ic is so $$$$....

[shennan]

darn..........


:yikes: :yikes: :yikes:

[XoChelsey03Xo]

Yes IC can be very expensive!!!!! Being sick though isn't cheap. :( Chelsey

[Katrina]

Agreed!!!!!!!!!

[VickiB]

Yes, but look at what we all get for our money!(?)!!!

[kelly McC]

terribly exspensive...

[tigger_gal]

your not kidding.... If I saved all the money I spent on rx's and doctor visits I'd have a small fortune....
Brat

[ICNDonna]

I think any chronic condition is expensive. In addition to my IC, my husband had open heart surgery four years ago, plus he has arthritis and takes medications to reduce his cholesterol --- and we don't have prescription insurance coverage --- so a large part of our retirement income goes to the pharmacy.

:(
Donna

[shennan]

that stinks....

if i win the big lottery here in tx, i'll throw ya a few bucks your way.

;)

shenna

yes, this ic is so darn $$$$$$$$$$$.

:dizzy:
:dizzy:
:dizzy:
:dizzy:

[sister]

:( $80 for 1 month of Elmiron with Insurance.

Owowowowowowowowowowowowow!!!

[mary124]

I pay $75/for 3 months --

[Stella1609]

This is why I'm scared to start Elmiron!!!

[jrowley]

I pay $30.00 co pay for one month of elmiron but if i can get the doc to write my script for three months at a time then I will pay $30.00 for three months worth

[hglsbabe]

I agree. The best way to save money on all your rx's is to have your doctors write rx's for medications by writing take 1-2 pills 2,3 or four times a day so you can get more for your copay covered by your insurance and make sure your dr writes daw or do not substitute. Let' say you take Elmiron have the Dr write down take 2 3x a day that's 6 a day. It works. If it's written as a 30dy dose but they give you 2 months worth you get charged double your insurance because of quantity supply limits.

The key to getting past that is how your Dr writes down how many of what to take.
It's all in how many a day it's written for. Lets say your Dr says take 1 1/2 tablets a day of this,that's 45 pill for 30 days. When it comes time to ask for a rx for a certain medication make sure you tell the Dr how bad the symptoms get and how the medication helps you. The Dr should write it for more than you need. Of course we all know we won't be taking that many a day, but at least we have enough of the medication and we save money at the same time.

Another good thing to do is get your medications refilled on time even if you haven't finished the bottle you are currently using. This way you extra bottles of medication you can stock up on. Some medications that we are given like Urocit-k ,pain medication(I take Vicodin ES, antispasmodics(I take Prosed/ds,Pyridium never worked for me) we don't always need to take everyday. So I stock up on these and save money and always have extra when I need it.

A good thing to do is go on your medical insurance websites and check the rx benefits policy for each medication. Learn how to use the system and make it work for you. Another thing to think about. Some medications work differently in their generic form than in the brand form. I tried Vicodin in the generic form and I was incredibly groggy and vomited with the brand I feel a little out of it but it relieves the pain and I don't vomit.

Lastly, medical bills including rx's are tax deductable. Keep all the receipts and records. Ask your accountant what % of the total you spend for the year you qualify under so you can write it off.

[jrowley]

All I have to do is have my doc write my script up for three months of pills so if i need 100 pills for one month then he would write it for 300 pills and it would cost me 30.00 for that script. He doesnt have to say that i need to double my dose though.

[liz25]

:cussing: :cussing: I pay about $50 for my 1 pain med a month and that is after finding the cheapest pharmacy(no ins.), which happens to be Target for anyone looking. My adult benefit waiver insurance for low income adults, covers my ativan and zoloft so those are $5 each. The Dr. wanted me on Zelnorm, but it was $162 a month!! Same thing with all the other meds I'm supposed to be on, too much $$$!! I can barely get the $50!! It is outrageous how our government robs us!

:cussing: :headbang:

Liz

[jrowley]

omy gosh that is total bull for you liz Im so sorry that our state has to be like that dont you qualify for medicaid? if not something is defintely wrong.

I am thankful i have my husbands insurance but we still have cost as he is on blood presure meds and colesterol meds and now meds for acid reflux

so between the two of us we are paying any wheres between 100.00 and 150.00 a month for meds in copay

[liz25]

Jan,
:bonk: I got denied for medicaid and disability in January. I now have paperwork due to my caseworker on Nov.9 to try and get medicaid again.(disability is completely separate) Most likely, I will have to see "their" doctor and he will have a part in the decision. I thought i had a good chance of getting it last time by the way the doctor was, but ofcourse i didn't get it! :cussing: Anyways, that sucks that you guys have to pay that much and that is with coverage! :loco: Is it because the cholesterol meds have no generic? I have that problem with Zelnorm, I cannot even get it.


Liz :dizzy:

[Sarojini]

I know... IC is so expensive. I have insurance, good insurance, that I am paying $359 a month for through COBRA (I had to continue it when I quit my job), and plus all the copays.

My husband and I have been charging all my health related expenses on my Northwest Worldperks Visa card... that way we have a record of what we spent for tax purposes, and also, at least we're getting frequent flyer miles for it! LOL :lmao: Pretty soon we'll be able to take a first class trip somewhere if this keeps up!!!!

[jrowley]

Liz,
Sorry about the denial that our state gave you doesnt surprise me at all however. It's pretty tough to get any help out of them when your 50 or less years of age. Then again its tough if your older too. Good old politics :cussing: I can see where you would be :headbang: on this.
Good luck with your next try, you might want to think about getting yourself a attorney to help if you can.
Not only the lipitor has no generic there isnt one for my meds either. and that really sucks. But thank god we have coverage cuz 30 is much easier to come up with than the full amount.

[liz25]

Jan,
I alreadyhave a lawyer appealing my disability case,but there is a 2 year wait to get into court!! :cussing: I sent in my paperwork for medicaid, food assistance etc. So, I guess we'll see!!

Liz :bonk:

[jrowley]

2 years that is bull Liz

[Babs RN]

I can say I am blessed that my husband in the military hasn't killed me financially. Meds on post are free and in civilian pharmacies $3 for generic and $6 for brand name. The trade off is the far off place dh is headed....

Hugs,
Barb

[AmandaRN]

I agree that IC is very $$$$$my meds:
elmiron $60/month
elavil $10/month
MS cotin $45/month
MSIR $30/month
Clarition $15/month
oxybutin $10/month
and then I pay $30/month.
Total monthly med copays = $200.00
That does not include doctors copay $25 for primary and $40 for uro. This is with insurance. I don't know how you guys manage without insurance.
Liz25, that totally sucks that you can't get disability and medicade. I hope your lawyer is able to help, but two years before you can take it to court? I hope you are able to get some financial help.
IC SUCKS

:headbang: :headbang: :cussing: :cussing: :mad:

[kadi]

Save all your receipts-visit copays, out of pocket expenses, prescription copays, mileage to/from doctors, bridge tolls & parking fees -all that can be written off on taxes if you spend more than a certain percentage of your income.

Also, I have $ taken out of my paycheck each month pre-taxes, to put in a "Section 125 medical expense account". I reimburse myself out of this for all of the above expenses - at least it's pretax, so 25% savings... The only "catch" is if you don't use all the money, your employer gets to keep it. A friend of mine always buys prescription eyeglasses in December if she has $ left over...

PS. it still stinks how expensive this disease is....

[sister]

My ins offered me a better discount if I ordered it by mail rather than picking it up at the pharmacy. So now it is $45 for three months rather than $80 for one month.