4th January 2008
I used to have great coverage through my mom's group plan at work (5 dollars a prescription no matter what the cost and I could get three month supplies at one time), but then I turned 25 last year and was kicked off her plan, despite still being a student.
Luckily I have coverage through school, but my diabetes drugs (insulin, needles, testing supplies, etc...) are still expensive with the co-pay.
As a godsend, I live in Nova Scotia and as of March the province is offering a health care plan for prescriptions which I can combine with my current plan and I'll only have to pay 20% of the 20% that I currently pay. Since I'm a student and low income I won't have to pay a deductable, and after the co-pay cap of $300 or, my drugs will be completely free.
When I lost my mom's coverage, though, I had to wait from February to September with absolutely no coverage. I was automatically declined from one provider, said my diabetes wouldn't be covered from most other providers, and when a provider WOULD cover me there was a prescription cap of $300, after having to pay them $1200 for the year. The NS government DOES provide a diabetes assistance plan, but it doesn't cover anything but oral meds, testing supplies and insulin -- n othing like lipitor or altace (which is used to treat diabetics!)...My best advice is to weigh how much you prescriptions cost per month and see if it's worth it to stay where you are, because you're likely not going to get coverage any other way, BUT if your drugs are less expensive than the $700+ you're paying per month, then you'd be better off just paying outright (and if you're not on insulin, I can't see your medications costing over $700/month!).
Hope this helps, and good luck!
Luckily I have coverage through school, but my diabetes drugs (insulin, needles, testing supplies, etc...) are still expensive with the co-pay.
As a godsend, I live in Nova Scotia and as of March the province is offering a health care plan for prescriptions which I can combine with my current plan and I'll only have to pay 20% of the 20% that I currently pay. Since I'm a student and low income I won't have to pay a deductable, and after the co-pay cap of $300 or, my drugs will be completely free.
When I lost my mom's coverage, though, I had to wait from February to September with absolutely no coverage. I was automatically declined from one provider, said my diabetes wouldn't be covered from most other providers, and when a provider WOULD cover me there was a prescription cap of $300, after having to pay them $1200 for the year. The NS government DOES provide a diabetes assistance plan, but it doesn't cover anything but oral meds, testing supplies and insulin -- n othing like lipitor or altace (which is used to treat diabetics!)...My best advice is to weigh how much you prescriptions cost per month and see if it's worth it to stay where you are, because you're likely not going to get coverage any other way, BUT if your drugs are less expensive than the $700+ you're paying per month, then you'd be better off just paying outright (and if you're not on insulin, I can't see your medications costing over $700/month!).
Hope this helps, and good luck!