My new phamacy

[easyrider]

It looks like I will be on drugs for the rest of my life. My local dealer would only give me a 30 day supply and because I use three different drugs they never run out at the same time. One of the drugs is rovastatin and my insurance doesn't totally cover it. One of my friends that has been on drugs, like forever, told me about the health warehouse. I checked it out. A thirty day stash of rouvastatin at my local pharmacy is like $30 and that is if I cut them in half. A ninety day stash from the health warehouse is about $14 and I don't have to cut them in half.

The two other drugs had timing issues. I would run low on one and not the other. Having a 90 day stash seems like it will solve some problems. The health warehouse is recognized by my medical network so it was pretty easy to get the prescription filled.

https://www.healthwarehouse.com/

Bill

 

[VacationForever]

I am on so many drugs that I have to stop and think to make sure I remember all of them when talking to the pharmacists. One of my drugs is $300 for 30 days supply. Found a coupon on GoodRx to use and it drops to $200. This drug is not on the healthwarehouse.com site. I am finishing my 2nd month's supply of this drug. Seeing my specialist at the end of the 2nd month supply and I am going to ask him if he thinks it is a good idea to go back to my cheap old drug.

 

[easyrider]

I am on so many drugs that I have to stop and think to make sure I remember all of them when talking to the pharmacists.

I heard they make a pill for that ! Memory pills made from some part of a jelly fish. I can't remember what they are called but I think these are otc.

Bill

 

[VacationForever]

I heard they make a pill for that ! Memory pills made from some part of a jelly fish. I can't remember what they are called but I think these are otc.

Bill

LOL. Fortunately I do not need memory pills yet.

 

[rosebud5]

Here is a good one. I went to my local pharmacy after switching insurance companies (UHC) for a 3-month supply of generic Crestor. She said it would be $120 with insurance and $20 without insurance. I told her she must be wrong. I got the same med for free under my old insurance company. How could using insurance cost 6 times as much? Well, UHC classifies the drug as a tier 3 or something like that even though most pharmacies charge a lot less. What a racket. Makes you wonder about these insurance companies. I am definitely switching to BCBS when FEHB opens back up.

 

[Timeshare Von]

I've been recently prescribed Eliquis and choking on the price!! There are some manufacturer discounts that I'm currently eligible for, but they are limited for just two years. After that, I'd be on my regular insurance coverage (which is non-existent). The current price is $450/month.

I'm not sure I want to commit to that expensive drug knowing I won't be able to afford it in the future.

There are other blood thinner options, but they come with other challenges.

I hate getting old!

 

[rapmarks]

Here is a good one. I went to my local pharmacy after switching insurance companies (UHC) for a 3-month supply of generic Crestor. She said it would be $120 with insurance and $20 without insurance. I told her she must be wrong. I got the same med for free under my old insurance company. How could using insurance cost 6 times as much? Well, UHC classifies the drug as a tier 3 or something like that even though most pharmacies charge a lot less. What a racket. Makes you wonder about these insurance companies. I am definitely switching to BCBS when FEHB opens back up.

I had the same problem when my doctor wanted to start me on Crestor, and had to request a different drug. I spend so much when I fill 12 of my prescriptions at the same time, and then when I need eye meds or inhalers, my bill is huuuge

 

[bogey21]

I've been recently prescribed Eliquis and choking on the price!! .

I'm not sure I want to commit to that expensive drug knowing I won't be able to afford it in the future.

There are other blood thinner options, but they come with other challenges.

I assume that Warfarin is the other option you refer to with its "challenges". I have spent the extra money for Pradaxa, a similarly expensive alternative to Warfarin for the last 7 or 8 years. IMO if you need Eliquis and can find a way to pay for it, the simplicity of taking it is worth the money.

George

 

[Lydlady]

I almost ordered from Health Warehouse for a prescription that was not covered by my insurance. Health Warehouse had some negative reviews so I checked with Costco (I'm not a member). Costco had a way lower price and I don't have to be a member.

 

[Passepartout]

You guys are breaking my heart! My wife takes this drug: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-pill/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.927d713adbad--
$148,000 a year and the maker wants more.

Jim

 

[easyrider]

Geez Jim, I think you win. Hopefully the drug is covered by your wife's insurance.

I checked the heatlh warehouse website and the drugs are shipping out. There was a bit of confusion with the clopidogrel regarding why I'm still on them, caused by me asking why do I need these, which caused a day delay in the script while some one checked.

The Health Warehouse is associated with Virginia Mason's network. My primary doctor and cardiologist are with Virginia Mason and from what the primary's pill order person said it was very easy to order these drugs. I saw some of the bad reviews and some of the good reviews that are online so I called my doctors office. They had nothing bad to say except that it can take a couple of weeks to get the drugs. I have about a couple of weeks stashed so I'm good.

Bill

 

[Passepartout]

Geez Jim, I think you win. Hopefully the drug is covered by your wife's insurance.

Mostly covered by Medicare & supplement, but out of pocket is still over $4,000 a month.

 

[Timeshare Von]

You guys are breaking my heart! My wife takes this drug: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-pill/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.927d713adbad--
$148,000 a year and the maker wants more.

Jim

OUCH! Where is the UNlike button!

 

[Timeshare Von]

I assume that Warfarin is the other option you refer to with its "challenges". I have spent the extra money for Pradaxa, a similarly expensive alternative to Warfarin for the last 7 or 8 years. IMO if you need Eliquis and can find a way to pay for it, the simplicity of taking it is worth the money.

George

Thanks George. I have an appointment with my cardiology specialist next Thursday and will discuss options with him. My initial consult (along with the diagnosis) with a cardiologist in March got me the Eliquis Rx . . . but like I said, I want to discuss with the specialist first.

And yes Warfarin is the one I'm most familiar with because my MIL is on it, but the hassle of monthly labs would probably eat up any $$ savings I'd have.

I'll know more next week

 

[rapmarks]

I wish publix would mail out drugs, in addition to a list of free drugs, they have quite a few that are $7.50 for a ninety day supply.

 

[rosebud5]

Not trying to be funny, but isn't Warafin rat poison?

 

[magmue]

isn't Warafin rat poison?

aka Coumadin. It's a blood thinner - kills rats because big doses cause internal bleeding. Usage also usually requires frequent labwork to make sure levels are correct. It also interacts with lots of other medications, which can be challenging.

(GYN nurse practitioner IRL)

 

[Passepartout]

Mostly covered by Medicare & supplement, but out of pocket is still over $4,000 a month.

It's the second drug she's been 'scribed. The first one was a 'Genetic' that was matched to her DNA that brought her blood Lymphocytes (white blood cells) down from some 300,000 to 'normal' which is low single digits. After 1 1/2 years it started back up (Cancer is like this and adapts and 'learns' how to replicate itself) so they went to this 'Ibrutenib' that works by seeking out the places in the body where the Leukemia cells 'hide' and flushes them out so your body's immune system can attack them. The drug is costly and she will be on it (a) as long as it works, or (b) the rest of her life. Right now, she is in the Medicare 'donut hole' and has to pay a significant co-pay. But after she's paid the maximum out-of-pocket- price, then Medicare will pick up the full cost- until Dec-31st- then it starts again. iirc, that number is somewhere in the mid-$20,000's. Expensive? YES, but it makes carrying on with Leukemia for years possible.

Jim

 

[x3 skier]

After my bypass surgery, I was offered Coumadin (basically free) or Xarelto, $80/month at the local pharmacy or $80/3 months mail order, all via my insurance. $80 is worth avoiding the hassle associated with Coumadin.

Cheers

 

[Timeshare Von]

Beyond the expense of the Eliquis, I am also bothered by the fact that there is no antidote should something happen and they need to facilitate clotting. Car accidents and internal bleeding are a significant concern. Even something like a dog bite could prove disastrous if it creates a significant bleed.

 

[bogey21]

Beyond the expense of the Eliquis, I am also bothered by the fact that there is no antidote should something happen and they need to facilitate clotting. Car accidents and internal bleeding are a significant concern. Even something like a dog bite could prove disastrous if it creates a significant bleed.

I don't know about Eliquis or Xarelto for that matter but there is now an antidote for Pradaxa. All three of these drugs accomplish the same thing, and do it very well, but address it in different ways. If having an antidote is an issue, I suggest researching all three before you make a decision which one to use.

George

 

[klpca]

Beyond the expense of the Eliquis, I am also bothered by the fact that there is no antidote should something happen and they need to facilitate clotting. Car accidents and internal bleeding are a significant concern. Even something like a dog bite could prove disastrous if it creates a significant bleed.

Or falling off of a ladder which is what happened to my husband. In the ER, while getting the CT scan to check for a brain bleed, the Dr. told us that the ladder fall/blood thinner combo is the most common reason for the ER visit. Sample size of one, so probably not accurate, but it makes sense.

Jim - so sorry to hear what you guys have been going through. My best to your wife.

 

[SmithOp]

I take Xarelto for AFib. Its the internal bleeding that is of concern with no antidote available. External bleeding still clots once the blood is exposed to air/pressure on the wound so I’m not too worried about dog bites, but I do avoid them and stay off ladders .

I have CVS/Caremark, very easy to reorder either mail order or pickup. The local CVS has a text response system that lets me know when refills are ready to pick up. I can get 90 day supply from either one.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Timeshare Von]

I don't know about Eliquis or Xarelto for that matter but there is now an antidote for Pradaxa. All three of these drugs accomplish the same thing, and do it very well, but address it in different ways. If having an antidote is an issue, I suggest researching all three before you make a decision which one to use.

George

That's exactly what I've been doing since my initial cardiologist prescribed Eliquis about 5 weeks ago. I will discuss with my specialist next week and together we'll make a decision.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Or falling off of a ladder which is what happened to my husband. In the ER, while getting the CT scan to check for a brain bleed, the Dr. told us that the ladder fall/blood thinner combo is the most common reason for the ER visit. Sample size of one, so probably not accurate, but it makes sense.

Jim - so sorry to hear what you guys have been going through. My best to your wife.

No issue with ladders due to my gimpy knees. The biggest concerns/risks I feel I'm exposed to are car accidents and dog bites (because we foster humane society dogs). I suppose any fall (slipping on ice in the winter, as an example) could be a risk as well.

Thanks for the added input. I hope your DH was OK and continues to be fine.