Affording Our Medications

By Jackie English

2 min read

I had no insurance when I was first diagnosed with alpha-1 (Genetic COPD). Trying to find the money to pay for my prescriptions was so hard.

After going without at times, scrimping, and saving or borrowing money from others, it was more challenging to pay for my medications. It became even harder when I finally applied for disability a year later.

Affording medications when unemployed

I went from working a full-time and part-time job to not working. This was a very tough loss to our family financially. They finally approved me for disability four years after applying after three denials.

I was on oxygen that whole time and met all the criteria, which was awful. It also takes two years of being on disability before you even qualify for Medicare, where I am located.

While waiting for that disability to go thru, I had the great help of my favorite nurse. She steered me in the right direction for assistance with my meds.

Even when I finally got insurance, some prices were still outrageous. One thing I have noticed over the years in most of the COPD and alpha-1 support groups is the same worry that I had about being able to afford the medications that we are prescribed, especially without insurance.

Medication assistance programs available

Here is a list of more commonly used COPD and alpha-1 meds on GoodRX. GoodRX is a drug discount program that is supposed to give you the best available price for medications.¹

GoodRx for COPD medications

Advair
Symbicort
Spiriva
Perforomist
Incruse Ellipta
Proair

Prices may vary depending on your location.

Even with discounts prices might still be high. It just goes to show you how much they mark the medications up, which is so frustrating.

Other online drug assistance programs

Here is a list of some drug assistance programs that are available online:^2-6

RX Advocates
SCBN Perscription Advocacy
RxAssist
GSK Patient Assistance Program
Affordability by AstraZeneca

If you have a genetic type of COPD, like alpha-1, and have to take infusions, you can go to the NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders) website for help at rarediseases.org.⁷

There is a new company from Mark Cuban that I have just discovered while writing this article, and it sounds very promising. It is called Cost Plus Drug Company. The website states that “We started Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company because every American should have access to safe, affordable medicines. ” If you go to the website and type in the medicine that you are looking for or the illness that you have, it will give you a price list for the medications. It will give you the price without insurance and then will list their price.⁸

There are quite a few other drugs that people with COPD use and websites that I haven't mentioned.

If you look up the drug company's website, you can usually find a link for patient assistance there. I hope this has been helpful to those of you who are struggling.

Other options are to see if your doctor has any free samples available and to talk to your nurse for help with drug company applications. Most nurses will help you with anything that you need.

What have you found to be helpful? I’d love to hear your feedback.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The COPD.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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Bixd Member
 Hello, Jackie English. I can really relate to this article, because I am 75 and lived most of my adult life without insurance -- it is not something that comes with being a free lance writer and a musician. I was diagnosed with COPD in 2010 and in 2012 suffered two pulimory embolism -- after that was I was prescribed several of the medications your list -- but you should check on this: all of those were designed to treat Asthma. I did take the first two and they were expensive -- fortunately at that point in time, I was out of the United States and had excellent international health insurance because of my employment (out of country). Since returning to the states, I have been on Stiolto Respimant -- and that may soon change because of finances and there is no way I could possibly afford the retail price on that. Still, I have to say the three things that have helped me most are 1) developing a strict regime of moderate exercise -- which include ten minute walks even though getting vertical always make my numbers go screwy; 2) doing twice daily breathing exercise -- the ones I do are CO2 tolerance training -- which has improved my numbers over all, and 3) having the support of a loving spouse. There is another point I need to make. While I appreciate your article, one of the items not mentioned is that our "Medical system" is so labrynthed that when you go to a provider or a facility, they cannot speak about cost of procedures or pharmaceuticals, simply because they don't know -- as a result we get "clip board" medicine, not individualized care. I thank you again for the article. 
1. Jackie English Moderator & Contributor
 Hi <inline-mention username="Bixd" user-id="4541955"/>! Sorry to hear that you didn't have insurance most of your adult life without insurance and about the embolism's. So true about the exercising and breathing exercises. They have helped me also. I only wished I would have started that sooner when I was first diagnosed. I hear you about the medical system. We have some great doctors out there but also just as many who are not. Thank you for sharing with us! Best, Jackie (Author/Moderator)
lyndaleeh Member
The meds are expensive. I paid $600 for a 3 month supply of QVAR inhaler. This was because of my deductible. I get my meds on line and they send them out Automatically. A month later my New Pulmonary doctor 2022 ( I hadn't seen one since diagnose in 2011) nor needed to , changed it ). I now have these QVAR inhalers that I cant even give away. It seems like such a waste when it can be doing good for someone else. 
1. Jackie English Moderator & Contributor
 So sorry to hear this <inline-mention username="lyndaleeh" user-id="4524531"/>! I'll keep an eye out for anyplace who might take this as a donation. Was the Qvar helping you? If so maybe you could use it up and then start the new stuff that your new Dr. prescribed. Thank you for sharing! Best, Jackie (Author/Moderator)
chacha Member
When I started on Medicare, my doctor switched my meds to nebulizer inhalants. Medicare Part B covers 80% of the cost, and my Medicare supplement picks up the balance.
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 <inline-mention username="chacha" user-id="2413458"/> Hi chacha, and thanks for sharing the success you're having with insurance coverage for your medication. This type of feedback is invaluable for our community. Enjoy the weekend! Leon (site moderator <a href='http://COPD.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>)
2. Jackie English Moderator & Contributor
 Hi , chacha! I'm so glad to hear that this is covered for you. 😊 Thank you for sharing! Best, Jackie (Author/Moderator)

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