by PharmacyChecker.com | Nov 4, 2013 | Advocacy, Drug Prices, Personal Drug Importation
Last week on the Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC public radio, Elisabeth Rosenthal of the New York Times talked about the high cost of medications in America and how Americans genuinely need foreign pharmacies to afford their prescribed medication. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about five million Americans personally import medication. Many search online to do so and must avoid scams and bad pharmacies. When asked how consumers can know what they are getting online, Ms. Rosenthal said, “That’s the concern FDA has about allowing imports…So you have to be a little careful about where you buy from. There’s something called PharmacyChecker.com, which vets overseas pharmacies, which many people have told me is very useful.”
We’re very pleased that highly respected media outlets and journalists are covering the health crisis caused by drug prices, informing the public of personal drug importation’s role as a lifeline for Americans, and discussing the need for changes to U.S. laws.
Tagged with: Elisabeth Rosenthal, Leonard Lopate, New York Times, WNYC
by PharmacyChecker.com | Oct 31, 2013 | Drug Importation, Drug Prices, Online Pharmacies
The final post in our weekly series identifying prescription drugs manufactured in America and their prices.
Urocit-K (potassium citrate) is a medication used to prevent gout and kidney stones, as well as problems caused by kidney disease. Despite being made in the U.S., where it is also available as a generic, prices for Urocit-K are lower abroad than they are in U.S. pharmacies. Ninety tablets (10meq) of brand-name Urocit-K are $145.98 at a New York City Rite-Aid, and the generic is $124.08 at the same pharmacy. From an international online pharmacy, 90 tablets of Urocit-K are only $56.70. That’s a 61% savings!
There are hundreds if not thousands of medications made in America that are sold for much lower prices elsewhere. We hope this series opened a window of light for Americans who are looking for affordable medication or interested in prescription drug manufacturing and their prices.
Tagged with: American Made Prescriptions Are Cheaper Abroad, Urocit-K
by PharmacyChecker.com | Oct 30, 2013 | Medicare Drug Plans
As we wrote a few weeks ago, there are loads of changes coming to Medicare Part D next year. Changes to your plan’s deductible and monthly premium can impact your wallet, for better or for worse! We’ve analyzed the plans from 2013 and 2014 and identified those with notable changes to their deductibles and premiums.
Keep in mind that there may be other important changes to a plan, such as those to its formulary or cost sharing structure. For example, the deductible for Blue MedicareRx Value plan double in 2014, and it is also losing about 700 drugs from its formulary. On the other hand, this plan and others might see increases in deductibles or premiums correspond with lower co-pays or better donut hole coverage, which could save you a lot of money.
The tables below show you examples of plans with large changes, and aren’t meant to be comprehensive. To view more plan options, and read reviews and ratings by members, head over to MedicareDrugPlans.com.
Notable Decreases in Plan Deductibles
| Plan Name |
States |
2013 Deductible |
2014 Deductible |
Dollar Change |
% Change |
|
Express Scripts Medicare – Choice (PDP)
|
Many States |
$200 |
0 |
-$200 |
-100% |
| Health Alliance Medicare Prescription Plan – Enhcd (PDP)
|
Illinois |
$325 |
0 |
-$325 |
-100% |
| United American – Enhanced (PDP) |
Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, |
$40
|
$20 |
-$20 |
-50% |
Notable Increases in Deductible
| Plan Name |
States |
2013 Deductible |
2014 Deductible |
Dollar Change |
% Change |
| Blue MedicareRx Value (PDP)
|
Arizona |
$150 |
$310 |
$160 |
107 % |
| Prescription Blue Option A (PDP)
|
Michigan |
$125 |
$195 |
$70 |
56% |
| Blue Rx Plus (PDP)
|
Pennsylvania, West Virginia |
$250 |
$310 |
$60 |
24% |
Notable Decreases in Monthly Premiums
| Plan Name |
States |
2013 Premium |
2014 Premium |
Dollar Change |
% Change |
| WellCare Classic (PDP)
|
Mississippi |
$36.60 |
$17.30 |
-$19.30 |
-53% |
| Aetna Medicare Rx Essentials (PDP)
|
Oregon, Washington |
$72.90 |
$35.20 |
-$37.70 |
-52% |
| Express Scripts Medicare – Choice (PDP) |
Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota |
$102.70 |
$70.60 |
-$32.10 |
-31% |
Notable Increases in Monthly Premiums
| Plan Name |
States |
2013 Premium |
2014 Premium |
Dollar Change |
% Change |
| Aetna CVS/pharmacy Prescription Drug Plan (PDP)
|
Florida |
$32.50 |
$75.00 |
$42.50 |
131% |
| AARP MedicareRx Saver Plus (PDP)
|
Oregon, Washington |
$15 |
$29.50 |
$14.50 |
97% |
| First Health Part D Value Plus (PDP)
|
Colorado |
$32.30 |
$58.40 |
$26.10 |
81% |
Once again, you need to shop around and do your research to get the best plan. Check out some reviews and ratings at MedicareDrugPlans.com – and rate your current plan to help others – then head over to the government’s site www.medicare.gov to compare plan formularies, and choose a plan that covers the medications you take.
Tagged with: 2014, deductibles, Medicare Drug Plans, Medicare Part D, premiums
