[Apple]

Was suprised to hear today that the canadian diabetics have to pay every month for their renewal prescription. Equally they were suprised to know that we, in the uk, get our monthly prescriptions for free, as well as our opticians.

Is this the same for the US? Or are things different again??

[lelggren]

In the US, not much is free of cost....lol Medications and supplies are very, very expensive. This is because the govt. doesn't take out as much taxes as here as they do in the UK and Canada, or as far as I know.

Originally Posted by Apple

Was suprised to hear today that the canadian diabetics have to pay every month for their renewal prescription. Equally they were suprised to know that we, in the uk, get our monthly prescriptions for free, as well as our opticians.

Is this the same for the US? Or are things different again??

[psilocybin]

Originally Posted by lelggren

In the US, not much is free of cost....lol Medications and supplies are very, very expensive. This is because the govt. doesn't take out as much taxes as here as they do in the UK and Canada, or as far as I know.

i am a canadian citizen and not insured by the government..they stop insuring me at age 21. i am not insured at all...and expensive is a bit of an understatement

[lgvincent]

Originally Posted by psilocybin

i am a canadian citizen and not insured by the government..they stop insuring me at age 21. i am not insured at all...and expensive is a bit of an understatement

Have you tried the Lilly Cares program? I don't know if they have it in Canada but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

[psilocybin]

Originally Posted by lgvincent

Have you tried the Lilly Cares program? I don't know if they have it in Canada but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

only u.s =o[

[liz32]

I'm Canadian and I don't have to pay to have my prescription renewed. I do have to visit the doc though. The only way you have to pay (at least where I am) is if you want then to phone in a prescription with out you coming into the office. And yes, even here in canada, things are expensive. I just got a couple of my supplies, and didn't even everything that I take an dit cost alot. I only pay 29% and it's running me right now at least 100$ a month and they want to add 2 more drugs to the cocktail. Who knows how expensive they are.
Liz

[psilocybin]

Originally Posted by liz32

I'm Canadian and I don't have to pay to have my prescription renewed. I do have to visit the doc though. The only way you have to pay (at least where I am) is if you want then to phone in a prescription with out you coming into the office. And yes, even here in canada, things are expensive. I just got a couple of my supplies, and didn't even everything that I take an dit cost alot. I only pay 29% and it's running me right now at least 100$ a month and they want to add 2 more drugs to the cocktail. Who knows how expensive they are.
Liz

if you dont mind me asking. what part of canada you from? you must be on a insurance plan...me and my parents have tried everything and my dad owns his own business and is pretty familiar with how all this government stuff works...but i dont quite understand why they will pay your medication and not mine

[liz32]

I guess, I didn't say it right. They don't pay for prescription renewal but I pay for the drugs. I'm in Nova Scotia and there is a program with the gov't to help people with an insufficiant income, get the diabetic supplies they need. I do have insurance..sunlife...think it's out of ontario. I figure that last year my diabetes has cost me out of pocket about 1200$. That is only 20% of the total cost...insurance covers the rest. I am fortunate that I have no limit on how many strips I use, or what drugs I take becuase this company covers anything to do with diabetes. I'm sure that since your dad has his own business, things are more expensive. Does he buy his own insurance? I realize that we are very fortunate with the coverage that we have. I'd die from complications if I didn't have insurance because I couln't afford this treatment without it.
Liz

[psilocybin]

Originally Posted by liz32

I guess, I didn't say it right. They don't pay for prescription renewal but I pay for the drugs. I'm in Nova Scotia and there is a program with the gov't to help people with an insufficiant income, get the diabetic supplies they need. I do have insurance..sunlife...think it's out of ontario. I figure that last year my diabetes has cost me out of pocket about 1200$. That is only 20% of the total cost...insurance covers the rest. I am fortunate that I have no limit on how many strips I use, or what drugs I take becuase this company covers anything to do with diabetes. I'm sure that since your dad has his own business, things are more expensive. Does he buy his own insurance? I realize that we are very fortunate with the coverage that we have. I'd die from complications if I didn't have insurance because I couln't afford this treatment without it.Liz

im almost there, yes he buys his own insurance...i got kicked off of it =[

[lelggren]

I know that supplies are expensive. I totally agree with you on that. I just got insurance at the end of last year after being without it for almost 2 years. I had heard though that the medical expenses in Canada and in the UK are a lot less because they take out a lot of taxes from you in order to pay for medical. When I lived in Minnesota, I had heard of a lot of people that wanted to try and get their rx's from Canadian companies because it was more expensive for them to get it in the US. If i'm wrong on this, please let me know! I have learned a lot about medical things from not having insurance, and I take a great interest in it. Thanks!

PS: I hope that you are able to get insurance to help you out soon! Has your dr. told you of any organizations or anyone that could help you get discounts?

[psilocybin]

Originally Posted by lelggren

I know that supplies are expensive. I totally agree with you on that. I just got insurance at the end of last year after being without it for almost 2 years. I had heard though that the medical expenses in Canada and in the UK are a lot less because they take out a lot of taxes from you in order to pay for medical. When I lived in Minnesota, I had heard of a lot of people that wanted to try and get their rx's from Canadian companies because it was more expensive for them to get it in the US. If i'm wrong on this, please let me know! I have learned a lot about medical things from not having insurance, and I take a great interest in it. Thanks!

PS: I hope that you are able to get insurance to help you out soon! Has your dr. told you of any organizations or anyone that could help you get discounts?

naw....i think i will call and talk to him about it...this is serious,

[KickStart101]

Originally Posted by Apple

Was suprised to hear today that the canadian diabetics have to pay every month for their renewal prescription.

I was surprised to hear that also. I have lived in Canada(Ontario) all
of my life, in 6 different cities. I have never paid for a prescription
renewal or for my pharmacy to phone up my Doc to get a renewal for me.
I get a free prescription and/or renewal at the Doc's if I need some the
next time I go.
My Hubbies job pays for our drugs(most of the cost). Until recently,
he had to pay $2.00 for each prescription item, now he just has to pay
$25.00 a yr. for all our drugs. (I do remember some hard times
when we were just married and had only a little coverage from our jobs).
The employer does take off a small bi-weekly fee for dental.
The cost of my Lente is $19.50 and Humalog is $29.70 if we were to
pay it. There is also a $6.47 pharmacy dispensing fee(for taking the pills
out of a package and putting them in a bottle and sticking an adhesive(sp)
paper with name, etc. on the bottle, etc. Doesn't matter if you get one
item or 10. I don't recall the price of my other drugs right now.
Yes, we do pay more taxes here than the U.S., although I've never
compared them.

Originally Posted by Apple

Equally they were suprised to know that we, in the uk,
get our monthly prescriptions for free, as well as our opticians.

Do you mean that you don't pay for your drugs in the UK?
Wow, I'm impressed.

[liz32]

There are advantages and disadvantages to being in the canadian health system. The advantages are that I know I can take my kids or myself to the doc's or er and it costs me nothing. I think it would be horrible to have to calculate wether it's worth the expense to take my kid in if they were sick. I can have a baby without it costing 10 000.00$ I had a friend in the states who ended up paying (as part of her bill) 500$ becuase someone came in a whipped her forhead during delivery. That's outragous! The flip side is that it's hard to get into a specialist here in canada becuase alot of our docs go state side. Also, we're behind in some of the latest advancements. We're about 3-4 years behind. For example: you have the lantus in pen form. We won't be able to get here for at least another three years. Overall, I'd take our system over yours anyday. It may not be perfect (actually far from it) but it's affordable and anyone regardless of income can see a doctor. Most of the docs also have samples from suppliers that they give out to people who can't afford the medications. Anyways, it's not perfect but it's ours.
Liz

[DeusXM]

Do you mean that you don't pay for your drugs in the UK?
Wow, I'm impressed.

Doctor and hospital visits are free for all UK citizens. Prescriptions are subsidised for all citizens too - I think it's about £6 per drug, irrespective of what it is. If you hold a medical exemption certificate, which you get if you have certain conditions, then ALL prescriptions are free, whether or not they relate to your exemption condition.

Diabetes is an exemption condition.

Opticians, whether they are private companies or not, have to provide free eye tests for people with diabetes. I think dentistry is also free for people with diabetes. We also get chiropody and other related services such as dieticians for free through the NHS too.

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by DeusXM

Doctor and hospital visits are free for all UK citizens. Prescriptions are subsidised for all citizens too - I think it's about £6 per drug, irrespective of what it is. If you hold a medical exemption certificate, which you get if you have certain conditions, then ALL prescriptions are free, whether or not they relate to your exemption condition.

Diabetes is an exemption condition.

Opticians, whether they are private companies or not, have to provide free eye tests for people with diabetes. I think dentistry is also free for people with diabetes. We also get chiropody and other related services such as dieticians for free through the NHS too.

My dental treatment isn't free - I have mananged to get in under the NHS but still pay for the examinations & treatment I receive (