Albuterol and no insurance

S

S h [A] h X e B

New member
I'm asking this on a friend's behalf...my friend recently graduated college and, therefore, is no longer on his mother's insurance. He also doesn't have his own yet, and he also has asthma and one lung.

His last albuterol inhaler recently ran out, and he desperately needs more. He has no doctor right now, and he really doesn't want to have to pay thousands of dollars to go to the ER for a $5 generic inhaler, which he will likely need to do if he cannot breathe at all.

Does he have any legal options in terms of how to get his medication? He's stopped taking his long-term medication (Flonase, or Allegra...I forget which), but he needs the inhalers for the rare occasions his asthma does flare up.
 
has he checked at all just what the generic prices would be at like k mart or other stores with pharmacies that have the 4.00 generic med program? this is by no means a new medication and has been around for quite some time. it could be one of those 4.00 ones. all he needs to do is check aroud and call a few places. but he does need to obtain that rx from some form of doc(or nurse practitioner or PA) first. that may cost him,but the med itself should not be a huge amount to obtain thru one of those generic programs that are just out there right now.

if for some reason,that does not work for him(but it should) have him contact the manufacturer directly,they do have their own drug programs for peole who cannot afford the needed meds they have to have. just some suggestions for him. hopefully something will work for him. please let me know how things go. FB
 
I'm not sure what state you are in. Some states have some basic insurance for low income adults. You might check your state health department website. Also, there are often clinics in many cities that use sliding scales for patients and prescriptions. It typically takes a long wait to get in, but it is certainly better than going without.

I'd try hard to get the Albuterol before the end of the month. Beginning January 1, they are making it illegal for pharmacies to sell the traditional generic CFC Albuterol. The new dry powder inhalers aren't generic. Because they are "new" in their delivery system. It's going to cost us all a lot more in January.

I wish you and your friend luck.
 
My doctor is friendly and he just gives me samples of inhalers. He could just ask for a sample at his doctor that he used to go to with insurance and not mention anything about insurance. that's just a short term solution of course, but being stuck with an asthma attack and no inhaler is horrifying.. especially if he only has 1 lung.
 
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