NOT EVERY DISABLED PERSON USE A WHEELCHAIR NOT ALL DISABILITIES ARE VISIBLE #MYASTHENIAGRAVIS

10 ways to save money on your prescription meds

`By MSN Smart Spending editor Thu 5:07 PM

This post comes from Beth Braverman at partner site The Fiscal Times.

The average American who regularly takes medication spends nearly $760 a year out of pocket on prescription drugs.

That’s a staggering figure, considering some 49% of consumers take at least one prescription drug, according to the Centers for Disease Control.  Costs aren’t expected to get any better when Obamacare rolls out at the start of next year. Consumers who purchase the lower-cost bronze and silver plans on the exchanges may see their out-of-pocket prescription costs increase an average of 34%, according to a recent analysis by HealthPocket. 

But there are some steps you can take to cut your prescription drug costs.




1. Shop around
Calling several pharmacies to compare prices could yield huge savings. Prices at different stores vary more than four-fold, according to a recent study by Consumer Reports. The study found the best prices at warehouse stores like Costco and at local, independent pharmacies. (Experts recommend filling all your prescriptions at one store so that the pharmacist can monitor potential interactions.)

2. Buy in bulk
Most pharmacies will offer a discount for filling a three-month prescription rather than a 30-day supply. You may be able to save even more by buying the 90-day supply via an online drugstore. But before ordering online, make sure the site is legit by looking for a VIPPS (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) seal. While it may be tempting to order drugs cheaply from overseas pharmacies, experts say it’s unsafe (and illegal) to do so.

3.  Split your pills (with doctor approval)
Larger-dose pills often cost the same as smaller-dose pills. Ask your doctor whether the drugs you’re on can be safely split. (Typically uncoated, scored pills are good candidates.) Spend $5 on a pill splitter -- and your prescription will suddenly last twice as long.

4. Clip coupons
You may not find coupons in the Sunday paper for prescription meds, but they’re available if you know where to look, says Stephanie Nelson, who runs CouponMom.com. Nelson says you can download coupons worth anywhere from a few bucks up to $100 from some manufacturers’ websites.  Pharmaceutical reps also often leave coupons with doctors or pharmacists to give out on request, so be sure to ask if any are available when you get a new scrip.

5. Use pre-tax dollars
Nearly 90% of large employers’ benefit plans allow workers to set aside pretax dollars for medical expenses in a flexible savings account, but only 23% of employees actually use the accounts, according to Mercer. Big mistake.

Depending on your tax bracket, using pre-tax dollars for your prescriptions and other medical expenses could save you to 20% to 30%. Just be careful to estimate how much you’ll spend in a year, since you forfeit unused cash at the end of the year.

6. Get it for free
Some large supermarket chains like Publix will fill basic antibiotic prescriptions like amoxicillin for free. "Just go up to a pharmacy and ask for a list of which drugs they give out for free," Nelson says.

7. Go generic
Ask your doctor if it’s safe for you to switch to the generic version of any medication you take. Making the switch can save you 20% to 80% on a prescription. Wal-Mart, Target, and some grocery chains offer many generic prescriptions for as little as $4.

8. Stockpile samples
When your doctor writes a new prescription, ask whether she has any samples you can try first. This way you get a few pills for free, plus you can make sure you don’t experience any side effects before you pay to fill the entire subscription. "Many doctors are very willing to provide you with extra samples if you ask for them," says Brandy Bauer, a spokeswoman for the National Council on Aging. Do keep an eye on the expiration dates for your meds, because some drugs lose potency if they’re kept unused for too long.

9. Tap drug-maker assistance programs
Do you qualify for the low-income assistance programs offered by drug manufacturers and nonprofits? It’s worth looking into. The income threshold for these is often much higher than the threshold for public assistance via Medicaid or other state sponsored programs. Plug the name of your prescription and diagnosis into NeedyMeds.org to see if you qualify. "Check back regularly, because we’re always adding new programs," says the site’s administrator, Richard Sagall.

10. Get a discount card
Many organizations such as AAA and AARP offer drug discount cards to members, and others can be downloaded for free online. Such cards are only good for medications not covered by insurance, but a ConsumerWorld study last year found such cards can save users up to 70% on certain meds. Look for a no-cost card that does not require registration.

"Taking a Stand Against Falling,"

 We have scheduled an expert on fall prevention for our September 21st meeting. Aleshia Parrish has accepted our invitation to discuss how we can reduce our risk of falling. At our last meeting, Julian asked how many of us have fallen in the past month. The majority of attendees raised their hands. This will be a very important program for all of us because MG weakness puts us at risk regardless of our age or whether we have experienced falls.

Ms. Parrish is the Low Country Senior Center and Wellness Manager. In an article entitled "Taking a Stand Against Falling," the August 13th issue of the Post and Courier featured her work. She has been training seniors for 20 years and teaches a program entitled "Matter of Balance." In addition, she is pilot testing a new program, "Fall Proof Balance." 

 

 Our support group will meet at 10:30 a.m. this Saturday, 21, September 2013, in the conference room of East Cooper Medical Center, Hospital Drive, Mt. Pleasant, SC.

What research is being done?

Within the Federal government, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has primary responsibility for conducting and supporting research on brain and nervous system disorders, including myasthenia gravis.
Much has been learned about myasthenia gravis in recent years. Technological advances have led to more timely and accurate diagnosis, and new and enhanced therapies have improved management of the disorder. There is a greater understanding about the structure and function of the neuromuscular junction, the fundamental aspects of the thymus gland and of autoimmunity, and the disorder itself. Despite these advances, however, there is still much to learn. Researchers are seeking to learn what causes the autoimmune response in myasthenia gravis, and to better define the relationship between the thymus gland and myasthenia gravis.
Different drugs are being tested, either alone or in combination with existing drug therapies, to see if they are effective in treating myasthenia gravis. One study is examining the use of methotrexate therapy in individuals who develop symptoms and signs of the disease while on prednisone therapy. The drug suppresses blood cell activity that causes inflammation. Another study is investigating the use of rituximab, a monoclonal antibody against B cells which make antibodies, to see if it decreases certain antibodies that cause the immune system to attack the nervous system. Investigators are also determining if eculizumab is safe and effective in treating individuals with generalized myasthenia gravis who also receive various immunosuppressant drugs.
Another study seeks further understanding of the molecular basis of synaptic transmission in the nervous system. The objective of this study is to expand current knowledge of the function of receptors and to apply this knowledge to the treatment of myasthenia gravis.
Thymectomy is also being studied in myasthenia gravis patients who do not have thymoma to assess long-term benefit the surgical procedure may have over medical therapy alone.
One study involves blood sampling to see if the immune system is making antibodies against components of the nerves and muscle. Researchers also hope to learn if these antibodies contribute to the development or worsening of myasthenia gravis and other illnesses of the nervous system.
Investigators are also examining the safety and efficacy of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to treat refractory and severe myasthenia gravis. Participants in this study will receive several days of treatment using the immumosuppressant drugs cyclophosphamide and antithymocyte globulin before having some of their peripheral blood cells harvested and frozen. The blood cells will later be thawed and infused intravenously into the respective individuals, whose symptoms will be monitored for five years.