Showing posts with label medications. Show all posts
Showing posts with label medications. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Medicare Part D and other unfair practices.

 I guess you now know by the title I'm in a not so good place with the coverage the seniors and disabled are forced to accept. I received that wonderful notification that I was $120 away from "THE BLACK HOLE"  coverage gap-purchasing only my daily meds required for survival.  I've been extremely careful, trying to not tread those waters. After all, I'm still paying off all those wonderful meds from 2008!
     As luck would have it, I started coughing again. This past Saturday it got a new complication. I was coughing up blood. Now this is a MAJOR red flag for me, since this was one of my original symptoms. So to say I was scared is an understatement. After calling my transplant coordinator, some cough suppressant with codeine was called into  my local pharmacy. Imaging my surprise when I was told the cost was $125.00-because my Part D Provider  CVS Caremark Silverscript does not cover cough suppressants. The pharmacist suggested a lesser expensive one and I was caught in the hurdle of ruining my coordinators day off. I called CVS Caremark when I got home and got the usual song and dance.. "Well if it were a Monday, we could push through an authorization/" BUT that takes 72 hrs- "Well yes".  Completely unfair since they regularly change the formulary forcing all participants to switch meds-bother Doctors- JUST every other month or so. I've actually had to stop updating my formulary book I have received so many.
       My luck ran true to form once again and I began a light temperature. The decision was made to call in the Big Guns... I was getting Levacquin 750 mg for 5 days. As I inwardly gritted my teeth ( remember the tooth incident?) thinking of how exorbitant the cost was going to be.  Was I ever wrong... IT WAS WORSE!!!  Five tablets cost me $140.23! Do you realize that is $28.05 per tablet.  Oh and CVS well they saved me a whopping $38.76.. 
       I know you'll say well you'll get a $250 rebate from the gov't when you hit the gap. So what! Look how much I have to spend to get out of the gap.
     When things like this happen, I have to wonder is there anyone minding the raises our elected officials get?  Is anyone up there controlling the cost of these meds? NOPE.  Are they trying to cut physician payouts -forcing us to pay more- YEP. Are they not giving out that cost of living raise? NOPE
Are they helping other countries while we have scores of unemployed? Are they rebuilding other countries while Americans can't afford food?How they in good conscience send billions to help others and not help their own?
     I mentioned to the lovely CSR from CVS who answered my call that I intended to climb back on my soapbox, and let others know what they are doing to their members. I have.
By the way, I also sent a letter to President Barack Obama- wonder if he'll answer...?