I just reached the "donut hole" on my Medicare Part D plan......

[zanne]

After $2,400, I have to pay full price for my prescriptions until January, when I'll start all over again. I filled two prescriptions today for $201.00. I definitely won't be able to keep this up, so I called Walmart to see about their $4.00 program. A few of my prescriptions are on their list, but my cardiac meds aren't, and let's face it, if the heart doesn't pump all the pills in the world won't help me. My plan, by the way, is the best plan AARP has to offer. I never dreamed I'd be in the damned donut hole this fast.

Does anybody else here have Medicare Part D? How is it going for you?

[Ian David]

1. Tell Carol Burnett to go fuck herself. n/t

[liberaldemocrat7]

7. I refused to enroll in Medicare Part D. I saw this coming.

I have enough free samples of medication that normally costs $147 a month until next year. Before that though I will buy the medicine that I had gotten for free until the clinic stopped giving them out, for $20 a month. That appears correct. If I buy from this pharmacy it will cost 1/7th of the price that Wyeth charges people here in the US. I will save over $120 dollars a month that greedy Billy Tauzin helped the drug companies and insurance companies gouge people like you and me, but I will not let them.



Please send this letter to the Republican party. Get as many retired and disabled people to send it. We can pressure the Republicans to repeal and replace this junk program.

Send this letter to the Republican party today!

Copy and paste the letter below and email it directly to [e-mail] the Republican Party and get 2 friends to send this letter and have those 2 friends get 2 friends to send it and so on. Thank you. Drop me a message to [e-mail] with the subject Done after you have sent the email.

Hello

Get your Republican party to end the war in Iraq, with Bush and Cheney resigning, and until you do we stop buying televisions, refrigerators, stoves, ovens, dishwashers, dvd players, stereo equipment, light bulbs from one of your party's major contributors and War contractors General Electric Corporation ( 203 373 2211 ) who cannot afford to lose a large sector of the publics business and money.

Get your Republican party to remove the FICA taxable income cap and tax all of a person's income for social security purposes and enact HR 676 Single payer universal health care into law and repeal Medicare Part D and place the prescription drug benefit in Medicare Part B covering 80 percent of all medication with no extra premiums, no extra deductibles, no means tests, no coverage gaps, and completely remove the means test to Medicare Part B and until you do, we will not buy consumer products and prescription drugs from the biggest pharmacy chains and GOP contributors in the country Eckerd, CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens and we will not buy health insurance from Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna, the 2 biggest health insurance companies that give money to the GOP as well, who cannot afford to lose a large sector of the publics business and money.

Get your Republican party to enact a $10 an hour minimum wage, and until you do, we will not go to the following restaurants and GOP contributors Wendy's, Outback Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and Dominos Pizza who cannot afford to lose a large sector of the publics business and money.

Get your Republican party to enact into law Universal vote by mail with paper ballots counted by civil servants with civil servants registering voters and keeping track of registrations, and until you do, we will not buy any GOP contributor Dell computers or monitors or go to the following restaurants and GOP contributors Wendy's, Outback Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and Dominos Pizza who cannot afford to lose a large sector of the publics business and money.

Get your Republican party to get congress to pass and enact a law legalizing abortions from conception to six months, and to nine months when the life of the mother appears threatened, and until you do we stop doing business with two of your biggest contributors Dominos Pizza and Curves for Women Health Clubs.

Signed,

[IndyOp]

44. Universal Vote By Mail -- WHOA NELLY -- want to make it easier for Rethugs

to steal elections? Support vote-by-mail.

Vote-by-mail violates very important information security principles - the longer the ballot has to travel, the more hands who have to handle the ballot, the longer the period over which voting occurs the less secure the election.

In Florida and Ohio in 2004, tens of thousands of ballots were not mailed in time for voters to mark and return their ballot by mail. Other ballots were sent out with insufficient postage. Volunteers appeared in neighborhoods likely to vote Democratic to "pick up ballots and return them to Clerk's office" --

Vote-by-mail makes election theft easier.

Paper ballots, counted by scanner, audited by a random hand-to-eye count AT THE PRECINCT on election day is far, far more secure than vote-by-mail.

Vote-by-mail increases participation in elections by people who are very stable in the place they live - which is less true of young adults, lower income, and Democrats in general.

Vote-by-mail <- :thumbsdown:

[WindRavenX]

2. zanne, I'm sorry you're going thru this.

America deserves better :(

[Totally Committed]

3. What about generics?

Have you talked to your doctor about them, for your heart meds?

Also try: http://www.canamericadrugs.com/

TC

[zanne]

15. They're already generics. nt

[Totally Committed]

36. Oh, that's awful. I'm so sorry.

Sometimes drug companies have programs for when people who really needs their drugs, but can't afford them, are given them free or at cost. Find out who makes your meds, and apply to the company for relief. You may have to go to the non-generic brand to do this, but it could help???

Again, I'm so sorry for your predicament.

TC

[Nite Owl]

4. Who makes the drugs?

Maybe the drug companies themselves can do something. Crazy as it sounds my son needed a very expensive med and they sent it to him for almost nothing. Doctors get a lot of samples too. It shouldn't be this way for seniors or anyone in America, this is all just so immoral.

[zanne]

19. I used to be on a program like that

It was a program that I qualified for (by income). This is the program where the pharmaceutical companies themselves would give you free medication. My city had 1 (one) volunteer who had to handle the whole area. Needless to say, I got the prescriptions free and in the mail, but it took so long and the paperwork was so massive and confusing that half the time, I didn't have my meds. Also, you can't be part of one of these programs and also have Medicare Part D.

[Hepburn]

31. Where do you live?

Maybe your state has a program that can help you? For some in California, Medi-Cal will pick up with Medicare does not cover.

[zanne]

38. I live in "no taxes" New Hampshire.

The thing about no sales tax is that you don't have the public programs and resources that other states have.

[sandnsea]

50. Oregon has no sales taxes

So some states manage to provide health benefits without sales taxes.

And it looks like there are still PAP programs for some people with Part D.

http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=398008

[Jim__]

5. That sucks.

My bet is that you are far and away not the only one in this predicament.

I don't know what you can do about the immediate problem; but, I would write a letter to the editor of my local paper. These "little" problems that always creep up in "market solutions" to medical treatment need to be publicized.

New for profit insurance plans are not the way to improve our medical system.

[liberaldemocrat7]

6. .

.

[napi21]

8. Do you have a Sams Club or Costco near you?

Here's a clip from Clark Howard's radio show (he's a comsumer advocate with a daily talk show).

Mar 22, 2007 -- How to get the best deal on prescriptions
The Wall Street Journal has done a research project on prescription drugs, showing the disparity in the industry. The price difference – even between generics – is huge. The last survey found Costco Wholesale to be the cheapest. This time, it was Sam’s Club with Costco coming in No. 2. For example, Zocor is $90 at Walgreens, $80 at CVS, $12 at Costco and $6 at Sam’s Club. The generic of Zoloft was $74 at Walgreens, $70 at CVS, $6 at Costco at and Sam’s Club it was $5. So what’s happening? Instead of pricing generics up from the wholesale cost, places like Walgreen’s and CVS discount from the cost of brand name drugs. So, a generic may cost them $3 at wholesale, but they charge $70 or $80 because it’s still less than a brand name. That’s why CVS and Walgreens push generic drugs so hard. They make a ton on generics because they mark them up so much. So, it’s clear that filling your prescriptions at Costco and Sam’s Club is the way to go. If you’re worried about being a member, don’t worry. In many states, you don’t need a membership to get prescriptions from those warehouse clubs.

BTW, I have to face chosing a plan NEXT YEAR! I really dread it because I haven't heard of ONE that people were really happy with!

[partylessinOhio]

9. It is only going to get worse. Did you know that the monthly deduction

for Medicare is not only going up but is now also tied to your income? The income figure used goes back two years so if, say in 2005 you sold your home or cashed in a CD or something - your income figure would be inflated for that year - but now you are in 2007 and perhaps only getting social security - you still would pay a higher Medicare premium.

Why does Congress hate the elderly and disabled so much that they would cut their benefits, raise their premiums, raise their deductibles and create something so unfair as a donut hole.

Frankly, they have holes in their heads and hearts.

:thumbsdown:

[CTyankee]

14. Here's why: they want people to stop depending on government for help in health care and

turn to private programs. They do this by making Medicare stink in lots of people's eyes. They are on a mission to save this country from socialism!!

[partylessinOhio]

23. I want saved from Bush/Cheney and this Congress.

I'm already in the mix of being disabled and now retired. I don't have any options to go another direction. We shouldn't be changing horses midstream anyway.

Our system has worked for many years and will continue to do so. It is only the greed of those who have too much and don't want to share any responsibility for those who don't have enough that is driving this engine to destroy the system.

[CTyankee]

28. Greed yes but these people are blood in the eyes idealogues and zealots.

They know damn well after being burned by their attempt to privatize Social Security that the only way to make Medicare unpopular is to, well, make it unpopular. Defund what is already in place and create a new "Medicare part D" plan that doesn't work for the people. Then they can point to it and say, "See, we told you that big government programs don't work."

The only way we can prevent this is to get a veto proof Congress and the bully pulpit of the White HOuse. The ONLY way. Otherwise you and I, who are retired, will suffer greatly.

[liberaldemocrat7]

56. You can do more Yankee. Go after the companies that profit from the mess.

Since drug companies have monoploies on most drugs, go after the pharmacy chains I list in my letter to the GOP above. Get many people to send the letter to the GOP. Don't write a Republican congressman, instead everyone should send that letter to the GOP at their email address.

[sandnsea]

10. Prescription Assistance Programs

You should have someone at your doctor's office who will file the paperwork for you. Or you can file on your own. It's painless and fairly fast. Hope something works out for you. The medications are outrageous, I agree. We would never be able to pay for ours and eat too, no possible way.

http://www.rxassist.org/

[liberaldemocrat7]

11. yeah yeah, I called PAP. Alot of PAP if you ask me.

Middle class people will not get anything from this. If you have an income over $1500 a month PAP will not help you.

I want the poor taken care of, but I also want the middle class helped also.

PAP won't do it.

[sandnsea]

16. Then we just won't tell anybody

about any possible solutions to keep people alive - just so's you don't have to be offended reading the posts. How 'bout that??

[mcscajun]

48. If you have any Rx insurance coverage, PAP doesn't help you.

Would that it did.

But if there are samples available at your doctor's office that will help, by all means ask for them.

[sandnsea]

49. There is still help

http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=398008

[CTyankee]

12. I declined both Medicare part B and part D since I have my spouse's medical plan.

He is a city employee and a member of AFSME and the union negotiated a sterling health care plan. I pay in $74 a month. It covers dr.'s visits, some prescription drugs and a good dental program. However, my husband will retire one of these days and then I'll have to go on B and D. I hope that we'll have a strong Democratic Congress and White House and some relief from this ugly plan the repugs pushed through.

I still ask for free samples because you never know when a doc has them. It's worth a shot. Can we still drive to Canada and get the meds?

[nosmokes]

13. been there already for a couple of months. What I do,

even though we have a prescription assistance program here in Oregon is use Canada Generic.com. but there are definately some drawbacks. It takes a while to get everything set up and thre's always the chance the order is gonna be messed with by the government just because you're ordering drugs from Canada. Or maybe I'm paranoid? But you do need to have your doctor write the prescription in the amounts and dosages that the Canadian pharmacy provides. It might take as long as three or four weeks to set up an account and get your first scrip so I'd reccommend getting started on that now. But as you can see there is a substantial savings by going through the one time hassle of setting up the account. And these guys are very legit. AndI was even able to get *quinine* there for my leg cramps after the FDA decided that quinine can't be used for leg cramps any more.

[sandnsea]

18. We actually have more than one

We have a program where anyone without prescription drug coverage can sign up and get medication at the medicaid rate. AND there is the regular PAP's through the pharmaceuticals that provide free medication. Two separate things.

[nosmokes]

34. Yeah, We're better off than most here in Oregon. But Canada is still

cheaper and once you have it down the extra hoops you hafta jumps through aren't bad at all.

[Midlodemocrat]

27. Tonic water works for leg cramps as well.

Just an FYI. It helped me a LOT when I was pregnant and suffering through them.

[nosmokes]

33. believe me, I've tried.

I can't drink enough tonic water to ease my leg cramps. And the idea is to sleep through the night so sooner or later you reach the point of diminshing returns w/ the tonic water therapy.;)

[LSK]

17. I thought after a certain amount, they pay for it again?

[zanne]

20. Yup. In January, they'll pay for my meds again. nt

[LSK]

21. thought it was based on amounts

[Midlodemocrat]

25. It is. But, if he reached the gap this fast, he won't max out

prior to January. The gap picks up again after the next $2800.

[sandnsea]

26. $5500

Then it kicks in again. That's a bunch of money to have to pay. If you're paying $500 for 5 months, that'll kill people before they ever get through the doughnut hole, which ought to be renamed the death hole because that's what it is.

[zanne]

30. After $3500 in out-of-pocket costs, "catastrophic" kicks in.....

Though it's a yearly plan. It's doubtful I'll get to the "catastrophic" phase by January. In other words, the "hole" is $3500 big.

[Hidden Stillness]

22. Everyone is Suffering on It

Part D has been a total disaster, and many many people are suffering the same way you are: as soon as this horrible bill was passed, prices of hundreds of needed drugs shot up by 300% and more, the lists people used for covered drugs changed, they had to pay out-of-pocket for drugs, and could not themselves change plans. I think Sen. Dorgan or somebody held a hearing on this before the Democrats took Congress back, and there were panels of people telling the same stories of price-gouging, inability to afford anything, even deaths. Prices shot up, premiums shot up, they changed the way they calculated "income" so that single events--sale of house or car, etc.--would be fixed to the person's "income" every year, permanently!

Poor people who used to have decent medicine coverage under Medicaid were automatically cut off and put on this Part D shit, and the pharmaceutical corporations that used to get subsidies for giving away prescription drugs to those who could not afford them, now get subsidies for signing people up to this Part D shit! I investigated it when they were lying about how "good" it is, and told someone who already had Blue Cross not to change. Anything else is better than this. People here in Michigan, (and other border States), arrange bus trips and buy in Canada. The only things I would suggest would be, 1) call your Representative (or nearby Democrat if you have a crappy one), and ask what to do and how to afford it; (sometimes there are programs), and 2) if your city has a Senior Services Department or anything else like that, maybe they can give advice. This is very common; it is a disaster, no matter how the media censors, and hypes the program they themselves profit so heavily from, by their sponsors. People hate this thing.

[zanne]

55. I'm kind of stuck on the age thing...

I'm not a senior, so I can't get any help from my local senior's group. I'm totally disabled. When I was 38, I was visiting my husband in the hospital after he'd had his fourth back surgery. (Spinal Stenosis). I suddenly had such a painful backache that I went to the ER. It was a heart attack. Two weeks later, I was having bypass surgery (six bypasses). I went back to work after a few months. Two months after my return to work, the muscles in my legs were so weak I could barely stand. (Pernicious Anemia and Muscular Dystrophy). So, both my husband and myself are totally disabled and on Social Security Disability. It isn't much fun and I'd advise against getting really sick.

[petersjo02]

24. Neither of us signed up for Part D

We'd heard nothing good about it and knew that companies were raising their prices the same amount of the discount, so you still ended up paying the same price. I didn't know about Costco, Sam's Club. Will definitely check that out. Right now we're on the "Mexico" plan. We winter in Arizona. We end up paying about 1/4 of what we'd pay for same drugs at regular drugstores in U.S. There are pharmacies everywhere once you cross the border. You need to pay attention, but we've always gotten exactly what we've paid for.

[kcass1954]

29. Check with Target too - I just found out they've got a $4 program.

I'm sorry you hit "the hole" so soon.

[bobbolink]

32. This isn't an individual problem -- This is a SYSTEMIC problem.

While I understand your desire to find your own individual solution, there are millions in your shoes.

We need to learn, as Michael Moore says, to go from ME to WE, and start organizing each other to get the REAL RESULTS needed.

I hope you will reach out to others, and get everyone writing, calling, sitting in at their Rep's office, etc.

[brer cat]

46. Absolutely, bobbolink!

There are millions, and way too many are children and elderly, the most vulnerable. We ALL need to be activists to force our elected representatives to work for US rather than big pharma and solve the problem for everyone! People DIE every damn day in America because they lack health care. What a DISGRACE!

[bobbolink]

47. Yes, We *NEED* to... but, I don't see that likely to happen.

We're a very rugged individualistic society, and we think FIRST about getting our own solution.

Then, often, we're satisfied, so we don't go any further than that.

Yes, I'd like to see the OP be able to get the meds s/he needs, but, as you say, what about the other millions in the same boat?

Can't we give a HUGE push to get this system fixed, FOR ALL, as a large group of concerned citizens?

If not, why not?

Isn't this why we all worked our butts off getting DEMS in office in '06?!

[nancyr]

35. Plan D

I also have AARP for my drugs. I knew in advance that I wouldn't be able to afford one drug I'd been on, it was over $400 a month. So I had my doctor prescribe something cheaper. I'm going to get through the year without falling into that horrible "donut hole", and right now all of my four drugs cost me $6 a month per prescription. I'm doing o.k.. but it's still a dreadful plan...thanks to the good people who passed this crap. Good luck. I refuse to do business at Walmart, so I get my meds at either Bi-Mart or Rite-Aid.

[zanne]

39. I have nine daily prescriptions.

I left a message for my doctor today. He'll have to come up with some alternative medication for me, even if it doesn't work as well, or I won't be able to afford any. I checked with the Walmart and Target pharmacies--there are two medications on their list that I can save on. (I'd sell my body, but I'm too old!).

[ROakes1019]

37. donut hole

I fell into the donut hole in July, when my prescriptions cost $276. I went to my doctor and got written prescriptions and have ordered my most expensive, Advair, from Canada for one-third the cost. Meanwhile, I can get two of my generics from Wal-Mart. That leaves me with less than $100 a month for the rest of the year. I am furious that the congress can't get through a provision to allow bargaining by Medicare and/or importation from Canada. Right now, the law allows you to order up to 90 days from Canada but you can get your doctor to give you refills for after that. It's worth looking into. We have to search for all the angles we can to get around the unfair Medicare D prescription bill.

[zanne]

40. Can I ask how you go about ordering from Canada? nt

[ROakes1019]

41. how to order from Canada

I went to Google and searched for the drugs I need. There are several Canadian pharmacies you can check out. I ordered from planetdrugsdirect.com. All I had to do was mail them my prescription. You can fax a prescription but I don't have access to a fax machine. I discussed this with my doctor and she said I could do anything I wanted with the prescription. Also, I checked and learned that it's perfectly legal in 90 day increments. Please look into this because no one should suffer from this unfair measure passed by congress.

[ROakes1019]

42. also

I forgot to add that by getting one or two of your most expensive drugs from Canada you can avoid falling into the donut hole next year. I realize that when they say you've reached the $2800 threshold, they are figuring what they pay for the drugs; so I figured it that way. I can get the rest of my drugs for around $1900 a year figuring it their way. Then I added what I would pay for the drugs from Canada. I'm still much better off doing it this way. But one main reason, aside from not being able to afford the regular Medicare D drugs, is that I'll do anything to thwart this greed grab from the drug and insurance lobbies and their Repug congressmen.

[SoCalDem]

43. What really pisses me off, is that when they were "formulating" this plan,

you just KNOW there was much guffawing and chortling when they came up with the donut hole.. even in naming it.. I mean who doesn;t love donuts..even Homer Simpson loves donuts..

It was a nasty little Darwinistic joke for the old folks to deal with. If one reaches the "donut" 6-8 months into the calendar year, suddenly their life becomes very similar to that of a drug addict.. their life now revolves aroung "getting their fix"... only this fix is not about getting high, it's about staying alive..

For those whose health is not irreversibly damaged by the lack of meds for half a year, they can get back on the merry-go-round in January...but for the ones who did not ask the right questions to the right people at the right time, or who had no one to help them navigate the paperwork or who failed in their quest to stay on their meds..well they apparently were not among the "fittest".. :cry:

[bleedingheart]

45. Do not hesitate to talk to your doctor who prescribed these pills

and make a point of saying that you would appreciate any samples he/she can give you in addition to perhaps putting you on the generic version if possible...

My doctors have always been very good about that...especially my kid's pediatrician...my son was very sick during his early years and the doc always gave us a load of samples...enough in many cases to carry us a month or so...

[OneBlueSky]

51. I'm about to hit the donut hole to the tune of $300+/month . . .

most of it related to one specific med with no generic and no suitable alternative . . . guess I'll be running up those credit card balances . . .

I'm screwed . . .

[Vinca]

52. My husband has used this pharmacy in Canada and has been

very happy with the price and service. They have called him when they've had questions and even sent him a Christmas card! Highly recommend. http://www.canadadrugs.com/index.php?REF=GoogleGeneralWords/keyword=canada+drug&gclid=CNrO2p6l440CFQMYFQodCU9nzg

[nonny]

53. Savings of up to 75%

This FREE DRUG CARD program is being sponsored by a non-profit organization to help all Americans cut their prescription drug costs. Simply download your FREE Prescription Drug Cards and receive savings of up to 75% at more than 54,000 national and regional pharmacies. Participating pharmacies include the following: Walgreens, Kroger, Rite Aid, Publix, Osco, Eckerd Drugs, SAV-ON, Longs Drug Store, Brooks Pharmacy, Winn Dixie, Albertsons, Super Fresh, and Target as well as thousands of independent pharmacies. Please enter your name and e-mail address below in each box and we will generate TWO printable membership cards for you. These cards are pre-activated and can be used immediately. These Prescription Cards are not Insurance!

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"..ringing up discounts to the tune of some $520 million..."
Business Report - October 2005

"Hands down, the finest prescription assistance program in the United States…"
Wellness.com - April 2006

"...keeping the neighborhood pharmacy the cornerstone of American healthcare"
Pharmacy Times - November 2006

http://www.freedrugcard.us/index.php

I haven't had the need for this............. YET!
But I have kept this link handy. Has anyone tried this?

[zanne]

54. Thanks to all of you for your help AND sympathy!

I will try all of your suggestions. I never thought my post would have so many responses. When all is said and done, DU people are the best.