[snelsen]

#1058818

I am totally dependent on drops, ointment and gel. The expenditures are very high. Has anyone found a way to obtain larger quantites of any of these items, and has has anyone managed to get insurance to pay for any of the over the counter things that we must get for our eye survival?
Shirley

[Bobbi]

#1170178

The minute something goes over the counter, my drug insurance stops payment. The only way I’ve found — but perhaps someone else has had other experiences — is if there is a prescription medication that is similar , and I can get my doctor to write a prescription for that. Then the insurance typically pays, at some level or other. I know of no general artificial tears products that are Rx. The only way I’ve found to save $$ on them is to buy the ones that come in multi-use containers.

[Ski]

#1170179

I don’t think this suggestion applies to you, Shirley, but I’m putting it out there for others — if you have access to a medical expense savings account at work (where the money comes out of your paycheck pre-tax), those drops/gels qualify as medical expenses, so you can get reimbursed for them out of pre-tax money, which saves a bit. You should look into the rules for your specific plan before making the decision, to be absolutely certain you’ll be able to get reimbursement — also, right now is a good time to quantify annual expenses so you’d know how much to put away during the next annual cycle (typically companies run those on a January-December fiscal year, so you sign up along with your benefits open enrollment program). It’s not enormous savings, but it’s something.

[snelsen]

#1170180

That is a good idea. I am not sure if a retired person can set up that plan. I’ll look into it tomorrow and share what I have learned. Thank you to both of you for replying. For what it is worth, I have found that Soothe eye drops and ointment are the best for me.
Shirley

[Author]

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