| by
Michael Barnaby
Many of us, but particularly Lee County’s older
population, are more and more
feeling the pharmaceutical pinch. Prescription drugs have become the fastest
growing cost in health care, and these expenses have been largely passed on
to seniors, those more likely to have the most need for these products.
Seniors account for 13 per cent of the nation's population yet represent
more than one third of the nation's total drug expenditures. In Florida,
nearly three million seniors receive Medicare, their median income is
$13,982, and 770,000 have incomes below 150 percent of the poverty level.
A proliferation of drug assistance programs have sprung up as a result,
some national in scope, some public and some private. In general, these
plans are income based, and available to senior citizens who have Medicare
but do not qualify for Medicaid. Following is a brief description of the
major plans:
A number of leading pharmaceutical companies, including Abbott
Laboratories, AstraZeneca, Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bristol-Myers
Squibb Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Pharmaceutical Products, L.P.,
Novartis, and Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, have formed Together Rx, a
prescription program with free membership that provides savings on over
150 prescription medicines. Together Rx has the advantages of a wider pool
of available prescriptions than many other plans, plus more relaxed
qualifications. Applications can be obtained at the Together Rx web site
at www.Together-Rx.com, or by calling 1-800-865-7211.
GlaxoSmithKline offers the "Orange Card," entitling seniors to savings
averaging 35 percent on outpatient GlaxoSmithKline prescription drugs.
According to their literature, eligible seniors can obtain an Orange Card
form from their doctor, or by calling 1-888-Orange-6.
Pfizer offers the Pfizer For Living Card. For those who qualify,
Pfizer medications cost $15 for each 30-day supply. Call 1-800-717-6005 or
go to www.pfizerforliving.com for more information and an application.
Lilly Pharmaceuticals’ LillyAnswers Program offers qualifying seniors
any Lilly prescription product for a flat $12 administrative fee per
thirty day supply. Applications can be obtained by calling toll-free at
1-877-RX-LILLY (1-877-795-4559) or downloaded from www.lillyanswers.com.
Specific to Florida, there’s the new Silver Saver program. This is for
low income Floridians on Medicaid (not everyone on Medicaid receives full
prescription benefits). Patients may be eligible for $160 a month in
prescription benefits. There are no premiums or deductibles, and a minimal
co-pay for each prescription. Those with Medicaid cards are automatically
enrolled when they present their Medicaid card at their pharmacy. The
program is named after State Senator Ron Silver from North Miami.
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