Fucking COUGH MEDICINE off the Medicare Part B/D dispensary list?!? No, really.

[Systematic Chaos]

So I've had this cough for about a week which not only won't go away, but is slowly worsening. I can't sing or even get through an 8 word sentence without another jag coming on. Since I was seeing my primary doctor anyway, I told her about it a couple days ago and she sent a scrip for some prescription strength cough medicine to my local pharmacy.

My wife goes down just now to pick it up, and damned if Medicare won't cover it now. At all! And we sure as hell don't have the $50 to pay for it in cash.

They just can't stop finding ways to screw over the everyday person, can they? I don't even know what I'm going to do now, except use more of the dollar store stuff, which just barely helps with whatever I have.



On edit -- I'm going to include some good news in this post, now that I think of it.

Those of you who have followed the story of myself and my wife, Jeanette, will be happy to know that she's been out of the hospital, her wound is healing over very well, and her balance has not been affected to any great degree by the loss of her big toe. Her IV antibiotics are scheduled to stop in another couple of days.

[KT2000]

1. I had a cough

and found relief - at least for the night - with Robitussin DM extra strength. It is about $6 and worth it.

[Systematic Chaos]

2. The cheap stuff I'm using right now is a generic DM-type formula.

It's better than nothing. I should have had Jeanette check the price of DM formulas while in Walgreens, but I didn't think to.

Now that I'm thinking about it more and talking it over with my wife, we wouldn't be surprised if this is just my Part D provider being a bunch of twits. I'm using Humana right now. I may need to look into other options because they've pulled shit with my medications before, changing rules without warning and such.

[KT2000]

4. definitely push Humana

but if they don't come through - go with the brand. The one I mentioned is full strength and works. Don't drive on it though.

[Downwinder]

7. I dumped them several years ago. If you get

"extra help," you can change plans at any time.

[geomon666]

3. "Hurry up and die."

- Taro Aso, Japanese Finance Minister

[VanillaRhapsody]

5. I suffered alot of bronchitis over the years...here is my 2 cents of advice

sleep with a cool mist humidifier by your bed! Important....

Next...drink LOTS and LOTS of fluid....there is a reason Grandma always said so. Its because any mucus in the lining of your lungs thickens if you are dehydrated. If you are very well hydrated...it will be thin and easier to cough up. You should have as big a cup as you can find with water and a straw all day long. SERIOUSLY! This is even more true if you are on any cough meds at all!

Next is caffeine. Drink a cup of coffee it contains caffeine its a bronchodialator much like Theophylline which comes from cocoa beans....A bronchodilator is a substance that dilates the bronchi and bronchioles, decreasing resistance in the respiratory airway and increasing airflow to the lungs. Any hot liquids will help but coffee has this nice added benefit. In fact they will tell asthmatics to drink a cup of coffee in the absence of their medicine.

Also a nice hot bath and or a real steamy shower can help too...

Hope this helps

[davidpdx]

8. Humidifiers work wonders during the winter

We bought one shortly after we got married and use it most of the time during the winter. It seems to be the norm here in Korea. The air is so damn dry, very unlike where I grew up in Portland Oregon (god I miss that place). When my wife blows her nose in the morning it sounds like 40 elephants (ok, TMI I know).

[DesertFlower]

6. i just enrolled in medicare part D

through humana. they will not pay for carisaprodol (soma) which is a muscle relaxant. they want my doc to fill out a special form saying he's competent to prescribe this. WTF? i have no problem with my generic vicodin which is a narcotic. i've also been told they won't cover generic flexeril (another muscle relaxant). i asked humana "what is your problem with muscle relaxants"?

my step daughter found this coupon site http://www.goodrx.com/. her insurance wouldn't cover a drug that helps heartburn -- none of them. the drug cost $200 for a month supply. with the coupon she got it for $14.40.