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I need my medication!

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Before it gets too late, make an appt. and speak to a social worker and ask why you were dropped. If its due to being over income, ask that it be redone and if there could be a chance you could be put under a different program. You may be eligible for the spend down. You pay a certain amount each month,and only pay for the month you need it. It will always be there. If you missed the deadline to reapply, turn it in and wait . Turn in all the necessary paperwork,pay stubs, bills etc. to not delay your application from being processed.
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The OP has not responded to any of the posts. I have a feeling she was looking for more than just our recommendations. I think at this point, we can stop posting.
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There are several things you can do.  First contact HHS and find out what happened.  Medicaid is based solely on income and assets, if you had a change or they found something that wasn't reported that would do it.  Make sure your case is up to date.  You only have a limited time to respond to requests for your annual re-application.  If you don't get the info in on time your case closes.

You should have a Medicare Part D plan for medications if you were on Medicaid.  That will help a lot.  There will still be copays.  Make sure that you apply for the low income subsidy at the Social Security Office.  If you qualify that can help with Part D premiums and decrease your deductibles.

You can look up the company that makes your meds and go to their website. Often they have (PAP) Patient Assistance Programs directly from the manufacturer that can significantly impact the cost of your meds.

There are Med cards that you can also use that will give you some discount.  Talk to you Pharmacist.

Your doctor may also be able to help out with samples.  But, you have to ask.

There are a few things you can do to help.  Good Luck.
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You should talk to whatever professional resources you may have available to you. You could start at your doctor's office - there's sometimes a social worker within the healthcare system who may be able to help you.
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The only thing I can think of is to find out why you lost your medicaid and to find out what resources are available for either free or low cost medications. Most pharmaceutical companies have prescription assistance programs but you need documentation up the wazoo to qualify. Income taxes, as well as signed forms from the prescriber, etc. In my city there are a few resources that are pretty much secret unless you go to municipal agencies that will tell you that if you go to certain clinics for the indigent you can obtain free medications for the conditions they treat which may require presenting at several free clinics. When I was a college student, that was something I learned to be quite resourceful about just by talking to other students--but that was 100yrs. ago, and a different story anyway. Currently, there is a Walgreen's in my city that offers very low priced drugs for the uninsured. I can't afford insulin on my medicare part D, but it is a fraction of the price at Walgreens. The only glitch is that the prescribing physician must practice at a particular clinic in order to be eligible for this. My point is that I would never have known about any of these things if not for friends who had told me about them. I realize you're in an emergency situation so you may have to scour the resources in your city, post things on websites, craigslist, etc. in order to find out how to get free or affordable meds until you are in a position to find a more stable means of acquiring them.
For the record, I think this all sucks. My grandparents emigrated from a socialized country, where if I was currently a citizen, all of my medication would be free. I wish they had stayed where they were and that I lived there now. Living in the only major industrialized nation in the world that does not have socialized medicine is a national disgrace. I wish you the best of luck, my thoughts and prayers go out to you.
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JaeOhCFP Dec 2018
Greetings:
First, it doesn't appear that the original person on this thread is on Medicare, so the idea of Part D cannot exist. Perhaps I have missed something on the many answers/responses in this regard.
For you specifically, please know that certain Medicare Advantage plans have aggressively used the CMS per diem towards Rx. I have seen a specific type of insulin be categorized as a Tier 2 medication, which has $0 copay if via mail order. This is not a misprint, $0 for insulin, an very high-profile, expensive medication that applies to many diabetics.
Best,
Jae
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WorriedinCali: I see that now. Thank you.
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Where does it say that MJP1958 was in an accident?
Oh, I see it now in her profile.
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worriedinCali Dec 2018
its on their profile
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Find out from Medicaid.gov the reasoning behind why they dropped you~i.e. over the financial limit, et al.
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Dear JoAnn29: Your reasoning is logical, ethical, and, one would think, correct. But Medicaid “thinks” otherwise. We can say “thinks,” because what they don’t do is “feel.” Three weeks after I was dumped without written notice, I spoke to a kindly Medicaid representative in person. I told her that, thanks to Medicaid, I was both uninsured and uninsurable. “How is it you’re uninsurable?” she wanted to know. “Because I have no letter saying Medicaid has terminated coverage, so no other insurance carrier will touch me.” She said I should have received notice of termination, and I said she was right, I SHOULD have received such, but never did. The September letter inviting the insured to reapply and the October reminder letter merely threaten that coverage WILL BE terminated if … The representative was unable to believe no written confirmation reached me, so she checked. “I see we didn’t send you notice of coverage termination,” she said, whereupon she promptly printed one and gave it to me. Three weeks LATER—six weeks after termination—Medicaid’s letter finally arrived. By then, I had already been hunting for coverage for three weeks. What’s an abandoned insured supposed to do for coverage in those intervening weeks and months, before any coverage elsewhere—if you can get it—can begin? That question doesn’t much concern the good folks at Medicaid.
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JoAnn29 Dec 2018
So sorry. I live in a small area. Maybe our office has less people to deal with and can keep up better.
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They could drop you if you got a settlement from an accident!
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Contact the manufacturers of the meds you take. They all have programs to help people who cannot afford their medications. Government is always the most expensive and least helpful solution for any problem. The reasons costs are so high now is due to government getting involved in the first place.
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I don't have the time right now to read through each response but have you called your Social Worker or the Medicaid office? They have to inform you of all decisions and judgements about you.

As for medications, go back to your doctor's office, explain the situation and ask if they have samples from the drug reps. Often drug companies will give small bottles or packs of the medicine they manufacture to give away so the doctor will prescribe their product.
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You could pay for it?
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JoAnn29 Dec 2018
If she is on Medicaid, she may not be able to afford it.
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see a lawyer..now if you got married...get a divorce. Household income can get your coverage dropped. i know someone who divorced to get Medicaid.
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motherofdreams Dec 2018
Now that is just wrong. Get a divorce to get medicaid. I work with someone who only works pt time so she doesn't lose her snap. I hate when people abuse the system.
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Contact the people at healthcare.gov or 1-800-318-2596 IMMEDIATELY. Assuming you are under 65, if you were dropped from medicaid because you have too high an income you may be able to get an insurance policy where the government pays the entire or most of the premium. There are cost savings possibly on deductible, and out of pocket maximim. This is why the affordable care act, aka obamacare, is so important. Everything depends on why you were dropped and the state you live in.
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Isthisrealyreal Dec 2018
Don't you mean the taxpayers can pay it? The government only manages the taxpayers money.
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MJP1958 is like 60, so likely on whatever community Medicaid program her state has requirements for low income Medicaid. She’s not on MediCARE, not an elderly parent in or needing AL or NH.

I’m guessing that Medicaid was dropped or suspended because there’s something going on from the auto accident.

If a hospitalization or health care was needed due to an auto accident and auto insurance paid towards care or a lawsuit was filed or a settlement paid, Medicaid needed to be informed. It’s now well over 6 mos, so payments have surfaced causing ineligibility.

For MediCARE there is now (like in 2010) a required “secondary payor notification act” and most states Medicaid follow what Medicare does for this as well. (Through CMS - Centers for MediCARE and medicaid- the services and payment history is just keystrokes to surface) So due to Secondary Payor Act, if her state does this and if Medicaid paid for care and later on state finds out that MJPs auto insurance did a copay to her or she filed a lawsuit or got a settlement from a lawsuit, then Medicaid must be reimbursement to the penny what they paid initially. If not, they are suspended or ineligible.

A better tort attorney would place the settlement into an escrow like account to use to pay any outstanding claims against the settlement and hold fund for a period of time. Like repay Medicaid what Medicaid paid for. $ left then becomes income month paid to MJP and then an asset the months after. $ could take her over her strict low income eligibility for Medicaid.

MJP if there was insurance claim or lawsuit you need to contact your atty or auto insurance to figure out what they paid & what you owe Medicaid. ASAP.

If this is due to Secondary Payor Act, a state can dog it down if they want to. There was a post on Secondary last year from an ex wife, the exhubs got 6 figure $ settlement from car crash. He was on MediCARE and daughter (with mental & dependency issues) was POA. Major hospitalization then into a NH & onto Medicaid, sounded quadriplegic situation. The settlement $ surfaced. Daughter MIA. State appointed guardian for father was looking for daughter & contacted the mom as to daughters whereabouts, as mom was prior address. Mom had to fill out a form as to her knowledge or lack of on daughters addresses. As they were divorced, she couldn’t be held financially responsible. Daughter in her 40’s was sadly decades of issues.
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Why were you dropped? They don't drop a person for no reason. They either found income you didn't report, assets you didn't report, etc. Before ur question can be answered the reason for why they dropped you needs answered as this will determine what is out there to help you.
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Medicaid is such a joke! I had a hysterectomy 12 years ago due to fibroids; the doctors were going to do another D & C, and those fibroids were so big, the only way to remove them was to have a hysterectomy. I had it, all went well, and the only thing I had to worry about in the hospital was use of the telephone, that was $10.00 which was pocket change. The hospital that I was operated in thought that my Medicaid was a joke! The US of A should follow Canada's example and become a socialized nation. At times I think the US of A is a joke!
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SueC1957 Dec 2018
Cak2135,
Hey, it's OK to do a comparison of government sponsored healthcare but please leave nasty remarks about ANY country OUT of the post.
Really, what good does your sad opinion about the USA offer?
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You probably have too much money for Medicaid.... They look back 5 years....find an elder care lawyer and ask for help....
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anonymous840695 Dec 2018
I have a friend who became eligible for Medicaid about five years ago. At the time he had very little income and no savings ever. He now works full time, and has inherited an annuity that pays him $25,000 a year in income which he inherited and also has inherited a great deal of cash. He notified Medicaid both verbally and in writing of the changes in his status and yet still receives Medicaid which pays for all of his healthcare and medications. He is only in his 50's. For the life of me, I cannot understand how this works. I always thought it was hell to become eligible for Medicaid, but once you had it, that was it no one cared if your circumstances changed. I must admit I am baffled.
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First question: where do you live (just zip code) and what is your age? There are additional rx benefit resources.
Thanks
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CostCo may not always be the lowest-price source for your prescription medications, though often they are. 

Start by subscribing to an email newsletter from Good Rx (https://www.goodrx.com). Enter your medications and respective dosages; they'll show you a comparison among five area pharmacies offering the lowest prices.

I recently applied to Rx Outreach (https://rxoutreach.org/patients/), an online pharmacy. Their application is super simple, not labor intensive. Just add your credit card data, take the application to your doctor, and your doctor will write a prescription for 90- to 180-day supplies and submit it to Rx Outreach. They will be sending several of my prescription medications at considerably lower prices, either to me here at home or, in one case, to my doctor's office for pickup.

Visit Needy Meds online (https://www.needymeds.org). They are a fantastic, comprehensive source of Patient Assistance Program applications. They directed me to the manufacturer of my most-expensive prescription medication. That pharmaceutical company's application was nine pages long and more than moderately labor intensive. Your doctor will have to complete one of the pages and sign another. It's been two weeks since I submitted my application to the pharmaceutical company for financial consideration, and I have heard nothing from them; so I plan to place a follow-up call this week, to see where things stand.

Allergan (https://www.allergan.com/responsibility/patient-resources/patient-assistance-programs) is another valuable source for finding help for some of your harder-to-find prescription medications. Like Needy Meds, mentioned above, they directed me to the manufacturer—this time, of my most-expensive antidepressant. I downloaded and completed their application (a bit labor-intensive), submitted it, and am waiting to hear from the pharmaceutical company.

My ten months with Medicaid were an ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE. They are a bunch of highly-skilled coverage deniers who seem to relish what they do. Between them and my insurance carrier (Amerigroup), I truly don’t know which is worse. I had to contact Amerigroup countless times by phone, for their intervention. I had to submit appeals for THREE denials of prescription medication coverage. One of them escalated all the way to the highest of heights, to an internal hearing and to an independent external fair hearing. Just coincidence? Shortly after the hearing ordered Amerigroup to cover the medication that had been in dispute for eight months—EIGHT MONTHS!—Medicaid dropped me. No warning, nothing. I went to my pharmacy to pick up prescription refills, and the cashier informed me I was no longer covered. After I called my insurance carrier, only then did I find out WHEN Medicaid had dropped me, but they couldn't tell me why. I am seeking advice now about the most effective way to mount an official investigation into both Amerigroup and Medicaid for what seemed to me to be highly arbitrary, heavy-handed, unscrupulous and even DANGEROUS business practices that show little regard to the very ones they are charged by our government to serve and assist. Phooey on Medicaid!

I wish you all the success possible. Unfortunately, Medicaid doesn't make things easier for those of us who need it. Though being dumped by them will increase the legwork you'll need to do for a while, you may ultimately end up with a much better deal from these various entities mentioned above. Let’s hope so anyway.
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nature73 Dec 2018
If you have the energy, contact your state department of insurance & speak to someone in the customer service dept. They may be able to help.
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MJP is not responding.

MJP, please get back to us with what you have found out. 😊
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You can get lower priced drugs through GoodRX.
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Ricky6 Dec 2018
I have used GoodRx.com. They have prescription discounts and do not require any registration. Just select your drug and pharmacy and print or call in discount coupon details to the pharmacy.
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If you really are dropped... get a $99.00 premium Sam's Club Membership. The medication without insurance is sometimes cheaper than with insurance. Some generic medications are free. If there is no Sam's Club near, check out Costco, & Walgreen's to see what they offer for people without insurance. Good luck.
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Contact your Caseworker who is Handling your Medicaid and Go in and Find out what this is All About.
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Parise Dec 2018
Start with Your Caseworker who is Handling this. Medicaid will Not be Helpful until you Start from the Source who is Handling Your Case.
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If you were dropped, you either missed a renewal deadline, a filling deadline, or were deemed as having too much income or assets. You need to contact Medicaid directly to get it sorted out. If your medication contains narcotics, such as opioids, physicians are not allowed to give out free samples of them by law. In fact, the drug reps who visit the offices are forbidden to supply them with samples of narcotic drugs - so the physicians would never have any on hand to give.
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Did they tell you why you were dropped from the system? Depending on the state you live in they can NOT just drop you without a valid reason and notice. Did you call them too find out the heck is going on. I would definitely be on the phone trying to figure it out. Medicade isn’t allowed to drop anyone without a valid reason. Did you maybe forgot to send in some paperwork that they needed to update your account? I am just trying to think of anything that could help you. I hope you can call them and get this fixed. I am trying my to think about anything they could have sent you, check it. Maybe a simple signature was missing??
Call them and ask them as too why this happened.
I really hope you can get everything straightened out. I am sort of in the same situation with the exception of waiting for SSID too make a decision to keep my benefits. I am going through a review. So I completely understand what you are going through.
Call them and don’t give up until you get your benefits back!
Best of luck to you.
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MJP, First let me say I am sorry for your stress and situation. I get it. Here in NC the Medicaid process and recertifications are very strict and inflexible. So missing dates or late paperwork cause major issues quickly.

I have two medically fragile children and am disabled myself. I deal with Medicaid constantly and have for over 15 years. Beyond that I had to deal with the business side of it as a practice manager. The whole system is chaos. So "glitches" are all too common.

Adult Medicaid in NC is generally alloted in 6 month blocks. For children 15 and under its 1 year. Typically 60 days before the last day of coverage a letter is sent. Some workers will send a second letter if they get no response but not all. I have made it a practice to mark my calendar for when I anticipate paperwork and call when I do not see it timely. I have had mail go into the wrong mailbox, but addressed properly, all the way to Medicaid mailing letters to an address 5 years old that had not been used a single time up to that one letter. So the margin of error is huge.

1st, lets get those meds asap. You have a few options but like another poster suggested, the quickest most immediate one is to see if your doctor has samples they can provide. Sometimes they even have vouchers that will give you one month supply while things are worked out. If they don't inquire if his/her practice employs a social worker. If they do, that can give you a jump start. DHHS tends to sit up and listen when a medical social worker calls.

If the medications are mental health based, hopefully you have access to a mental health walk-in clinic that may have the ability to provide emergency meds. Even your pharmacist may have some resources for you. In fact my pharmacist will give me an emergency supply, (usually 7 -10 days) while the insurance issue gets resolved. As long as a valid prescription exist, they may be able to help a small portion especially for critical ones for mental health, heart conditions, diabetes etc.

Not all retail pharmacy locations allow this, so having a good relationship with a pharmacy manager helps. Its why I always advocate to avoid jumping from pharmacy to pharmacy. Now don't be surprised if they say no. Medicaid paid claims are a a touchy matter, as Medicaid pays them "very slowly", to begin with.

Regardless of what type of Medicaid you had, or how you qualified, the quickest solution if a phone call doesn't fix it, is to physically go into your local Department of Social Services office. Aside from an accidental "hold placement" on your active status, the dreaded visit is best. If you are still able to appeal the discontinued service, do so. There is a deadline for that as well. If you have missed it, you are starting from the beginning sorry to say.

If you have access, try to download the necessary forms and take them with you. They will also have listed the information that will help you qualify. I have learned this process to near perfection due to a continuous need for it. but that doesn't mean I haven't been in your shoes. It happens.

Hey maybe this will make you smile. This year I finally qualified for adult Medicaid on top of my Medicare. I was thrilled as I have been in desperate need of dental work. With sick kids I was unable to get to it until close to the end of the 6 month coverage. The day of my appointment I got a letter saying the decision had been reversed. I never saw a single notice asking for information. It came out of the blue. I knew it was bull because my award letter was from June 1, 2018 to October 31, 2018. The reversal letter said the benefits were "retro-reversed" back to April. Now how can the take away a benefit that was not even awarded yet. That was the states way of making sure any claims that occurred back in June did not have to get paid at all. Instead they automatically placed me back to Medicare premium coverage only.

Hang in there. -Pamela J
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Were you correctly dropped? If you understand why and it was correct, then talk to your prescribing physician about what to do. Free samples? Arrangements for discounts from the drug manufacturer? But be sure you were correctly dropped first.
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MJP, hope you took the advice to call your local Medicaid office. There is a glitch somewhere that can be taken care of. Please, get back to us on what happened. It may help others.
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