Future medicare treatment cost

Casodex (bicalutimide) is cheap, not really an issue..Lupron, an old drug that should be available as a generic (but it's not) just jacked up the price from $2000 to $3000 for the 6 month shot..But since it's administered in a doctors office the billing is handled differently than if you purchased it in a pharmacy.

Congress must allow Medicare to negotiate drug costs and drug patent extensions should not be allowed in most cases. Perhaps the time a monopoly granted by a patent provides should be reduced. Drug companies do not rate their drugs by how effective they are but by how much money they can make off them..

I would read these Medicare supplement plans very carefully..The plan cost frequently exceeds any benefit they pay..Insurance companies are not in business to pay your bills..They are in business to make money....Ask to see their "Formulary List" , a list of the drugs they will reimburse you for. I think you will find the really expensive cancer drugs are absent from the list..They are all in "Tier 5" and are priced on an individual basis..It takes a Medical Accountant to keep track of all this stuff....

I have supplement F. If medicare pays, it pays. I never have copay, have never had to pay any Dr or Hospital. Covers no drugs. Cost to me is about 165 a month.

Drug Coverage, which is open enrollment right now, appears to function almost like a discounted plan. Thought I would get some, now that I look into it may not be worth it.

Lifguyd

I am on Medicare with a Plan G supplement and Part D prescription plan. The three month Eligard shot is given at the MO's office and medicare and the supplemental pay for all of it. The bicalutimide (Casodex) was just a generic drug with the Part D and was fairly inexpensive. I think mine was $4.00 after the deductible is paid for the year.

If I would do it over, I would get the Plan F Supplement policy.

Medicare has paid for all of my treatments without any problems.

Good luck

Carl

Regular Medicare part b covers approved outpatient treatments and injections given by Doctor at a reimbursement rate that doctors accept but Medicare pays only 80% of that amount, so you need a private medigap plan to cover the remaining 20%. For example if a procedure is billed by the doctor at say $1000, Medicare's reimbursement for that may be $200 so Medicare pays 80% or $160 and medigap pays the other $40. Medigap Plan F had no deductible but premium is higher. Plan G had a small annual deductible (only $147 increasing to $166 in 2016) but monthly premium is lower. All medigap plans have equal coverage but premiums vary so shop around. Prescription drugs are covered under Medicare part D and many plans are available and open enrollment is now. I have not paid anything except my premiums and the tiny $147 part B annual deductible for all my PCa treatments and injections under Medicare part A and B, and I've had tons of treatments and meds. There IS a co pay for prescription meds depending on which tier the med is in under Medicare part D but there is a maximum out of pocket cost annually. You need to shop around for the best plan for you based on where you live and the drugs you are taking.
Medicare and medigap are awesome!
Bob