| Starting in 2006, no plans that are qualified to work | | | | This will get you a year's worth of drugs, with only one |
| with a health savings account may cover prescription | | | | shipping fee.One company that has good prices is |
| drugs as an insured benefit until after the deductible is | | | | Save Now Discount Pharmacy. They have a 'no |
| met. So for HSA owners, one of your biggest health | | | | insurance' business model, and have been able to |
| expenses could be for prescription drugs. Here are | | | | reduce their prices by eliminating the cost of dealing |
| some ways to reduce those costs.GenericsA report | | | | with insurance companies. They also post prices online, |
| was published this week by Express Scripts Inc., a | | | | so it's easy to compare. Unfortunately, they are only |
| pharmacy benefit manager, indicating that increased | | | | licensed in 13 states at present, but they will apparently |
| use of generic drugs would save consumers $24 billion | | | | be expanding soon. You can check them out at |
| in 2005. Generic drugs cost an average of $60 less | | | | Prescription DrugsThe city of Boston, the city of San |
| per month, than brand name drugs.A report was | | | | Francisco, the state of Wisconsin, and the State of |
| published this week by Express Scripts Inc., a | | | | Minnesota all use a company called Total Pharmacy |
| pharmacy benefit manager, indicating that increased | | | | Care to give their citizens access to international |
| use of generic drugs would save consumers $24 billion | | | | mail-order pharmaceuticals.Officially, re-importation of |
| in 2005. Generic drugs cost an average of $60 less | | | | prescription drugs by anyone other than the drug's |
| per month, than brand name drugs.It is important to | | | | manufacturer is a violation of federal law. But FDA |
| understand that brand name drugs often have little or | | | | enforcement guidelines allow agents to exercise |
| no benefit over older generic versions. A prime | | | | discretion for drugs imported for personal use. |
| example is Prilosec, a heartburn medication whose | | | | According to the guidelines, "FDA personnel may |
| patent was scheduled to expire in April of 2001. | | | | consider a more permissive policy" in cases where an |
| Prilosec consists of two "isomers", a right-hand version | | | | individual seeks to import no more than a three month |
| and a left hand version. Studies showed an 87% | | | | supply of a product that does not appear to pose an |
| success rate for this drug. AstraZeneca, the | | | | unreasonable risk, if the individual affirms in writing that |
| manufacturer, decided to offer a newly patented single | | | | it is for personal use and provides the name and |
| isomer version called Nexium, which showed only | | | | address of the U.S. doctor supervising their |
| fractionally better results with a 90% success rate.A | | | | treatment.Advocacy groups cite these guidelines as |
| $500 million marketing campaign ensued, aimed at both | | | | proof that re-importation is legal. But in a February |
| physicians and consumers, to convince them that | | | | 2003 letter, the FDA's Associate Commissioner, |
| Nexium is "state-of-the-art". AstraZeneca now sells | | | | Thomas Hubbard, said the guidelines have been |
| over $3 billion worth of pills annually, at $120 per box. | | | | misinterpreted. They were meant to allow FDA agents |
| This is a drug that is essentially only a repackaged | | | | discretion in allowing U.S. citizens access to medicines |
| version Prilosec, which sells for about $20 per | | | | for serious conditions that were unavailable or hard to |
| box.When your doctor is prescribing a drug, make sure | | | | find in the states, not to allow international comparison |
| to ask him if there is any benefit to taking a brand | | | | price shopping.Nevertheless, thousands of U.S. citizens |
| name over a generic, and let it be known that you'll be | | | | have found they can save money by buying their |
| paying for the prescription out of your own | | | | drugs from outside the country. Drug price |
| pocket.Drug Discount ProgramsPharmaceutical prices | | | | comparisons from several countries (Canada is not |
| are a lot like hospital prices - very few people actually | | | | always the cheapest!) can be found at Keep in mind |
| pay the listed retail price. There are numerous drug | | | | that since this importation is technically illegal (though |
| discount cards available on the market, which provide | | | | rarely enforced), it may not be proper to use your |
| savings that average 15% to 40% below retail at | | | | HSA to pay for prescriptions purchased this way. Talk |
| participating pharmacies. Typically, most of the chain | | | | to your accountant if you decide to go this |
| pharmacies (CVS, Eckerd, Walmart, Kroger, Costco, | | | | route.Avoiding Prescription DrugsThe people who |
| etc.) participate in these plans.Many insurance | | | | spend the least on prescription drugs are those who |
| companies include discount cards as an additional | | | | rarely take them. The need to take an antibiotic for an |
| benefit that comes with their coverage. Because | | | | acute infection may seem fairly expensive, but it is |
| these cards are not considered to be insurance, they | | | | nothing compared to the cost of taking a medication |
| can be offered with an HSA-qualified plan. Insurance | | | | for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, by age 45 over |
| companies that provide Rx discount cards with their | | | | half of all Americans are on a regular prescription |
| HSA plans include American Medical Security, Anthem | | | | medication, and by age 65 nearly half are on three or |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield, Assurant, Golden Rule, Imerica, | | | | more prescriptions during any given month. Most of this |
| Unicare, and World. We also know of one HSA | | | | is entirely preventable.Some of the biggest selling drugs |
| administrator - - that provides a drug discount program | | | | are to treat elevated cholesterol, hypertension, and |
| to people who use them.Stand-alone drug discount | | | | acid reflux. A paper published this year in the American |
| plans are also available to anyone with access to the | | | | Journal of Clinical Nutrition entitled Origins and evolution |
| internet. We've found the average cost of these | | | | of the western diet: Health implications for the 21st |
| discount plans to be around $7 or $8 a month. HSA | | | | century, explains how these and other common health |
| for America has secured for its members (and | | | | issues did not exist for our hunter-gatherer ancestors, |
| readers of this newsletter) a free discount Rx card | | | | and how diet is the root cause of so many of the |
| through a company called Drug Card America. To | | | | health problems people in our culture experience.The |
| enroll online, simply visit: 9c22-d335be23527c}. You | | | | author is Dr. Loren Cordain, one of my professors at |
| may want this card in addition to any other cards, | | | | Colorado State University. In a nutshell, he shows why |
| since the card that offers the best deal usually varies, | | | | the healthiest diet is one based on fruits, vegetables, |
| depending on the drug.If you're looking for a plan that | | | | fish, and lean meat. Foods to be avoided or limited |
| has co-pays for prescription drugs rather than only | | | | include added sugars, shortening and other processed |
| discounts, American Health Care Options offers a | | | | vegetable oils, grains, and legumes. These are all foods |
| four-tiered prescription card program where you pay | | | | that did not exist in our diet prior to about 10,000 years |
| $10, $20, $50, or a special discount price for generic | | | | ago, and are thus foods that we are not genetically |
| and brand name drugs. You can check the tier of any | | | | adapted to eat.Remember that all qualified expenses, |
| drug you're interested in, and apply online at The cost | | | | including prescription drugs, can be paid for tax-free, |
| of this plan is $19.95 per month for an individual, or | | | | from your HSA. If you've still got a traditional health |
| $29.95 for a family.Mail OrderIf the need for a | | | | insurance policy and would like to investigate a health |
| prescription is not urgent, or if you are on long-term | | | | savings account, please visit us at HSA for America |
| medication, mail order is almost always a less | | | | and we'll be happy to help you.By Wiley P Long - |
| expensive way to buy prescription drugs. It is generally | | | | President, HSA for America. At HSA for America, we |
| cheaper to get a 90-day supply because of a volume | | | | makes it easy to learn about and set up health savings |
| discount. I recommend asking your physician to write | | | | accounts. |
| the prescription for a 3-monthly supply plus three refills. | | | | |