Balsalazide price, UC generics in general

Good morning all,

Occasional poster, long-time reader. My family recently moved to VT, and I made a big mistake and chose the wrong health plan during the sign-up period last November through the health connector here. All my fault, so I'm kicking myself now (I'm college educated, but the spreadsheets comparing all of the plans were so confusing...). We can't change it until November (or try to do a fair hearing, which I'm told would take months anyways). We have a 4K deductible and $1200 on prescriptions.

I was on Asacol HD since I was first diagnosed in 2012. But of course it's crazy expensive out of pocket. My new PCP here (awful), changed me to Apriso (I needed something I could afford until I saw a new gastro), which I thought was affordable... with the savings card from the Apriso company it was free. Of course I later realized myself, and confirmed with my new gastro - that I was only getting 25% of the standard maintenance dose (I was doing 1 pill/day). So then we were looking at $300+/month for Apriso. Not going to happen. I looked up balsalazide, and my new gastro gave me a script for that... but even using that as a generic, will cost us $165/month (she has me on 3 capsules 3x/day). We're middle income people, but we are really having problems affording this. Of course once we meet the deductible (which would be just about when we sign up for next year's plan!), it's paid for. But it's almost as much as my car payment, which seems a lot for a generic!

My question - can I get this from a reputable Canadian pharmacy? Would it even cost less since it's a generic and not a brand name? Has anyone done this before? We have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont (a silver level plan), and even using their mail order through Express scripts, I'd only save $2/month using that. Are there any more affordable generics?

(I'm really regretting leaving Massachusetts, because the health plans were more affordable there. Only two companies offer insurance here, and in Massachusetts there were five or more. Even with a better health plan here, if I was on a brand name drug I'd be paying 40% of the cost --which we all know is a lot for Asacol, if I was still on that. Also not reassuring that my new gastro, who commutes to the area from NYC every week, said she's "never live here"...).

I know I can't stop taking my medicine, I just can't believe there aren't more affordable generics for UC.

Thank you for listening, and I appreciate any info you can provide.

coasting into November is your best hope.

If your symptoms are reasonably managed, you can try a maintenance dose of mesalamine, and eat low residue,except for maybe oat bran to help mucosal healing. you could take some circumin for its anti-inflammatory effects.

... and a probiotic mix that makes you feel good

I don't know where I would get meds w/o insurance. The cash price around her is about $1000/mo for 3-4g a day.

We traded our two cars in for one inexpensive car, one payment, lower insurance.
We bought an antenna and disconnected DirecTV.

That almost covers my copays and deductibles. Between drugs, labs and doctors.

My husband works for Ingersoll Rand. But, insurance just isn't enough.

The Ulcerative Colitis Resources link at the top of the UC page have Patient Assistance Programs that have been a godsend.
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1666318

Looks like 2000mgs per day for maintenance. To attain remission it's 3,000-4,000 mgs per day.

Source: www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/sulfasalazine-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20066179