[ewmb]

#1069489

Mickey,
I’m sorry to hear about your job. My mom buys some of her drugs without a co-pay on medicare because it’s cheaper. She calls around to all the local drug stores to get their prices and the one that she likes to go to matches the price. You might ask if buying a 60 or 90 day supply would be cheaper per tablet. I know that some pharmacists don’t recommend mail order for synthroid because of it sitting in huge temperature changes. I work at a pharmacy school so I ask a lot of questions.

Hope this helps some. Glad to know that you are feeling fine.

ewmb

[Ski]

#1069490

You can easily go get your Synthroid at rack rate ~ it’s VERY inexpensive. Do check your local Costco, they are required to provide medications (at lower, Costco costs) to anyone who comes in, they are not allowed to require membership for that particular function. The only thing you should NOT do is change brand ~ do not go to generic or another brand from Synthroid, do not go to Synthroid from generic or any other brand. Our bodies metabolize these different brands in unpredictable ways (who knows why, but it’s true), and the same dose on one type does NOT always equal the effective dose of another, necessarily, in each of us. The last thing you need to do is trigger another period of imbalance.

But you must keep taking them if your body no longer produces thyroid hormone. Typically larger amounts (100 pills) are cheaper per pill, because they can take an unopened bottle, label it with your name and hand it over. Do your research to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal.

[Mickey65]

#1019134

I lost my job in mid-June, and I have about 3 weeks of Synthroid left. I know I just can’t stop taking it once it’s gone, and who knows when I’ll be getting a new job.

Just wondering if anyone out there knows what I can do?

Can I go to the pharmacy and buy it "over the counter" at "rack rate" or something like that?

Any suggestions would be helpful. I know if I filed for disability or medicaid – it will be a LONG process, and I just need to know what I can do to get my meds. Otherwise I feel fine and don’t need to see my endo right now.

[bradybunch6x1]

#1069491

I have been where your at, but it has been many years ago. There were some ways around all the costs. One was that I had found a local medical clinic that would see me for little to no cost, and they also had a pharmacy that would do scripts on a sliding scale fee, depending on the income. They would fill the scripts for no charge at that time, and later they did bill me for the small sum. I would give your local Health department a call, and see if they could guide you in the right direction. They should be able to help in some way. There are also some places(like a clinic I found in Arlington TX) that had meds on hand to give to the low income people that came there.
Valarie

[Peter]

#1069492

Below is information from Abbott Labs the makers of Synthroid. They have a patient assistance program to help patients that meet their criteria. I would also suggest you contact your doctor – who may also be able to provide some assistance.

Abbott Patient Assistance Programs
Following is a summary of our patient assistance programs in the United States. For more information on these programs and for details on our global initiatives, see Abbott’s Access Programs Summary.

The Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation
The mission of the Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation is to enhance patient lives by providing Abbott products to individuals facing financial difficulties who cannot access needed treatment through meaningful coverage.

Expanding Access to Abbott Medicines
The Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation,programs offered and supported by Abbott, provide access to Abbott medications, at no cost to patients in financial need. In 2008, more than 155,000 patients were assisted with free Abbott medicines, valued at over $255 million. (Value is estimated based on the Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) of products distributed through these programs in 2008. WAC $ values reported per the Abbott PPD Price Catalog and does not include prompt pay discounts or other discounts, rebates or reductions in price. The actual price paid by wholesalers and retail price paid by consumers at a pharmacy may vary.)

Eligibility for Most Medications
Financial eligibility is based upon current Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) adjusted for household size. If a patient’s medication cost is reimbursed by a private or public insurance program (including Medicaid and Medicare Part D plans), the patient will not routinely be accepted into the program. However, The Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation recognizes that extenuating circumstances may exist and encourages any patient to request special consideration if, despite existing prescription insurance coverage, he or she cannot pay for needed medication. All such requests will be considered or reconsidered on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility for the Abbott Virology Patient Assistance Program
Due to the life-threatening nature of HIV infection, the complexity of overall care, and the critical need for continuity of antiretroviral therapy, the Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation, Virology PAP was designed with several unique attributes. These provisions ensure that patients impacted by HIV have access to Abbott’s two protease inhibitors. Eligibility criteria vary by medication.

For more information about this program, call (800) 222-6885 or visit http://www.abbottpatientassistancefoundation.org

Hope this helps!

[Mickey65]

#1069493

Thanks for all the suggestions! I’m going to call my doctor first and see what she can do for me and if not much help there, I may check out the suggestion from Peter for the Abbott Labs.

[Madame_X]

#1069494

Can you open your own business…and under that business’ name, apply as a group?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/14/pr … index.html

1. Become a group of one.

In about a dozen states, you can be a group all by yourself for insurance purposes. What this means is that you become, in effect, just like any other company, and insurers can’t deny you insurance or charge you higher premiums because of your pre-existing condition, according to Lembo.

"You’d be surprised at the number of folks who open their own landscaping business" to get the group of one, he says.

To find out whether your state will allow you to become a group of one, see this list from the Kaiser Family Foundation (look at the column headed "Definition of Small Group," and look for "1-50").

For more information on becoming a group of one, see this advice from the American Diabetes Association.

In states where you can’t become a group of one, you can become a group of two.

"You can hire your brother-in-law to become a subcontractor for your landscaping company," Lembo said. "It’s horrible, but what else are you going to do?"

An important note: Under these rules, an insurance company might be allowed to exclude coverage for your specific condition for a short period of time, usually about six months.

[Kimberly]

#1069495

Hello – Do you have an option to continue your insurance via COBRA coverage? Unless your employer was fairly small, you should have a 9-month period where you can get 65% of your COBRA payments subsidized. The employer covers the subsidy, and then gets reimbursed by the government.

If that’s not an option, have you thought about paying for an individual high-deductible plan? These plans only cover MAJOR issues like hospitalization, but the premiums are much lower. While this won’t help your prescription issue, it might make it easier for you to get insurance in the future. The law has *some* protection in terms of insurance coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, but one of the quirks is that you can’t have a break in your insurance coverage for more than about 2 months. (I think the exact figure is 59 days).

Best of luck!

[Madame_X]

#1069496

Hello – Do you have an option to continue your insurance via COBRA coverage? Unless your employer was fairly small, you should have a 9-month period where you can get 65% of your COBRA payments subsidized. The employer covers the subsidy, and then gets reimbursed by the government.

Certain conditions apply here — I believe you are eligible if you lost your job after July ’08. (this is the option I’m taking, the COBRA subsidy.)

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html

[Mickey65]

#1069497

Actually, I couldn’t afford to do the Cobra, since I was denied my unemployment, altho I appealed it and my hearing is on Monday (27th) for it, so I’m counting on winning it so I can get some money coming in.

I’ll be calling my doctor this week to see what her suggestions are for me. I know I have about 2 weeks of meds left now…

[npatterson]

#1069498

I just typed a long response, and lost it!

All drug companies have Patient Assistance program. Usually it involvers the doctor signing off on a form (that is in their office) attesting to the fact that you do not have insurance, and the medication is medically necessary. They usually send six months supply either to your home, or to the doctor’s office. In the short run, your doctor probably has some samples on hand–ask for them.

Isn’t it Walmart that has $4.00 prescriptions? That may be for generic. If you DO have to switch to a generic, there are four that are considered to be "bio-identical" by the FDA. Syntyhrosid, Levoxyl, Levothroid and Unithroid. It may mean a little more frequent TSH testing to make sure it is working well for you. There are also ways to get reasonable lab work done. HealthCheckUSA.com is very trustworthy. I have used them in a pinch when I didn’t have insurance.

Good luck, and take care,

[Hopeful23]

#1069499

Mickey65

Just dropping by to say I understand exactly where you are at right now. It’s not very easy. I have no job, no insurance, just went hypo and had to borrow the money for my synthroid. I hope my levels are balanced by Aug 25 so I can have my student loan check to get me out of my rut. I will resort back to buying an individual plan from a major medical company. Its usually high deductible but it gets me my meds and office visits and thats all I care about right now. I know the ER can’t turn anyone away so thats always an option if you HAVE to. Tell them your story and you need a script for synthroid and go buy it for 4 bucks like nancy said. I know my friend takes the levoxyl and she does great on it as she did if it was synthroid. Good luck and we are all here for you ” title=”Smile” /> Sorry you are roughing it out right now. How is the synthroid working for you on a more positive note?

[Mickey65]

#1069500

I called my doctor today and the nurse was really nice and she’s setting aside a month worth of samples for me for my Synthroid for me! I can go pick it up any time, and she said to check back with her when they were almost out and if I need more, she’ll help me out. ” title=”Very Happy” />

My labs are in range right now – so I don’t need to worry about doing any other blood work until November, and hopefully I’ll have another job WAY before then.

If anyone is looking for an endo in the Austin, TX area – I HIGHLY recommend Dr Bledsoe for their needs. What a nice lady!! ” title=”Very Happy” />

[Hopeful23]

#1069501

Mickey65,

That is AWESOME ” title=”Smile” /> I am so happy for you. How is the synthroid treating you and how long did you take to notice a big difference or a small for that matter? I just started my synthroid the 24th. My tsh went from .1-85.3 in like 3 weeks. crazy stuff.

[Mickey65]

#1069502

I’m doing fine on the Synthroid. I’m taking .150 mcg. At first I was on 125, but I was feeling pretty rundown, so she upped me to 150 and I feel fine. The ONLY thing that concerns me is the hair loss. My endo told me it’s just a part of the "change" with the hormones and everything and it will all even out and will stop once my body adjusts.

I have a lot of hair already – so thankfully no bald spots. My hair just isn’t as "thick" as it used to be! ” title=”Sad” />

My latest TSH was 2.04 and I was at 6.22 before she switch me to the .150mcg back in May.

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