Please pray regarding a need for an expensive medication
Hi Everyone,
I really need prayer about a very important, extremely expensive medication I sometimes need that is not covered by any of my insurances.
First, let me give a huge praise. On October 1st, I went on Medicare. Prior to Medicare, I was paying $530 in COBRA payments a month, for my medical insurance. That did not include prescriptions. In getting Medicare, my supplemental plan only costs $99 a month. It is through my teachers retirement plan, that is why the price is so low. My prescription plan is not a Medicare Part D plan. I will have the same co-pay for all my generic meds, which is reasonable, and the same co-pay for brand meds, which are $11 generic and $22 brand. There is NO doughnut hole in this plan. This gives me huge savings on all of my meds, which would be about $800 a month in the doughnut hole otherwise. I praise God for these benefits, because the prescription plan is through the teachers union I belonged to while teaching in Philadelphia for 18 years. Union members do benefit from their unions.
Now for my problem. I am on Coumadin for life, because I have a serious clotting disorder, and have already had a pulmonary embolism. Whenever I have an outpatient procedure, including dental work and a cortisone shot, I must go off the Coumadin for five days prior, and use an injectable drug called Lovenox to protect me from developing a clot or embolism. (I've buried both of my brothers to pulmonary emboli.) Medicare does NOT cover Lovenox with my Part A or B coverage. It would be covered under Part D, if I had it. Neither does my union prescription plan pay for the Lovenox. Prior to Medicare, my regular health insurance paid for it.
Did I mention it's expensive? I usually need 10 days worth, and the Lovenox costs $100 an injection. That would be $1,000 total. After many desperate phone calls, and some prayer, not in that order, I was able to contact a business that offers help to people who aren't covered for prescription medication. The woman is sending me the application. I have to give proof of my income, and my insurance information, then take it to my hematologist's office for her to fill out. Then the company will verify lack of coverage for this medication and make their determination.
Please pray for me in this matter. I need some dental work in the near future, and another procedure on my back soon as well. Being on Disability for back pain, as well as the injury from being rear ended in August, I often need to go on Lovenox.
Thanks for your prayer support.
Hugs,
Trish
I really need prayer about a very important, extremely expensive medication I sometimes need that is not covered by any of my insurances.
First, let me give a huge praise. On October 1st, I went on Medicare. Prior to Medicare, I was paying $530 in COBRA payments a month, for my medical insurance. That did not include prescriptions. In getting Medicare, my supplemental plan only costs $99 a month. It is through my teachers retirement plan, that is why the price is so low. My prescription plan is not a Medicare Part D plan. I will have the same co-pay for all my generic meds, which is reasonable, and the same co-pay for brand meds, which are $11 generic and $22 brand. There is NO doughnut hole in this plan. This gives me huge savings on all of my meds, which would be about $800 a month in the doughnut hole otherwise. I praise God for these benefits, because the prescription plan is through the teachers union I belonged to while teaching in Philadelphia for 18 years. Union members do benefit from their unions.
Now for my problem. I am on Coumadin for life, because I have a serious clotting disorder, and have already had a pulmonary embolism. Whenever I have an outpatient procedure, including dental work and a cortisone shot, I must go off the Coumadin for five days prior, and use an injectable drug called Lovenox to protect me from developing a clot or embolism. (I've buried both of my brothers to pulmonary emboli.) Medicare does NOT cover Lovenox with my Part A or B coverage. It would be covered under Part D, if I had it. Neither does my union prescription plan pay for the Lovenox. Prior to Medicare, my regular health insurance paid for it.
Did I mention it's expensive? I usually need 10 days worth, and the Lovenox costs $100 an injection. That would be $1,000 total. After many desperate phone calls, and some prayer, not in that order, I was able to contact a business that offers help to people who aren't covered for prescription medication. The woman is sending me the application. I have to give proof of my income, and my insurance information, then take it to my hematologist's office for her to fill out. Then the company will verify lack of coverage for this medication and make their determination.
Please pray for me in this matter. I need some dental work in the near future, and another procedure on my back soon as well. Being on Disability for back pain, as well as the injury from being rear ended in August, I often need to go on Lovenox.
Thanks for your prayer support.
Hugs,
Trish
Seek always to do some good, somewhere. Every man has to seek in his own way to realize his true worth. You must give some time to your fellow man. For remember, you don't live in a world all your own. Your brothers are here too.
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer
Oh yeah I know all about Lovonox! I have to use it too for surgeries and whew it is expensive unless I can plan ahead enough to get it from my mail order group and then it's only $40 for a months worth. They must cringe every time I order it, that's probably over $3000 for them to eat!
Anyway back to my original thought, if this doesn't go thru talk to your pharmacist they should have forms to send to the manufacturer of the Lovonox (there is a generic now but it's nearly as expensive) and you should qualify for their needy programs. My mom used to have to take a med that cost several hundred a month and after my dad passed there just wasn't enough money and the pharmacist told her about this program. Evidently every pharmecutical company has one of these programs to help those without enough insurance coverage. So hang in there if this door closes there's another one to knock on!
By the way did you ever get that pharmacy discount card I sent you? Just wanted to make sure you got it, if not I do have another one. Hang in there!
Anyway back to my original thought, if this doesn't go thru talk to your pharmacist they should have forms to send to the manufacturer of the Lovonox (there is a generic now but it's nearly as expensive) and you should qualify for their needy programs. My mom used to have to take a med that cost several hundred a month and after my dad passed there just wasn't enough money and the pharmacist told her about this program. Evidently every pharmecutical company has one of these programs to help those without enough insurance coverage. So hang in there if this door closes there's another one to knock on!
By the way did you ever get that pharmacy discount card I sent you? Just wanted to make sure you got it, if not I do have another one. Hang in there!