medicare and stribild

[thomas1947]

I have been on stribild for a year since my infection. I had insurance and got a gilead copay card. I paid nothing for the meds, but now I am retiring and will have medicare in july. When checking out the pharmacy benefits , it will cost me a 1ooo bucks a month for this medicine which I can't afford because I will be living really on a fixed income.
Suicide is an option, but before I do that, are there any programs out there that assist or help a lot with stribild  and medicare. I guess I could switch meds, but this is working with no side effects.
 

[edfu]

You need to check out the ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Program) regulations in your state.   An  ASO (AIDS Service Organization) can help you with this.  With
 your limited retirement income, it's very likely that ADAP may pay for the Stribild.  Good luck.   

[BT65]

I'm on Medicare and take Stribild and don't have a co-pay like that.  Have you checked with the different types of Medicare D?  Asking your pharmacist may help.  I know when former clients were thinking of open enrollment, they would talk with their pharmacist to see which plan would be best for them.

Just a suggestion.  Edfu's is also a good option.

Edited to correct name.

[Schnauzer]

Edfu and BT65 are right on the mark - check with your ASO regarding ADAP in your state, but you may also want to have them check out your current Part D plan to see if there are better options for you. 

Not to hijack the thread, but does anybody know anything about Medicare and Tivicay?  As of last month, it seemed like Medicare hadn't even listed Tivicay on it's  list of medications.  It's weird since most (I think) ADAPs include Tivicay among their formularies.

[zach]

Suicide is not an option. Why in hell would you do that. ASO and ADAP, sooner the better. Bureaucracy can be slow. Even if you can't continue stribild, there are other options. Don't give up. Nothing about this is easy.I

[BT65]

Schnauzer, the ASO should be able to check out different part D plans to see if any of them cover Tivicay.  Or the pharmacist should be able to tell you. 

I do know on Indiana's ADAP it is covered-any new HIV med is automatically covered.  It's probably the same most everywhere.   

If no Part D plans in your area cover it, you should be able to get patient assistance for it, or ADAP.  I know in Indiana, you cannot have Medicare and ADAP at the same time, unless you are over 65.  It's the same with patient assistance, though on the app you can put that you do not have insurance.  Here, if someone lies so they can get ADAP the state always finds out.  There are options, though, so don't get discouraged.

[jason1970]

Hello,
I'm having the same problem but I'm on Prezista, Isentress, Selzentry, and Norvir.  I had cobra until 3-1 and Ryan White covered my med copay's but when Medicare started on 3-1 Ryan White stopped.  I'm currently on 21 meds which 5 are generic (7.00 each a month), 13 are brand (45.00 each per month) and 3 I have to pay 33% (a little over 300.00 each per month) so if my math is correct that's over 1500.00 per month for drugs.  I've applied for my states Medicaid program and was denied because my income from SSDI is over the poverty level, same happened when I applied for extra help from SSI, Norvir did give me their drug for free under the PAP but the other hiv drug companies turned me down.  I called Express Scripts to ask if they had an assistance program or could make an exception on the Tier level of the hiv meds and they could not.  I have a case manager with our ASO and they can help with utilities and food but not with meds.  This is the last drug regimen that I have available to me because I am resistant to all the rest, I have 6 days of meds left then I really have to make some decisions on the drugs.  I know I have to continue the hiv meds but I may have to forgo the others which include 2 types of insulin, and Cymbalta and Lyrica for neuropathy and chronic pain.  Anyway, if someone knows of something I may not have tried let me know....Thanks

[Miss Philicia]

I know in Indiana, you cannot have Medicare and ADAP at the same time, unless you are over 65. 

Before I was a dual-eligible (Med-Part D + Medicaid) I had Med-Part D plus ADAP.

ps: as far as Tivicay I can see it on both my Med-Part D (Wellcare) formulary and my state's ADAP formulary.