|
|
|
|
||
|
||
|
|
||
| SEARCH | SUBSCRIBE | ||
Want to support Global Action on Aging? Click below: Thanks!
|
 |
Elder Action Workshop Focuses on Elderly By Sandra Guthans, Times Picayune
May 29, 2003
The New Orleans Elder Action
Coalition recently held a workshop to train social workers, nurses and
others to help their senior citizen clients get all the medications they
need at prices they can afford. Speakers talked about how a lot
of senior citizens struggle to pay for their medication. Newer medications
are expensive, and consumers 70 and older are often on two, three or four
different prescriptions. Even seniors who have some kind of prescription
drug benefit, usually through an HMO, a plan provided by a former employer
or through a Medicare co-insurance policy, find that the benefit does not
cover enough of their costs. Discount cards offered by many
pharmaceutical companies help, but not all senior citizens qualify for the
cards. Senior citizens must meet income guidelines and must not have any
prescription drug benefit. Some seniors feel they would be better off
without a prescription drug benefit that doesn't pay for much yet prevents
them from getting one of the new discount cards. Indigent patient programs will
provide free medications to needy patients. These programs are supported
by the manufacturers, so qualification criteria vary from company to
company. Patients may need help in applying for free medications and the
cooperation of the patient's doctor is crucial. There are a variety of Web
sites that can help senior citizens track down discount and indigent
patient programs. Try www.benefitscheckup.com, www.phrma.org and
www.needymeds.com. Finally, shopping around for
the best deal is something anybody can do, regardless of income or status.
Prices vary greatly, and there can even be variation in price from
drugstore to drugstore in the same chain. Internet pharmacies often have
good prices, but not always. Small, locally owned pharmacies sometimes
have the best prices of all. Sponsors for this workshop were
the American Chemical Society, The Medical Team, R&R Homecare, the New
Orleans Council on Aging, and the New Orleans Recreation Department. Copyright
© 2002 Global Action on Aging
|
