In today's economy with people losing their jobs, along with their health insurance, the question about where to find affordable medications is on the tongues of many with COPD. I found an interesting article on the Respiratory Therapy Blog that I sometimes visit to find useful information to share with you. The following advice is from Joy Buchanan, producer at MyAsthmaCentral.com, who offers some great tips on what to do if you can't afford Advair. Here's what she says:
"Our expert, Dr. James Thompson, has written a post about saving money on managing your condition here. Also, you should contact Advair's manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline at 1-866-518-4357. Companies have programs to provide their brand name drugs to patients for cheap (or, sometimes, free) if they meet the income qualifications. GlaxoSmithKline's program for Advair is called GSKAccess.
If you think about it, the information Joy provides should apply to many unaffordable, COPD medications. In fact, Trisha Torrey, About.com's Patient Empowerment Guide, has written a fabulous article about just that. For more information, visit Trisha's article:
Prescription Assistance Programs
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Gosh, this really is worrying. I know we in the UK are currently making a tremendous fuss over having to pay prescriptions costs for a chronic life threatening disease, such as severe asthma is, but the mere fact that in the US you have to fund your own scripts, and something as powerful, necessary and darn expensive as Advair is a must for severe lungers just makes me feel guilty for having it so readily available and for merely a few dollars in comparison.
((I am on Advair 500, 2 puffs, BID, and so that’s 2 Diskus’s a month, 24 a year-gee I am glad I do not have to pay for mine))
There is no doubt about it, the US health care system is out of whack! And, we are supposed to be richest nation? I know where our tax dollars are going; right into the pockets of politicians, CEOs, and other well-off people. Certainly not into our health care system. Thanks for your comment and I am sure we are all envious of both yours, and the Canadian, health care system.
My little girl NEEDS ADVAIR, it’s worked so wonderful for her and she was sick all the time. SO, my insurance excludes any lung medication as her asthma was a preexisting condition (aren’t they sweet)
SO, I have to pay 220.00 + a month for advair alone, and other 44.00 for the inhaler…I have to get a second job, that is like a darn car payment and I’ll sell my soul before I let my daughter not get something she needs, the only thing to help her little body….I hate America’s health care system, money grubbing leaches…
I take Advair for asthma and have a really poor prescription plan my cost for a 3 mo supply is $443. On top of this I take another drug for ulcerative colitis that will be costing me $300 for a month. I can see my future includes bankruptsy & living under a bridge because I can’t have my medication and a place to live also. I am praying I can get some help from one of these plans.
@kathy…please contact me XJS750 hotmail. The “at” and “dot com” are omitted to reduce spam.
I have an Advair diskus purchase last month with 43 puffs remaining…Anyone interested? contact me directly: jimaleg at aol dot com.
Go to the canadian pharmacies, like Northwest Pharmacy….much, much cheaper (70 compared to 220 for advair, even less for generic. They are a lifesaver!
I am 76 years old and need halp paying for my
advair 250/50 diskus. Could you tell me who I should talk to about getting help. Thanks Mary
Mary, that is what the above blog post is all about. Please re-read it. It gives you the phone number to call.
I have COPD and pay $250 for a 3 month supply. It used to be around $79.00 and the insurance company decided that our plan didn’t comply with their rules. I also use Spiriva and that is the same as Advair. I wish something could be done about these ridiculous charges, especially for something that is vital to use.
I have COPD and Thyroid Disease and for my Meds i have Insurance ..but that doesnt cover all of it…I have to pay monthly about $300 a month for Spiriva, Advair, Synthroid, Pro Air inhaler…and havent been able to pay for them for over 2 months now…just using myinhaler more now then i was..so will need a new one of those soon now too.
If anyone is interested, I have 2 Spiriva Handihalers with 10 capsules each I don’t need. I’d be happy to talk to anyone who is having trouble paying for their med. Also have excellent source for Symbicort generic that costs about 1/3 less. Just sent me an email to topdawg2@rocketmail.com
I have COPD, am 80+ years old, living on SS and understand the frustration exhibited above but let’s not loose sight of the bigger picture of healthcare. Some parts of the medical plans in Canada & England are marginally better than in the US but they have searious problems as well. Long waits & dissallowances for many treatments are prevalent. Remember it wasn’t that long ago that the US had no Prescription coverage in Medicare. We can’t Bankrupt the country & without Jobs & economic growth we can’t afford many of the social services we have now. Ask the English how their doing with life in general.
I just met a woman who went blind two years ago. She thinks it is directly realated to her use of Advair for her asthma. She developed cataracts in both eyes. She is hopeful that with cataract surgery, her eye sight will be restored. Has anyone else heard, or know of, any such cases?
I need Advair500. Please help. Noonz1213@gmail.com