Hello Camilla and Everyone - Your story illustrates a point that PAN has often made on Capitol Hill - that it would be more cost-efficient for the U.S. to invest money in research to cure PD than to continue providing medications to PWP. This is always a good point to bring up when communicating with your legislators. If you need any help in crafting a letter to your Senators and Representative about the cost of meds vs. the cost of a cure, please contact PAN at 800-850-4726. --- Camilla Flintermann <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > FRIENDS--some time ago, Art Hirsch posted about > getting a breakdown of the > cost of his PD meds, and that this could be used as > an advocacy tool in > trying to explain the costs to society of PD. > > Taking his lead, I asked the Merck-Medco mail order > company, where Peter's > insurance gives us excellent Rx coverage, for a > printout of costs, after > the deductible this year. > > Subtracting the few non-pd meds, and starting in > March ( the $100. out of > pocket having been met) the total to 9/13/99 was a > stunning $ 6,186.07 paid > by the insurer, and a co-payment of $84.50 on our > part. > (I said this was excellent coverage didn't I? > Generics are free, though > they will cost $4.50 max. after 1/1/00 and brand > names, now $2.00 will be > $9.00 max.--those are the current drugstore prices > for Rxs not ordered by > mail.) > > I think these figures of cost to insurers--or > lacking good insurance, to > patients--can be used with legislators in pointing > out *one* of the > elements of cost for PD. > > Any ideas (PAN???) about the most effective way to > present this sort of > info to Congress? > {And I feel somewhat guilty about this wonderful > coverage, when so many > have none--Peter was very lucky to work for a state > university with a great > retirement insurance program.} > > Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 81/70/55 > Oxford, Ohio > http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/camilla/one.htm > <[log in to unmask]> > > "Ask me about the CARE list > for > Caregivers of Parkinsonians > ! " > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com