Migraine insurance Issues
March 21st 2008 02:17
By Farrah Reyna - Anchor 6 & 10 Alexandrea,LA
Vince Sherry-Medstar Source www.kalb.com
February 28 2008
Doctors counsel migraine patients to take medication at the on-set of a headache, as a way to head off the attack. But some patients wait because they’re afraid they will run out of medication before their insurance allows a refill. But a recent study to determine how big of an issue this is.
Sandy Moonier is an ace sandwich maker, a mom and a nurse. But she’s often sidelined by migraines. She said, “It’s almost like it exhausts you. I find that after I have my migraines, it’s almost like it just tires you out.” Sandy is supposed to take Triptan medication when she feels a migraine coming on. But insurance limits her to 12 pills a month, and that poses a problem.
She said, “You kind of sit there and think, ‘Okay, should I take one?’ or ‘How many do I have left?’ and that’s really what regulates whether or not, makes a decision, the deciding factor, whether or not you’re gonna take one or not.”
Headache doctors at Saint Louis University School of Medicine often heard these complaints.
Doctor Robert Nicholson said, “They noticed that a lot of their patients came in talking about the frustrations they have in trying to make this decision.”
So Doctor Nicholson headed a study to find out how outside factors, like insurance, affect the use of preventive medications. He said, “If people had either perceived insurance limitations, cost limitations, or both, only half of those people actually took their Triptans as prescribed.”
Sandy said, “It’s basically, you’re rationing your medication because you just never know, when is ‘The Big One’?”
Hospitals were the safety net when patients ran out of medication before the next allowed refill.
Doctor Nicholson said, “About a-third of those people, so 1 of every 3 people, were going to the ER in the past 12 months just for their headaches.”
Sandy tries to treat her migraines early, even at the risk of running out of medication. It’s a pro-active approach that helps her enjoy her family without limitations.
According to the study, more than 40 percent of patients said their quality of life was adversely affected when insurance limited the number of Triptan pills they could use in a month. Doctor Nicholson says his medical colleagues still recommend that patients use their Triptans at the earliest signs of a migraine, because those who do ultimately feel more in control of their condition.
FAST FACTS:
29.5 million Americans experience migraines.
Migraine costs this country about $14 billion annually in treatment and lost work time.
Prescription medications, called Triptans, are very effective in treating migraine, but must be taken at the first sign of a migraine.
42 percent of migraine patients say their health insurer limits the number of Triptans covered per month.
Roughly 37 percent of patients don’t fill their Triptan prescriptions because they are unable to pay for the medication.
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This is an excellent article.It does point out the problem of running out of meds you need that could avoid an ER Trip.Which of course, most er's don't want to see a migraineur there because you just take up space for real patients.In the long run,it also costs the insurance company due to er trips.
Now,even with insurance theses meds are very expensive.Without insurance, who can afford it unless a clinic,or doctor will give you some samples.Which,being uninsured,you really want to stretch meds.
I can't beleive that in this country,there is no health plan to cover all.It can and needs to be done.You've got millions of people with all sorts of illness' suffering,doing without healthcare needlessly.To me,it's an outrage.
But this article shows,even with insurance as it's set up now,people are paying all those premiums,and still have to suffer.
Vince Sherry-Medstar Source www.kalb.com
February 28 2008
Doctors counsel migraine patients to take medication at the on-set of a headache, as a way to head off the attack. But some patients wait because they’re afraid they will run out of medication before their insurance allows a refill. But a recent study to determine how big of an issue this is.
Sandy Moonier is an ace sandwich maker, a mom and a nurse. But she’s often sidelined by migraines. She said, “It’s almost like it exhausts you. I find that after I have my migraines, it’s almost like it just tires you out.” Sandy is supposed to take Triptan medication when she feels a migraine coming on. But insurance limits her to 12 pills a month, and that poses a problem.
She said, “You kind of sit there and think, ‘Okay, should I take one?’ or ‘How many do I have left?’ and that’s really what regulates whether or not, makes a decision, the deciding factor, whether or not you’re gonna take one or not.”
Headache doctors at Saint Louis University School of Medicine often heard these complaints.
Doctor Robert Nicholson said, “They noticed that a lot of their patients came in talking about the frustrations they have in trying to make this decision.”
So Doctor Nicholson headed a study to find out how outside factors, like insurance, affect the use of preventive medications. He said, “If people had either perceived insurance limitations, cost limitations, or both, only half of those people actually took their Triptans as prescribed.”
Sandy said, “It’s basically, you’re rationing your medication because you just never know, when is ‘The Big One’?”
Hospitals were the safety net when patients ran out of medication before the next allowed refill.
Doctor Nicholson said, “About a-third of those people, so 1 of every 3 people, were going to the ER in the past 12 months just for their headaches.”
Sandy tries to treat her migraines early, even at the risk of running out of medication. It’s a pro-active approach that helps her enjoy her family without limitations.
According to the study, more than 40 percent of patients said their quality of life was adversely affected when insurance limited the number of Triptan pills they could use in a month. Doctor Nicholson says his medical colleagues still recommend that patients use their Triptans at the earliest signs of a migraine, because those who do ultimately feel more in control of their condition.
FAST FACTS:
29.5 million Americans experience migraines.
Migraine costs this country about $14 billion annually in treatment and lost work time.
Prescription medications, called Triptans, are very effective in treating migraine, but must be taken at the first sign of a migraine.
42 percent of migraine patients say their health insurer limits the number of Triptans covered per month.
Roughly 37 percent of patients don’t fill their Triptan prescriptions because they are unable to pay for the medication.
***************************** ***************************** ***************************** ************************
This is an excellent article.It does point out the problem of running out of meds you need that could avoid an ER Trip.Which of course, most er's don't want to see a migraineur there because you just take up space for real patients.In the long run,it also costs the insurance company due to er trips.
Now,even with insurance theses meds are very expensive.Without insurance, who can afford it unless a clinic,or doctor will give you some samples.Which,being uninsured,you really want to stretch meds.
I can't beleive that in this country,there is no health plan to cover all.It can and needs to be done.You've got millions of people with all sorts of illness' suffering,doing without healthcare needlessly.To me,it's an outrage.
But this article shows,even with insurance as it's set up now,people are paying all those premiums,and still have to suffer.
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