| Starting in 2006, no plans that are
| |
| | refills. This will get you a year's worth
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| qualified to work with a health savings
| |
| | of drugs, with only one shipping fee.One
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| account may cover prescription drugs as
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| | company that has good prices is Save Now
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| an insured benefit until after the
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| | Discount Pharmacy. They have a 'no
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| deductible is met. So for HSA owners, one
| |
| | insurance' business model, and have been
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| of your biggest health expenses could be
| |
| | able to reduce their prices by
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| for prescription drugs. Here are some
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| | eliminating the cost of dealing with
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| ways to reduce those costs.GenericsA
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| | insurance companies. They also post
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| report was published this week by Express
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| | prices online, so it's easy to compare.
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| Scripts Inc., a pharmacy benefit manager,
| |
| | Unfortunately, they are only licensed in
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| indicating that increased use of generic
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| | 13 states at present, but they will
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| drugs would save consumers $24 billion in
| |
| | apparently be expanding soon. You can
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| 2005. Generic drugs cost an average of
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| | check them out at Prescription DrugsThe
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| $60 less per month, than brand name
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| | city of Boston, the city of San
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| drugs.A report was published this week by
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| | Francisco, the state of Wisconsin, and
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| Express Scripts Inc., a pharmacy benefit
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| | the State of Minnesota all use a company
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| manager, indicating that increased use of
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| | called Total Pharmacy Care to give their
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| generic drugs would save consumers $24
| |
| | citizens access to international
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| billion in 2005. Generic drugs cost an
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| | mail-order pharmaceuticals.Officially,
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| average of $60 less per month, than brand
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| | re-importation of prescription drugs by
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| name drugs.It is important to understand
| |
| | anyone other than the drug's manufacturer
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| that brand name drugs often have little
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| | is a violation of federal law. But FDA
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| or no benefit over older generic
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| | enforcement guidelines allow agents to
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| versions. A prime example is Prilosec, a
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| | exercise discretion for drugs imported
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| heartburn medication whose patent was
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| | for personal use. According to the
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| scheduled to expire in April of 2001.
| |
| | guidelines, "FDA personnel may consider a
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| Prilosec consists of two "isomers", a
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| | more permissive policy" in cases where an
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| right-hand version and a left hand
| |
| | individual seeks to import no more than a
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| version. Studies showed an 87% success
| |
| | three month supply of a product that does
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| rate for this drug. AstraZeneca, the
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| | not appear to pose an unreasonable risk,
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| manufacturer, decided to offer a newly
| |
| | if the individual affirms in writing that
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| patented single isomer version called
| |
| | it is for personal use and provides the
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| Nexium, which showed only fractionally
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| | name and address of the U.S. doctor
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| better results with a 90% success rate.A
| |
| | supervising their treatment.Advocacy
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| $500 million marketing campaign ensued,
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| | groups cite these guidelines as proof
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| aimed at both physicians and consumers,
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| | that re-importation is legal. But in a
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| to convince them that Nexium is
| |
| | February 2003 letter, the FDA's Associate
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| "state-of-the-art". AstraZeneca now sells
| |
| | Commissioner, Thomas Hubbard, said the
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| over $3 billion worth of pills annually,
| |
| | guidelines have been misinterpreted. They
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| at $120 per box. This is a drug that is
| |
| | were meant to allow FDA agents discretion
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| essentially only a repackaged version
| |
| | in allowing U.S. citizens access to
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| Prilosec, which sells for about $20 per
| |
| | medicines for serious conditions that
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| box.When your doctor is prescribing a
| |
| | were unavailable or hard to find in the
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| drug, make sure to ask him if there is
| |
| | states, not to allow international
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| any benefit to taking a brand name over a
| |
| | comparison price shopping.Nevertheless,
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| generic, and let it be known that you'll
| |
| | thousands of U.S. citizens have found
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| be paying for the prescription out of
| |
| | they can save money by buying their drugs
|
| your own pocket.Drug Discount
| |
| | from outside the country. Drug price
|
| ProgramsPharmaceutical prices are a lot
| |
| | comparisons from several countries
|
| like hospital prices - very few people
| |
| | (Canada is not always the cheapest!) can
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| actually pay the listed retail price.
| |
| | be found at Keep in mind that since this
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| There are numerous drug discount cards
| |
| | importation is technically illegal
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| available on the market, which provide
| |
| | (though rarely enforced), it may not be
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| savings that average 15% to 40% below
| |
| | proper to use your HSA to pay for
|
| retail at participating pharmacies.
| |
| | prescriptions purchased this way. Talk to
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| Typically, most of the chain pharmacies
| |
| | your accountant if you decide to go this
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| (CVS, Eckerd, Walmart, Kroger, Costco,
| |
| | route.Avoiding Prescription DrugsThe
|
| etc.) participate in these plans.Many
| |
| | people who spend the least on
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| insurance companies include discount
| |
| | prescription drugs are those who rarely
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| cards as an additional benefit that comes
| |
| | take them. The need to take an antibiotic
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| with their coverage. Because these cards
| |
| | for an acute infection may seem fairly
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| are not considered to be insurance, they
| |
| | expensive, but it is nothing compared to
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| can be offered with an HSA-qualified
| |
| | the cost of taking a medication for the
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| plan. Insurance companies that provide Rx
| |
| | rest of your life. Unfortunately, by age
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| discount cards with their HSA plans
| |
| | 45 over half of all Americans are on a
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| include American Medical Security, Anthem
| |
| | regular prescription medication, and by
|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield, Assurant, Golden
| |
| | age 65 nearly half are on three or more
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| Rule, Imerica, Unicare, and World. We
| |
| | prescriptions during any given month.
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| also know of one HSA administrator - -
| |
| | Most of this is entirely preventable.Some
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| that provides a drug discount program to
| |
| | of the biggest selling drugs are to treat
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| people who use them.Stand-alone drug
| |
| | elevated cholesterol, hypertension, and
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| discount plans are also available to
| |
| | acid reflux. A paper published this year
|
| anyone with access to the internet. We've
| |
| | in the American Journal of Clinical
|
| found the average cost of these discount
| |
| | Nutrition entitled Origins and evolution
|
| plans to be around $7 or $8 a month. HSA
| |
| | of the western diet: Health implications
|
| for America has secured for its members
| |
| | for the 21st century, explains how these
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| (and readers of this newsletter) a free
| |
| | and other common health issues did not
|
| discount Rx card through a company called
| |
| | exist for our hunter-gatherer ancestors,
|
| Drug Card America. To enroll online,
| |
| | and how diet is the root cause of so many
|
| simply visit: 9c22-d335be23527c}. You
| |
| | of the health problems people in our
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| may want this card in addition to any
| |
| | culture experience.The author is Dr.
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| other cards, since the card that offers
| |
| | Loren Cordain, one of my professors at
|
| the best deal usually varies, depending
| |
| | Colorado State University. In a nutshell,
|
| on the drug.If you're looking for a plan
| |
| | he shows why the healthiest diet is one
|
| that has co-pays for prescription drugs
| |
| | based on fruits, vegetables, fish, and
|
| rather than only discounts, American
| |
| | lean meat. Foods to be avoided or limited
|
| Health Care Options offers a four-tiered
| |
| | include added sugars, shortening and
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| prescription card program where you pay
| |
| | other processed vegetable oils, grains,
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| $10, $20, $50, or a special discount
| |
| | and legumes. These are all foods that did
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| price for generic and brand name drugs.
| |
| | not exist in our diet prior to about
|
| You can check the tier of any drug you're
| |
| | 10,000 years ago, and are thus foods that
|
| interested in, and apply online at The
| |
| | we are not genetically adapted to
|
| cost of this plan is $19.95 per month for
| |
| | eat.Remember that all qualified expenses,
|
| an individual, or $29.95 for a
| |
| | including prescription drugs, can be paid
|
| family.Mail OrderIf the need for a
| |
| | for tax-free, from your HSA. If you've
|
| prescription is not urgent, or if you are
| |
| | still got a traditional health insurance
|
| on long-term medication, mail order is
| |
| | policy and would like to investigate a
|
| almost always a less expensive way to buy
| |
| | health savings account, please visit us
|
| prescription drugs. It is generally
| |
| | at HSA for America and we'll be happy to
|
| cheaper to get a 90-day supply because of
| |
| | help you.By Wiley P Long - President, HSA
|
| a volume discount. I recommend asking
| |
| | for America. At HSA for America, we makes
|
| your physician to write the prescription
| |
| | it easy to learn about and set up health
|
| for a 3-monthly supply plus three
| |
| | savings accounts.
|
