Re: drug financial assistance Update

[Guest guest]

,

I have first hand experience that BMS Patient Assistance Foundation is currently

providing this service, as are most other large drug manufacturers.

Currently BMS is shipping this drug to the doctor -- and the application was

submitted less than 2 weeks ago.

I wouldn't have posted this w/o direct experience of the efficacy. If your

friend qualifies under the financial guidelines, and submits a full application,

and an original doctor's script, it will work.

LJ

[Guest guest]

LJ ... I'm sure it still works now, but since all MediCare patients must sign up

by May, the anticipation (according to newspaper articles) is that by May the

drug companies will have ceased their plans. Might want to check it out.

Re: drug financial assistance Update

,

I have first hand experience that BMS Patient Assistance Foundation is currently

providing this service, as are most other large drug manufacturers.

Currently BMS is shipping this drug to the doctor -- and the application was

submitted less than 2 weeks ago.

I wouldn't have posted this w/o direct experience of the efficacy. If your

friend qualifies under the financial guidelines, and submits a full application,

and an original doctor's script, it will work.

LJ

[Guest guest]

Toni,

Medicare only provides RX drugs for people over 65.

I am fairly sure the drug manufacturers will continue to assist people under

age 65 who have no RX drug coverage.

Why don't you call and ask them.

LJ

[Guest guest]

Notice from Pfizer:

What happens to Pfizer's patient assistance programs? Pfizer's

patient assistance programs help those who do not have prescription

coverage. If you join a Medicare prescription drug plan, you will

have coverage, and will be in a prescription plan. As a result, you

will not be able to also use a Pfizer patient assistance program.

Rest assured, Pfizer patient assistance programs will continue to be

there for people who do not have prescription drug coverage,

including people who have Medicare but decide not to join a Medicare

prescription drug plan.

Ellen

*************************************

>

> LJ ... I'm sure it still works now, but since all MediCare

patients must sign up by May, the anticipation (according to

newspaper articles) is that by May the drug companies will have

ceased their plans.(snip)

*************************************

[Guest guest]

Notice from TogetherRX Prescription Savings Program:

You may remember that the Together Rx Card was introduced as a

temporary program to help people save until the new Medicare

prescription drug coverage takes effect. Please keep in mind that

the Together Rx Program ends on December 31, 2005

Ellen

*********************

-- In AFIBsupport , " Ellen G. "

wrote: Notice from Pfizer: What happens to Pfizer's patient

assistance programs? Pfizer's patient assistance programs help those

who do not have prescription coverage. If you join a Medicare

prescription drug plan, you will have coverage, and will be in a

prescription plan. As a result, you will not be able to also use a

Pfizer patient assistance program. Rest assured, Pfizer patient

assistance programs will continue to be there for people who do not

have prescription drug coverage, including people who have Medicare

but decide not to join a Medicare prescription drug plan.

************************

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/2/06 7:32:17 PM Pacific Standard Time,

ljlaurent2@... writes:

> Medicare only provides RX drugs for people over 65.

> I am fairly sure the drug manufacturers will continue to assist people under

> age 65 who have no RX drug coverage.

>

> Why don't you call and ask them.

>

And people on disability ... which many of our folks are. Why don't YOU call

and ask them? I was just sharing what I read in the paper. I'll refrain.

Toni

CA

[Guest guest]

Prescription drug programs are available for anybody on Medicare.

They do not have to sign up for them however, if they wait until

after May 15, 2006 they will pay an additional fee for a late sign

up.

Most people on Medicare are 65 and older but there are also

individuals under 65 on Medicare who are on Social Security

Disability and have been on SSD for over two years thus making them

eligible for Medicare.

If one has Medicare, many of the Patient Assistance Programs are no

longer available to the individual whether they have signed up for a

Medicare Prescription Drug Program or not. Now when calling a PAP

one of the first questions asked is wether the person has Medicare

followed a question asking them if they are enrolled in a

Prescription Drug Program or do they have other prescription drug

coverage. This response from the PAP's suggest that all Medicare

participants need to sign up for a prescription drug program or have

other presecrption drug coverage from a former employer, union,

veteran, etc.

In addition, the free samples that many people have come to depend

upon that are handed out in physician's offices are no longer

availble in such generous quanities. Indviduals should no longer

depend upon free samples as a primary source of meds. PAP programs

will be there for others (non-Medicare) individuals that

need assistance with the purchse of medications.

This is general information from a SHIP program.

Sault

[Guest guest]

Toni,

I don't need to call them because ALREADY the requested RX meds have arrived at

the doctor's office. Bristol Myers Squibb is really on the ball -- less than 2

weeks from discovering

the program to delivery to the doctor.

BTW, I am not 65, which is what I figured you were implying. I've got a long

way to go - altho

sometimes I'm not sure I'll make it.

[Guest guest]

LJ ... nope, I knew you weren't 65 ... jfigured I was just trying to share info,

not do research. Someone else posted more detail on the same info I'd gotten

.... that ALL the assistance programs from drug companies may be impacted by the

Medi-Care drug benefit fiasco, not just the Medi-Care beneficiaries themselves.

Figured it would help for folks to investigate or not be blind-sided if the

programs are discontinued or curtailed in May. Would be nice if it doesn't

happen, especially with how expensive some of the a-fib meds are.

Toni

CA

Re: drug financial assistance Update

Toni,

I don't need to call them because ALREADY the requested RX meds have arrived at

the doctor's office. Bristol Myers Squibb is really on the ball -- less than 2

weeks from discovering

the program to delivery to the doctor.

BTW, I am not 65, which is what I figured you were implying. I've got a long

way to go - altho

sometimes I'm not sure I'll make it.

[Guest guest]

That's true. People under 65, on disability are now eligble for the

medicare prescription programs. It just became effective. My

husband is 52, on disability and is now eligible. Of course there

are monthly charges and co-pays - so the manufacturer assistance

plans are still a better deal.

>

> In a message dated 2/2/06 7:32:17 PM Pacific Standard Time,

> ljlaurent2@... writes:

>

> > Medicare only provides RX drugs for people over 65.

> > I am fairly sure the drug manufacturers will continue to assist

people under

> > age 65 who have no RX drug coverage.

> >

> > Why don't you call and ask them.

> >

>

> And people on disability ... which many of our folks are. Why

don't YOU call

> and ask them? I was just sharing what I read in the paper. I'll

refrain.

>

>

> Toni

> CA

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

How true ~~~~ the manufacturer assistance plans are a better deal by far -

at least for me! I lost my free Tikosyin and I lost all my little discount

cards. I now have to put out a huge co-pay, as well as a hefty payment plan

fee. Because of the Medicare D Plan, my med budget went from $200 a month

to almost $400 a month ~~~~~ unreal!

They done did me in :-(

Ellen

**************************

>

> (snip) Of course there are monthly charges and co-pays - so the

> manufacturer assistance plans are still a better deal.

****************************

------------------------------

--

Ellen

[Guest guest]

Yes, and a friend of mine on medicaid - who was getting all her meds

for free - was forced to sign up for a med plan. What a big

difference in $$ a month.

They make it sound like a good thing for everyone, but has a real

negative impact on some people.

I still have my husband on my private insurance, so we haven't dealt

with the specifics of the medicare part D.

Kathy

> >

> > (snip) Of course there are monthly charges and co-pays - so the

> > manufacturer assistance plans are still a better deal.

>

>

> ****************************

> ------------------------------

>

>

>

> --

> Ellen

>

>

>