Cancer Survivors Network

I can't believe that medicare won't pay for the medicine. Do you have to pay for all your drugs? There must be a way to find out some information about getting help. How about contacting the Office of the Aging. Maybe they could lead you in the right direction! Good Luck

Some time ago, Astra Zeneca( the maker of Arimidex) was running ads that if one needed help because they couldn't afford the meds, that the company has a program to help...you might also ask for samples ~ perhaps your oncologist has some. I do hope that this gets sorted out for you! Please keep us in the loop and let us know!

Hugs,
Claudia

There are at least 75 medicare part d drug plans out there. WE have a pharmacy where I live that will check the drug plans to find out which one will cover the meds you need. I know not all pharmacies will do that but there are those who will. If not check with the oncology social worker to see if she knows a benefit specialist in your area who can do this for you. In Wisconsin if you qualify for medical assistance, you can change your Medicare Part d plan monthly but if you are strictly medicare you may have to pay out of pocket until I think November at which time you can switch your plan.

I dont know what your finances are but keep all of your receipts for anything you pay out of pocket. If your state has medical assistance, in wisconsin they look at what you are paying in health care costs to see if you will meet the medical assist spend down to qualify for a card.

You NEED to talk to a social worker on Monday

Hang in there and keep us posted

Linda T

Wow, I am so sorry Judy. That just isn't fair. I thought medicare would pay for almost all of it. Talk to your oncologist and pharmacist, see if they can help you out.

Good luck

Hi Judy. Welcome. Glad you found us though sorry for the reason. Another suggestion I can offer you is to check out Copay.org This is for people that have script coverage (including Medicare part D) that need help with their co-pay or out of pocket expense towards scripts only. They allocate you so much money for a 12 month period to use towards your scripts. What state do you live in? I tried to apply last month in WV, but they were already tapped out for the month. So I assume that it is a first come first serve basis. Hope this helps. Hang in there, it always seems to work out even if we can not imagine how.(:-) Pammy

HI Judy, I have been on Arimidex for over 2 years and i couldn't get any help. I tried everything but because my husband had a prescription plan i couldn't get any help. I still have to pay $300. for the first month of the year and after that it is $300 for a 3 month supply. Along with the other meds i have to take it is still expensive. I just went into the Arimidex web site and there is a place there where you can check for help. They even have help for medicare part D. people. Check it out and hope you can get help. Betty

You might also check out these web sites to see if they can help.

Needymeds.com http://www.needymeds.com/

Partnership for Prescription Assistance https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php

I don't know what they are about other then they were listed on my health insurance web site for financial assistance.

believe how much it costs! Wow,my onc was right! Tamoxifen with my insurance is 10.00 for a 30 day supply-what a big difference! Why does Arimidex have to cost so much?!

Judy,
I'm also a retiree who just started taking Arimidex. What a shock when I found out the cost! If you go to the AstraZeneca website and hunt around, you'll find a place where you can enter your income and prescription information, and they'll tell you if you qualify for assistance. If I remember correctly, they require that you've had medical expenses of at least 3% of your yearly income. Unfortunately, I don't qualify this year but with a full year of the prescription next year, I hope that I'll be able to get some assistance. The full cost for a month's prescription is $415; I'm paying $40 a month until I hit the Medicare Part D "donut hole" - very soon, at this rate! Good luck finding some assistance.

Arrgh, I hate that Medicare part D. That was Bush's baby. It stinks with that "donuthole" I understand that Obama wants to do away with the donut hole. Something surely has to change!
Actually, if I read it right, Arimidex is supposed to cost me 80.00 for a 90day supply, that's if it's what my Dr. prescribes. I am post menopausal. I know my Dh's ins has a bunch of Formularies they prefer you to use.

No health insurance? What about those tv ads about drug companies helping people pay for medicines?