First of all I am glad you are healthy enough that you didn't have to
worry about prescription costs. For those of us who are not that
lucky, I have always shopped around  to find the best to find the best
rates. For  my family Walmart has the cheapest Rx, better than Costco.
Also Walmart has a $4 prescription  rate for many generic drugs which
is cheaper than my co pay. In my local news this has given access to
many people who could not afford their prescriptions otherwise.  This
is why Walmart is a blessing to many working people and why the
company has been successful by responding to consumer demands.

The bad news that Costco and Walmart pharmacies are not open 7 days or
have extended hours.

My advice is to call pharmacies and ask their prices. That is what we
have done and saved money glad to hear that you didn't have this
financial need until now  but for some of us this is not.

I think that many (my self included) assume that the prescription insurance
providers mail in
large quantity is the cheapest route. I also recently discovered that not
only was in not the cheapest,
that I could save over half on my partners meds at Target. Here Target is
even lower than Costo.
No, I don't have target stock ;-)

jojo

I'll cut to the chase.  I learned that 4/5 of the drugs I take are
cheaper
at Costco, paying on my own without using my insurance's plan at all,
than
the COPAY through the insurance company's mail order pharmacy.  <<

Maybe you should become an advocate ..

Get the message .. out ..

Before more kids .. die .. because they cannot afford the drugs ..

<<snip>>
Kids with transplanted kidneys who lose their insurance have nine
times a greater chance of dying than those who don't
<<snip>>

Source: Saint Louis University Medical Center     Released: Mon 19-
Feb-2007, 20:20 ET
Printer-friendly Version

Organ Transplant Patients May Die When Insurance for Medicine Runs Out
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Medical News   Keywords
TRANSPLANT, KIDNEY, RENAL, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, TEENAGERS, CHILDREN,
DISENFRANCHISED, IMMUNOSUPPRESIVE, IMMUNOSUPPRESIVE, DRUGS, ANTI-
REJECTION, ORGAN
Contact Information

Available for logged-in reporters only
Description

A new study from Saint Louis University researchers shows that young
transplant patients who lose their federally provided insurance
coverage are more likely to stop taking necessary anti-rejection
drugs, which can increase the risk of losing the transplanted
organs.

Newswise - A new study from Saint Louis University researchers shows
that young transplant patients who lose their federally provided
insurance coverage are more likely to stop taking necessary anti-
rejection drugs, which can increase the risk of losing the
transplanted organs.

The study appears in the March issue of Pediatric Transplantation.

"Immunosuppressive drugs that prevent organ rejection are incredibly
expensive; sometimes more than $13,000 a year," says study author Mark
Schnitzler, Ph.D., associate professor in the departments of internal
medicine and community health at Saint Louis University. "Even for
families with insurance, the co-payments can be a huge financial
burden."

Most healthcare costs associated with transplants in the United States
- such as critical immunosuppressive drugs - are covered by Medicare
for between 36 and 44 months, after which point they are "cut off,"
Schnitzler says.

If families cannot afford medicine, it can mean losing the
transplanted organ or even death.

Young adults from the ages of 18 to 23 face the greatest risk, as
nearly a third of this age group lacks medical coverage. Even when
families do have coverage after a transplant, it runs out 36 to 44
months post-transplant or when the child reaches adulthood.

Schnitzler and his team studied the medical records of 1,001 children
who underwent kidney transplants between 1995 and 2001, half of whom
lost their health insurance. He says the results point to a need for
better and more comprehensive health insurance.

"Kids with transplanted kidneys who lose their insurance have nine
times a greater chance of dying than those who don't," he says. "It is
critical that we find a way to offer lifetime access to these children
and their families so that our society does not continue to
prematurely lose this promising pool of young adults."

For families trying to make some difficult decisions, Schnitzler
advises them to retain their insurance, as the cost of insurance is
more affordable in the long term than the expense of transplant
failure and hospital stays.

"Pediatric transplant recipients have every desire to become
independent and useful members of society. To achieve that goal, they
need to keep their transplants healthy, and immunosuppressive drugs
are essential to ensure that that happens."

Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has the
distinction of awarding the first medical degree west of the
Mississippi River. The school educates physicians and biomedical
scientists, conducts medical research, and provides health care on a
local, national and international level. Research at the school seeks
new cures and treatments in five key areas: cancer, liver disease,
heart/lung disease, aging and brain disease, and infectious disease.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

? 2007 Newswise.  All Rights Reserved

Who loves ya.
Tom

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