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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by herpills on September 15, 2012, at 10:34:07
Does anyone have any ideas how the new healthcare law (Obamneycare) may affect the patient assistance programs that the drug manufacturers provide? I rely on these programs to get my brand meds as they are so expensive. herpills
Posted by Phillipa on September 15, 2012, at 15:40:09
In reply to new healthcare law and drug patient assist program, posted by herpills on September 15, 2012, at 10:34:07
No but I will attempt to find out from a source. Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 16, 2012, at 1:08:55
In reply to new healthcare law and drug patient assist program, posted by herpills on September 15, 2012, at 10:34:07
Ring the manufacturers who suppky you with the cheap pills and ask.
Posted by Novelagent on September 16, 2012, at 7:26:14
In reply to new healthcare law and drug patient assist program, posted by herpills on September 15, 2012, at 10:34:07
All the health law does, and I live in the state it was modelled in, so I know, is require you to have health insurance if you can afford it, or sign up to good old 1962's Medicaid. It's that simple. It forces freeloaders and people too lazy to fill out medicaid forms off the system so I don't have to pay for your care in my insurance premium anymore.
Most people eligible for medicaid don't bother signing up for it, so they found if you get people who are poor to sign up for something they're already eligible for, that basically closes the gap of how many are uninsured by millions nationwide.
Adding to that, people who are teetering just above the poverty line and therefore can't afford insurance are also covered through medicaid expansion, but it's not that much more than the poverty line-- it's 133% of the poverty line.
If you can afford insurance, but don't have an employer that will insure you, you can choose insurance through a private exchange, which allows you to have coverage independently, even if you have a pre-existing condition like mental illness. If you're under 26, you're now insured by your parent's plan.
Odds are, if you're having to use a patient assistance program, you're likely eligible for medicaid but for some reason haven't bothered to sign up. It's unlikely you would qualify for a patient assistance program and not be eligible for medicaid. Why haven't you signed up? Mediciaid is not new, it's been around since 1962. If you get sick and go to the ER, you won't be able to afford your bill, so I have to pay the tab with my insurance because you didn't bother to fill out a simple form. That's irresponsible. There's no way a patient assistance program is going to qualify someone who isn't alreafy eligible for medicaid.
> Does anyone have any ideas how the new healthcare law (Obamneycare) may affect the patient assistance programs that the drug manufacturers provide? I rely on these programs to get my brand meds as they are so expensive. herpills
Posted by herpills on September 16, 2012, at 10:26:14
In reply to Re: new healthcare law and drug patient assist program » herpills, posted by Novelagent on September 16, 2012, at 7:26:14
> Most people eligible for medicaid don't bother signing up for it...
Can you cite a source for this? How much is "most"?
> Adding to that, people who are teetering just above the poverty line and therefore can't afford insurance are also covered through medicaid expansion, but it's not that much more than the poverty line-- it's 133% of the poverty line.
My understanding is the medicaid expansion is going to vary by state. The states get to decide how much they want to raise the cut off to qualify. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!
> If you can afford insurance, but don't have an employer that will insure you, you can choose insurance through a private exchange, which allows you to have coverage independently, even if you have a pre-existing condition like mental illness.
Correct , they will now have to cover pre-existing conditions, but that doesn't mean they will have to cover any of the drugs I take for that condition.
> Odds are, if you're having to use a patient assistance program, you're likely eligible for medicaid but for some reason haven't bothered to sign up.Wrong. I don't qualify for medicaid.
>It's unlikely you would qualify for a patient assistance program and not be eligible for medicaid.
Wrong. You don't have to be destitute to qualify for patient assistance programs. I used to take Abilify, and you can make over $30,000 and get free Abilify easy. Just fill out a one page form, send it in with a copy of your tax return, and wait a few days for your 90 day supply to show up in your mailbox. I like how simple it is.
>If you get sick and go to the ER, you won't be able to afford your bill, so I have to pay the tab with my insurance because you didn't bother to fill out a simple form. That's irresponsible.Actually I paid all of my ER bills no problem. Don't worry, you didn't have to pay for any of it. But thanks for calling me irresponsible.
herpills
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 16, 2012, at 17:37:41
In reply to Re: new healthcare law and drug patient assist program » Novelagent, posted by herpills on September 16, 2012, at 10:26:14
A propper national health scheme is going to be a lot more valuable to a lot more people that relying on the charity of the drug makers.
Posted by Phillipa on September 16, 2012, at 21:03:27
In reply to Re: new healthcare law and drug patient assist program » Novelagent, posted by herpills on September 16, 2012, at 10:26:14
You are correct. All your statements are. It's the drug companies and their high costs that is the reason for patient assistant programs. When was taking one med at one time forget which one I was urged to see if qualified. Didn't as have a home. You used to have to literally have nothing you owned to receive this benefit. I was told by my pharmacist the other day that abilify is $600 a month. If a national healthcare system no namebrands, drug manufacturers would be forced out of business. So generics only. From what I've read many countries there are not a lot of options of the meds they can have prescribed. At this time I don't think the Obama health care is involved it this. It will evolve out of it. Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 16, 2012, at 23:02:41
In reply to Re: new healthcare law and drug patient assist program » herpills, posted by Phillipa on September 16, 2012, at 21:03:27
Australia has a full range of meds avaliable, and we pay a fair price for them. If a new med comes out, and its better than an existing drug 9as the atypical antipsychotics were, or celebrex was) we pay more for it, but, for example, when a new ACE inhibitor comes out, if the manufacture cant show that it is better than the 5 other ACE inhibitors on the list, then they only get the same price as the other 5 if they want it on the national insurance list.
Atypicals were expensive here (to the health scheme, not the patient) but when they went generic, the prices have dropped dramaticly.
Posted by Phil on September 17, 2012, at 12:50:34
In reply to Re: new healthcare law and drug patient assist program » Novelagent, posted by herpills on September 16, 2012, at 10:26:14
"Actually I paid all of my ER bills no problem. Don't worry, you didn't have to pay for any of it. But thanks for calling me irresponsible."
That was a cold shot, not nice at all.Ever hear of Medicaid mills? Go to a nursing forum. The administrators could give a sh*t about patients and nurses are moving on.
PCIP is the feds pre-existing plan but I think I get referred back to the state plan. When you're on disability it's almost as far out of reach as high risk pools. You also cannot have insurance for 6 months prior to signing up. Insurance bs and the politics around it is a snake pit.
Posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2012, at 18:42:11
In reply to Re: new healthcare law and drug patient assist program » herpills, posted by Phil on September 17, 2012, at 12:50:34
Phil true about hospitals, docs, nurses moving on. But haven't encountered this in NC. Was hospitalized a few times on medicaire disability now I'm SSRI and have medicaire & supplemental insurance. But I don't know how patient assistant programs factor into this equation? Phillipa
Posted by Phil on September 17, 2012, at 22:13:46
In reply to Re: new healthcare law and drug patient assist program » Phil, posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2012, at 18:42:11
Medicare is different from Medicaid. Medicaid is for basically destitute people. It's like SSI which is considered welfare because it comes out of the general tax fund. So I think the way patients are treated is a lot different and the hospitals are reimbursed differently(less).
We pay for Medicare our working lives, like SSDI. I guess to the people who thrive on money, we're more cost effective and legit to save. Shame.
Posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2012, at 23:37:25
In reply to Re: new healthcare law and drug patient assist program » Phillipa, posted by Phil on September 17, 2012, at 22:13:46
I have SSRI my income tax from working as RN, Aerobic Dance Business, And Secretary. I was one of those that was able to collect full benefits at age 65 now each year an older age before full retirement. My Medicaire pays for my expenses but of course not enough and out of this health insurance and bought a secondary health insurance plan to supplement it & also separate dental plan. I think you have 4 months to buy a plan at retirement before prices are higher as no penalty for preexisting conditions. So far all the Specialists I use for Health still take medicaire. Psych is another story. Phillipa
Posted by phillipa on September 18, 2012, at 18:35:00
In reply to new healthcare law and drug patient assist program, posted by herpills on September 15, 2012, at 10:34:07
I googled & googled and could find no reference to this sorry I did try. Phillipa
Posted by jane d on September 19, 2012, at 0:15:32
In reply to Re: new healthcare law and drug patient assist program » herpills, posted by Novelagent on September 16, 2012, at 7:26:14
> Most people eligible for medicaid don't bother signing up for it, so they found if you get people who are poor to sign up for something they're already eligible for, that basically closes the gap of how many are uninsured by millions nationwide.
>> If you're under 26, you're now insured by your parent's plan.
If your parent has a plan with family coverage. If your parent (or you) can afford the additional premium.
> Odds are, if you're having to use a patient assistance program, you're likely eligible for medicaid but for some reason haven't bothered to sign up. It's unlikely you would qualify for a patient assistance program and not be eligible for medicaid. Why haven't you signed up?You're wrong. That may be how it works in Massachusetts but where I live non disabled, non elderly adults without children do not currently get medicaid no matter how poor. Then, even if you are in an eligible group (ie disabled), there are asset tests which may disqualify you for things like owning a home or a reliable car.
Furthermore, the medicaid "expansion" doesn't refer just (or mainly) to raising the allowed income level to 133% of poverty level - it refers to allowing non disabled but poor adults to qualify for the first time. But the supreme court has ruled that states don't have to do that - and many of them have indicated that they won't.
>Mediciaid is not new, it's been around since 1962. If you get sick and go to the ER, you won't be able to afford your bill, so I have to pay the tab with my insurance because you didn't bother to fill out a simple form.
Since medicaid will pay retroactively for up to 3 months I doubt your hospitals are losing all that much money.
> There's no way a patient assistance program is going to qualify someone who isn't alreafy eligible for medicaid.
See above. They can and do. If everyone who was needy had medicaid there would have been no need for these programs in the first place.
This is the end of the thread.
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