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Charly
LOVE!
Member since 5/05 12578 total posts
Name:
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OK who knows anything about health insurance?
We have a plan through my husband's job. Plain and simple it stinks. The prescription plan is awful. I'm spending hundreds of dollars on asthma medicaiton. Is there any type of plan I can purchase to add increase the amount of benefit I receive? I'm going broke with 2 kids that are getting sick all winter!!
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Posted 1/24/10 11:16 AM  |
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
Health insurance for many tends to stink in general.
I don't know much about asthma meds, but is there a generic version that would be cheaper? Can your doc give you free samples? I also get my scripts at Target, and generic, because it is slightly cheaper.
I believe Wal-mart and Stop & Shop also have similiar cheaper costs this way.
Do you work and can you sign up for insurance through your job? Maybe it would be a plan that would cover a higher amount of the prescription co-pays.
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| Posted 1/24/10 11:24 AM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17792 total posts
Name:
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
You can purchase on individual medical plan which can supplement your current insurance - but, the ones that provide the best coverage tend to be $$$.
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| Posted 1/24/10 12:51 PM |
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Charly
LOVE!
Member since 5/05 12578 total posts
Name:
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
Posted by mzsocialworker1
Health insurance for many tends to stink in general.
I don't know much about asthma meds, but is there a generic version that would be cheaper? Can your doc give you free samples? I also get my scripts at Target, and generic, because it is slightly cheaper.
I believe Wal-mart and Stop & Shop also have similiar cheaper costs this way.
Do you work and can you sign up for insurance through your job? Maybe it would be a plan that would cover a higher amount of the prescription co-pays.
I work for a small company and I'm part time so there is no option for me to purchase any insurance through my job. I always ask for generic, but for some reason asthma medicine doesn't really have any available. My DH's inhaler is $250 a month and my DS's nebulizer treatments are $100 for 6 days (it's only when needed) I will try Stop n SHop since there is one close to my home. I didn't realize there was price difference depending on where you buy them. I always just used CVS. Thank you for the suggestion.
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| Posted 1/24/10 2:05 PM |
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dm24angel
Happiness
Member since 5/05 34581 total posts
Name:
Donna
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
buying a plan to add on would cost you at least $1000 a month and that wouldnt even cover the RX's that well so in the end it would not be cost effective at all. Unfortunatly there is not much you can do but talk to the Dr and ask for samples....
My BIL actually got a second p/t job just for the health benefits which were great ( for a PART TIME JOB!) to help them.
Health insurance plans need to be a BIG part of a job search these days. To save money many jobs ( my DH's did this) went to a plan that costs them less but we are paying more, with higher co-pays, deductibles etc....but it was that or lay people off, so they accepted it.
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| Posted 1/24/10 2:15 PM |
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hbugal
Lesigh
Member since 2/07 15928 total posts
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
See about joining one of those plans where you get discounts on medications. Some of them are run independantly through each RX company...
I forget the names of them...but I was able to receive meds at quite a discount.
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| Posted 1/24/10 2:20 PM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
If you qualify you can get meds from the manufacturer directly for free or very little.
Contact the drug company and see what programs are offered and how you go about getting them. You go through your docs office to actually get them so your doc may know of the programs.
My parents get some of their meds directly from the drug company because they qualify financially.
You may also qualify to get your kids on healthy NY which is another program you may qualify for.
good luck.
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| Posted 1/24/10 3:04 PM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
It is a nightmare.
DH is back in school, looking to switch careers because right now, in his industry healthcare is garbage.
We have looked into supplementals, really not worth it at all.
When Josh gets sick, its 160.00 that week in emergency meds.
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| Posted 1/24/10 3:28 PM |
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BaroqueMama
Chase is one!
Member since 5/05 27530 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
What about getting the kids covered under child health plus or whatever that plan is? I'm sorry I don't know the specifics, but maybe they have better rx benefits?
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| Posted 1/24/10 5:16 PM |
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Charly
LOVE!
Member since 5/05 12578 total posts
Name:
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
I'll look into the suggestions above. We probably don't qualify financially. We make decent $ but it covers our bills, there's nothing extra. When we bought the house we didn't have children and I was working full time. Things changed. Now I have to figure out how to make things work.
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| Posted 1/24/10 5:19 PM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
Posted by prncsslehcar
What about getting the kids covered under child health plus or whatever that plan is? I'm sorry I don't know the specifics, but maybe they have better rx benefits?
I am familiair with what Rachel is referring to bc some of the people I work for have this type of insurance. Knowing your situation, I would say your children most likely will not fall into this category bc your dh makes over the income limits by himself.
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| Posted 1/24/10 5:21 PM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
I have tried so many different programs...always denied.
Thank God we had savings to go through.
I feel for those with asthmatic kids who don't have the means to get the meds.
In order to cut down on our costs, josh doesn't eat dairy, gluten...doesn't go to preschool where he can catch a cold...ripped up new rugs...won't ever go around dogs...its just so much.
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| Posted 1/24/10 5:29 PM |
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BaroqueMama
Chase is one!
Member since 5/05 27530 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
Posted by PrincessP
Posted by prncsslehcar
What about getting the kids covered under child health plus or whatever that plan is? I'm sorry I don't know the specifics, but maybe they have better rx benefits?
I am familiair with what Rachel is referring to bc some of the people I work for have this type of insurance. Knowing your situation, I would say your children most likely will not fall into this category bc your dh makes over the income limits by himself.
Maybe that's not the one I'm thinking of, but isn't there one with a sliding scale based on income?
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| Posted 1/24/10 6:13 PM |
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ny55angel
car seat tech & geek :-)
Member since 2/06 4346 total posts
Name:
P
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
Posted by Charly
I will try Stop n SHop since there is one close to my home. I didn't realize there was price difference depending on where you buy them. I always just used CVS. Thank you for the suggestion.
I have always found CVS to be more expensive when I go there for meds. I usually go to Stop & Shop or Walmart / Target for perscriptions.
The plan that I have doesn't give a discount if they are purchased at a point of sale place but they do if you send the perscription to a mail away company. Do you have an option like that ??
Good luck !! Hope you find something better !
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| Posted 1/25/10 12:16 PM |
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FranM
And so it goes....
Member since 9/05 2217 total posts
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
CVS has some sort of discount plan. I saw a flyer on the counter, it may be worth looking into. www.freedrugcard.us/cvs.html
Dont be afraid to ask your Dr for samples. The drug companies load the docs up with all sorts of samples.
edited to add website
Message edited 1/25/2010 3:58:44 PM.
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| Posted 1/25/10 3:56 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
Posted by prncsslehcar
Posted by PrincessP
Posted by prncsslehcar
What about getting the kids covered under child health plus or whatever that plan is? I'm sorry I don't know the specifics, but maybe they have better rx benefits?
I am familiair with what Rachel is referring to bc some of the people I work for have this type of insurance. Knowing your situation, I would say your children most likely will not fall into this category bc your dh makes over the income limits by himself.
Maybe that's not the one I'm thinking of, but isn't there one with a sliding scale based on income?
I don't believe there are income limits. I am pretty sure it's just that over a certain amount you are responsible for the FULL premium, but it's really not all that much and is still a better rate than most other plans. I would really look into it.
the other thing is, talk to the prescribing doctor about getting the generic or another cheaper medicine that will work better. most times they rx without knowing your insurance/what will be covered.
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| Posted 1/25/10 4:28 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
Not sure if you're in NY, but :
http://rx.nyhealth.gov/pdpw/index.jsp
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| Posted 1/25/10 4:34 PM |
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Charly
LOVE!
Member since 5/05 12578 total posts
Name:
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
Posted by Ophelia
Posted by prncsslehcar
Posted by PrincessP
Posted by prncsslehcar
What about getting the kids covered under child health plus or whatever that plan is? I'm sorry I don't know the specifics, but maybe they have better rx benefits?
I am familiair with what Rachel is referring to bc some of the people I work for have this type of insurance. Knowing your situation, I would say your children most likely will not fall into this category bc your dh makes over the income limits by himself.
Maybe that's not the one I'm thinking of, but isn't there one with a sliding scale based on income?
I don't believe there are income limits. I am pretty sure it's just that over a certain amount you are responsible for the FULL premium, but it's really not all that much and is still a better rate than most other plans. I would really look into it.
the other thing is, talk to the prescribing doctor about getting the generic or another cheaper medicine that will work better. most times they rx without knowing your insurance/what will be covered.
Here's what I found:
To be eligible for either Children's Medicaid or Child Health Plus, children must be under the age of 19 and be residents of New York State. Whether a child qualifies for Children's Medicaid or Child Health Plus depends on gross family income. Children who are not eligible for Medicaid can enroll in Child Health Plus if they don't already have health insurance and are not eligible for coverage under the public employees' state health benefits plan. Some children who were covered by employer-based health insurance within the past six months may be subject to a waiting period before they can be enrolled in Child Health Plus. Determining whether your child is subject to a waiting period will depend on your household income and the reason your child(ren) lost employer-based coverage. Check the following income charts to see whether your child will most likely qualify for Children's Medicaid or Child Health Plus.
Unfortunately they have coverage so they don't qualify
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| Posted 1/25/10 9:55 PM |
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Charly
LOVE!
Member since 5/05 12578 total posts
Name:
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Re: OK who knows anything about health insurance?
Thanks Barb! I am in NY and this is helpful.
Most of the asthma medication doesn't have "generic" and they run $200+. With DH & DS on them, it's so expensive! Every little bit helps. So sad its so hard to afford necessary medication! I remember when my DS was on Prevacid it was $300 a month.
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| Posted 1/25/10 9:57 PM |
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