deductibles.

Every plan is different and this works for
me.
Click to expand...
I'm glad you've got a plan that works for you that doesn't "break the bank".
 
I have just started on Medicare, I have an Advantage plan through the federal government for postal employees. I have not had to fill any medications yet, I usually get a 90 days supply. I am lucky at this point the meds I do take are generic and not expensive.
 

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