Rock and a hard place

Just gripping out loud, so to speak...

I just reveiwed my current list of drugs. I am a proud...NOT...owner of a Medicare Part D plan (I retired due Parkinson's disease in 2000 at age 52) and just did the AARP Gap Calculator.

I wish I hadn't, but it was good I did. I wanted to verify that I would go into The Gap/Donut Hole at the beginning of August. Yes, that is certainly correct.

The but here is that I won't be able to afford the wonderful new meds I am taking that have helped me to feel "normal," that is to say with out all the mental health issues I have had prior to a month ago.

Yep, a chat with the doc, but I don't see what even she can do unless I just stop taking my psych meds like so many others do in The Gap. So, find a way to pay or just check into a psych ward come September.

All my meds combined will be $769 a month beginning in August; $370 are phych meds; $234 is insulin.

I hate, hate, hate, hate, The Part D Gap!!!

I join the millions of disabled (physically and mentally) who hate it too!

I just wanted to scream somewhere, so you all got to hear me yoller!!

anyone??

i am new to medicare, and heaven knows i can't stand it. i have a test i so desperately need to get done, but medicare won't cover it. medicare is so frustrating to deal with. when i was put on medicare i had been on medicaid at the time so i was automatically enrolled in a different prescription program through medicare. it's called PrescribaRx. it's avaliable through medicare. maybe you could check this possibility out. prescriptions don't cost more than $3 with this plan. just a thought

I knew that would happen to me, so I bought a Medigap Plan when I first became eligible for Medicare in 2001. I pay $145.25 a month (in 2010) for the plan.

Medigap plans pay for all costs that are not covered by Medicare. It is a lot of money for the premium, but it is nothing compared to what I would be paying for co-pays and balance billing and Medicare non-covered costs. So, it is worth the cost to pay the premium.

Carolyn

So does this mean your prescription issues are solved now?

My medicare plan covers generics during the gap. Luckily, 4 of mine are generics. Abilify is not out in generic here yet, but they have generic available in Canada. I get mine there (through the mail.). I get a 3 month supply for like $93.00. With medicare covering it, it would cost a copay of $65.00 per month and would put me toward my gap sooner.