OT, Medicare COPD Questions

I am looking for anyone on Medicare with COPD using inhalers and/or Nebulizer.
If you use inhalers, curious how/where you get your drugs from.
If you use a nebulizer, curious if you get drugs through your DME. My Dr. says in some cases Part B Medicare will cover equipment and drugs.
Please PM me if you would.

klm49 wrote:inhalers and/or Nebulizer

Which drugs are you using?

Symbicort / Spiriva...
The Spiriva is thew problem, it pushes me in the donut hole....
Options are to go to Nebulizer or go out of country for drugs.

When open enrollment time comes, get an appointment with your local SHIP or HICAP. This is FREE Medicare counseling. You can find the number for your state at http://www.medicare.gov or on the back of your Medicare and You booklet.

The counselors will help you figure out which Medicare Supplement will give you the best coverage for these medications. You may still hit the donut hole, but maybe later in the year. They will also help you see if you qualify for any extra help that can assist with co-payments.

Finally, you can contact the pharmaceutical companies that make those medications and see if you qualify for any programs to help you afford the medications when you are in the donut hole.

Janknitz wrote: Finally, you can contact the pharmaceutical companies that make those medications and see if you qualify for any programs to help you afford the medications when you are in the donut hole.

Just adding to Jan's comments that you will find that most programs from pharmaceutical companies cannot be used by those with Medicare. The general exception is a drug that isn't covered by Medicare in the first place. So do look for that exclusion.

Janknitz wrote:When open enrollment time comes, get an appointment with your local SHIP or HICAP. This is FREE Medicare counseling. You can find the number for your state at http://www.medicare.gov or on the back of your Medicare and You booklet.

The counselors will help you figure out which Medicare Supplement will give you the best coverage for these medications. You may still hit the donut hole, but maybe later in the year. They will also help you see if you qualify for any extra help that can assist with co-payments.

Finally, you can contact the pharmaceutical companies that make those medications and see if you qualify for any programs to help you afford the medications when you are in the donut hole.

Thanks but I have examined all of the Part D programs available in my location and they all have similar coverage or they don't have Symbicort/Spiriva on their formulary. I dont qualify for any of the assistance programs. I think I am just going to try buying a generic version of Spiriva made by Cipla I can order out of Canada. The cost savings is unbelievable. Drugs are such a ripoff. When I started on Symbicort I did some research on it and found that it isn't the drugs that are patented but rather their unique "inhaler".

SewTired wrote:

Janknitz wrote: Finally, you can contact the pharmaceutical companies that make those medications and see if you qualify for any programs to help you afford the medications when you are in the donut hole.

Just adding to Jan's comments that you will find that most programs from pharmaceutical companies cannot be used by those with Medicare. The general exception is a drug that isn't covered by Medicare in the first place. So do look for that exclusion.

Thanks! I did not know that!