Recently, a caretaker posed a question recently that highlighted the serious issue of seniors' inability to afford prescription drugs. The question asked, 'How can I find low-cost drug programs for my grandfather?'
'I have recently started caring for my elderly grandfather who lives on a very limited income. He has been prescribed Zocor for cholesterol problems, but this medication is so expensive it is becoming a choice for a place to live or his medication.'
Studies have shown that many older patients with chronic health problems are cutting back on their medications because they cost too much, not only impairing their daily functioning, but also endangering their lives. In 2009, the nonpartisanSenior Citizens League conducted a study in which 42 percent of the participants said they had either postponed filling their prescription medications or were taking a smaller dosage than prescribed by their physicians, due to the economic recession. Fortunately, low-cost prescription drug options are available for seniors through pharmacies, drug manufacturers and/or government-assistance programs.
A survey by agingcare.com found that prescription drug prices can vary by as much as 35 percent from one store to another. The survey compared Walgreens, Costco and Target. In one case, 50 mg of Levoxyl cost $14 at Target, $35 at Costco and $42 at Walgreens, but for other drugs, the stores offering the lowest costs were reversed. This means that the drug user needs to contact different stores to find the cheapest prices.
The downside of purchasing prescriptions based solely on cost is not being able to use one trusted pharmacy. One woman commented, on agingcare.com, 'My husband has made a habit of going to the local pharmacy because the pharmacist is his 'buddy.' No doubt this has cost us tremendously. But I do not think we are alone in this situation. Local pharmacists can make it easy to do business'they provide advice, counsel and a more personal face on a difficult medical situation.' Also, using the same pharmacy means that the pharmacist is aware of other drugs being taken and can warn the customer in case one interferes with another or if combining certain drugs may cause harmful effects. (See The Risks of Taking Too Many Drugs in this issue of Senior Spirit.)
In some cases, drug companies themselves are willing to lower prices on some medications for seniors.
The Minnesota Department of Health has some suggestions:
Individual manufacturers have their own patient assistance programs:
Low-income enrollees may be eligible to receive help paying for their Medicare Part D prescription coverage. This assistance is called 'Extra Help' or 'Low-Income Subsidy.' Enrollees may qualify for the full subsidy or a partial subsidy depending on income and assets. With a full subsidy, enrollees do not pay a deductible and have lower co-pays for prescriptions. Depending on the plan chosen, there may be no premium. With a partial subsidy, the deductible is lower, the co-pays are lower and the premium is lower. Call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE) or visit its website.
For information and an application for 'Extra Help', go to the Social Security Administration website or call 1-800-772-1213 to access the Social Security recording and hear eligibility information regarding Medicare prescription drug benefits and to request an application for help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs.
You can also download the recent SCSA educational webinar More About Medicare and Changes in 2014, which will help navigate you through the complexities of Medicare.
For further information, download Understanding Veterans Benefits: A Guide for Seniors, a comprehensive guide that contains a wide breadth of practical tips and valuable resources to save you time in navigating the maze of veterans benefits.
State Government Programs
For a number of years, states have assisted with prescription drugs, to help residents who lack insurance coverage for medicines or who are not eligible for other government programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. By 2009, at least 42 states had established or authorized some type of program to provide pharmaceutical coverage or assistance to low-income seniors or persons with disabilities who do not qualify for Medicaid. However, several of those programs are not currently operational. The subsidy programs that still exist, often termed "SPAPs," utilize state funds to pay for a portion of the costs, usually for a defined population that meets enrollment criteria.
In addition, an increasing number of states use discounts or bulk-buying approaches that do not spend state funds for the drug purchases. These prescription drug discount programs, sometimes termed Rx Buying Clubs or Discount Cards, generally rely on the large-volume purchasing power of the state to negotiate a sizable discount on a wide selection of prescription products, brand-names and generics. The consumer still pays the resulting discounted price at the pharmacy counter; the state is not involved in individual transactions. Unlike most subsidized SPAP programs, there is no comparable federal program or federal regulation affecting these discount plans. Drugs purchased in this way do not count as part of Medicare or Part D calculations.
Contact your state health department to see if it offers such programs.
