What do you do when you need a medication, but the cost is more than you can really afford? Even with insurance and a prescription drug plan, this has happened to me on several occasions.

One of my many chronic medical conditions, is something called, neurocardiogenic syncope. Basically, my brain sends the wrong message to my heart, causing my blood pressure to sometimes be so low that I can black-out, and other times causing it to be so high I need to take medication. To make matters worse, I need to try not to take the blood pressure medication, because it exacerbates my asthma. And then, when I have to treat my asthma, that medication increases my blood pressure and heart rate. It’s a bitter chain of symptoms and treatments, causing more symptoms, and requiring more treatments.

So…Ever since getting sick at BlogHer, with , my asthma has been bothering me. But, I’ve been avoiding using my medication for fear of how it would affect my heart and blood pressure. At one of my many visits to my primary doctor, I was told that my asthma symptoms needed to be treated, before they became any worse. The doctor gave me a nebulizer treatment in the office, and a prescription for the same medication. The medication Xopenex is the only asthma treatment available that doesn’t affect your heart. But, when I went to the pharmacy to have it filled, I found out that even with my insurance, it would cost me $65.00 (for only twelve days of treatment). I decided not to get it, and see if my symptoms cleared up on their own (even though I knew that my asthma would only continue to get worse). I convinced myself that if I had to, I would just use my Albuterol, and deal with my blood pressure possibly going up, rather than pay $65.00.

Then on Tuesday, I had one of my regular scheduled cardiology appointments. My blood pressure (at rest) was 120/100 and my heart rate was 120. The cardiologist told me I had to start the Xopenex treatment immediately, because the cough my asthma was causing, was responsible for my blood pressure and heart rate becoming too high. Things were so bad, that if my blood pressure or asthma had gotten even slightly worse, I would have needed to be hospitalized. Needless to say, I went to the pharmacy and paid for the stupid Xopenex.

As frustrated as I am over having to pay $65.00 for twelve days of medication…I know so many people have it much worse than me. Recently, I came across this article on the rising costs of prescription medications.

Cost of Prescription Medications Rising

While Americans continue to feel the effects of soaring fuel prices, there is another consumer good enjoying a “quiet” price explosion-prescription drugs. We are accustomed to slight increases each year in the price of medication, along with everything else, but during the first half of this year alone the average wholesale price of 17 brand-name drugs increased 100 percent or more in a single cost adjustment, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota. And just as concerning is the prediction that prices on 64 drugs are expected to more than double by year’s end, up from just 22 drugs in 2004.

Prices For Some Drugs Skyrocket

Reasons for the larger increases are varied, researchers say.

“There’s no simple explanation,” says Stephen Schondelmeyer, director of the PRIME Institute at the University of Minnesota, which studies drug industry economics. “Some companies seem to figure no one is watching so they can get away with it.”

The biggest problem with the cost of prescription medication going up, is that everything else is going up too. Many people are having to choose between buying their medications or putting food on their table. I wrote about how the economy and . And sadly, I don’t see this problem getting any better, anytime soon.

From …

A study was recently published by Harvard Medical School researchers saying that

• Many U.S. adults with chronic illness are uninsured.
• Chronically ill uninsured patients are 4 times as likely to have trouble get medical care

I’m not surprised. Are you?

Just the other day, a client emailed me saying that the monthly medication she takes for multiple sclerosis, at the monthly price of $1704.16, has been deemed a tier two drug, a “maintenance medication”, by her insurer. That means that this drug which she’s been taking since 1997, has successfully stabilized her disease and allows her to continue to walk – is going to cost her $852. 08 month! In comparison, she is paying $950/month for her apartment.

I couldn’t believe this so I called and spoke to a representative at her insurance company who told me that if she paid more for monthly premiums, she would have better reimbursement.

Honestly, I’m not blaming the insurance company. That does make sense – from there perspective. They’re just trying to eke out a living here, too. But something is very wrong with out system.

From My Suburban Life…

For seniors on fixed incomes, paying for costly prescription drugs is not a new challenge, but as the high cost of gas drives up other costs, many seniors are faced with a unique set of problems and difficult decisions.

In a report released in May by AARP titled “The Economic Slowdown’s Impact on Middle-Aged and Older Americans,” 59 percent of seniors 65 and older surveyed said they’d found it more difficult to pay for essential items including food, gas and medicine. Just less than half said they found it more difficult to pay for utilities incuding heating, cooling or phone service.

From Pink Pearl Girl’s Migraine World…

The Wal-Mart generic program offers a 30-day supply of certain generic medication for $4.00. A 90-day supply will only cost you $10.00. If you use a heart (calcium channel blocker, beta blocker) or blood pressure medication or an antidepressant as a preventive, you may benefit from this program. I found some of these medications on the list. There are no Migraine specific medications such as or on the list. There are some pain medications such as Ibuprofen on this list but I did not see any narcotic medications. I also did not see any antiseizure medications.

Other big box discount stores have similar programs. One of these is Target’s generic program. A 30-day supply is also $4.00 and a 90-day supply is $10.00. There are many of the same medications on their list. has a 90-day Generic Program. These medications cost $10.00 and $15.00. Their list can be found . I couldn’t find any Migraine medications on their . However, some analgesics are listed. Costco offers its members a prescription savings plan for those with no insurance. Information on this program can be found HERE.

From Health Central – MS Drugs Offer Hope, But Can You Afford Them?

Without a moment’s hesitation, I can answer for myself and my husband. Health Insurance. Capital H, Capital I. It is that big an issue. More specifically, it is the soaring cost of prescription medications for MS, which, even if you have a solid group health plan, are becoming frightfully out of reach for a great many people.

If you’re having trouble paying for your prescription medications, there may be help. Check out Partnership for Prescription Assistance…

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America’s pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that’s right for them. Many will get them free or nearly free. Its mission is to increase awareness of patient assistance programs and boost enrollment of those who are eligible. Through this site, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a single point of access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. To access the Partnership for Prescription Assistance by phone, you can call toll-free, ().

Also See:

From MOMocrats – Building a New US Health System

7 Ways To Save On Prescription Costs

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at catherine-morgan.com, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election