An observation and comment on our healthcare system

[clevermanka]

Yesterday, I opened a letter from my insurance company with a message about prescription coverage change. Provigil, the narcolepsy/anti-tired medication that keeps me from being exhausted all the time, is no longer going to covered as of October 1. Caremark is switching their "preferred" medication to the company's newer drug, Nuvigil. However, that doesn't mean that either drug will be on the formulary, so I'll still be paying a large percentage of the drug cost.

The cost of Provigil without insurance = ~$800/month. Currently, I pay $75.

The cost of Nuvigil with insurance = ~$220/month.

I've just been priced out of feeling like a normal human being.

Fuck you very much, you insurance assholes. Fuck. You..

Comments

[normalcyispasse.livejournal.com]

But Amerrica health care! No SOCIALISMAS!

In seriousness, I go south of the border for anything prescription-related (which for me is few and far between, but still). The town I visit is entirely based around medical tourism; I have all my dental work done there. Prescription drugs are available without a prescription, and each person can bring back up to a 3-month supply. Costs tend to be right around 20-30% of what they are in the US (for the same meds; the difference is that the packaging is in Spanish).

If you and Chris would like to visit, Los Algodones is only about 3.5 hours away.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

This is Good Information. Thank you.

I'm considering simply going back to taking ephedrine once in a while on my Really Bad Days, now that I can mail order that in the US again.

[hdsqrl.livejournal.com]

Dammit, this sucks. :(

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

For real. I am so very angry.

[miischelle.livejournal.com]

+1

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

This is why people self-medicate.

[renniemom.livejournal.com]

Oh GAH.

This is why people self-medicate.
THIS.

I have connections south of the border. Just sayin.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

More Good Information. Thank you.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_luaineach/]

Ya, I talked to my doctor about it on Tuesday and he said there's no way my particular insurance company would pay for it for use off label (for fatigue as opposed to narcolepsy). It'd be nice if the FDA would approve label changes.

ETA: that said, I'm considering just hopping down to Nogales for it. However, I'm still waiting to hear your one month update (I was going to say 'one month and beyond update' but i guess no beyond now.).

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I'm past the one month mark now, and feeling great. No problems sleeping, no other side effects (I haven't even experienced any weight loss, which is interesting), and my acupuncturist says she's noticed no changes in my pulses or other stuff.

Not that it matters, at this point.

[bart-calendar.livejournal.com]

Would they cover Adderal?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I have no idea. I also don't know if I want another fake diagnosis on my record.

It's something to think about, though. Thanks for the idea.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

I fuckin hate this!!!!!

..and for way more reasons as well.
My next Mex vacation will include a trip to the farmacia, that's for damn sure.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Right?!?!?

It's all just so stupid.

Oh well, bart_calendar's suggestion has at least given me something to research this afternoon.

[siro-gravity.livejournal.com]

ok. THAT is a crime. i remember the cost of my dad's medication when he had cancer.

it's not just the insurance assholes, who are definitely assholes. it's also the drug companies who charge truly outrageous prices for meds. NOBODY i know, even my sister, could afford an $800/month medication.

way to promote illegal drug use, though. morons.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

This sucks I HATE this for you, for us all.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thanks. And now, of course, I'm extra tired from being angry, and various things disrupting my sleep last night (stress from this being one of them). Is that irony? I'm so bad at determining if something is actually ironic.

[apocalypticbob.livejournal.com]

So much bullshit.

Grr.

Angry face.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Mmm. Mal. I'll go think about Mal and that'll make me feel better for a little while.

[belluthien.livejournal.com]

WTfreakingF! I *HATE* this about our country.
y

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yep. It's all about the money.

[tessagratton.livejournal.com]

!!!!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Srsly.

[adammaker.livejournal.com]

This is a very evil sort of madness!

late to the party

[sparrowhawk433.livejournal.com]

As usual; our mutual friend Pointoforigin suggested I comment if I have anything useful to say. After some investigation, probably not. It looks as if there's no chance of a generic becoming available until April of 2012. Looks like the go-to-Mexico option is best--if you have a prescription, you can legally bring the drug back into this country. Of course, Mexico isn't really close to um where you live, is it?

the insurance company is pretty much grabbed by the short hairs by its pharmacy benefits management company, which a) keeps most drugs, ON AVERAGE, lowest cost) tho' b) picks up a good profit, but is itself held hostage by the drug companies--in this case Cephalon, who filed various tricksy patents to keep the drug to themselves when it should have gone generic 5 years ago. BTW--we in the US pay for the cheap prices you get in the rest of the world. the worldwide socialist conspiracy is probably the only solution to this problem. Good luck.

Re: late to the party

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thanks for investigating for me, even if the news wasn't especially encouraging. I appreciate it!

Hey, at least our health care in America is the best in the world, right?