Discount
Prescription Drug Programs
According to the Medicare Rights Center, a typical
American over the age of 65 takes an average of 6 prescription
drugs. Medicare does not cover prescription drugs. For those senior
citizens who do not have prescription drug coverage, a number
of resources have been offered in recent months to guide Senior
Connections volunteers and librarians in helping others. They
are easy to find through web-links or interactive questionnaires,
however they are vastly underused. Our volunteers have not tried
them. We encourage coordinators to demonstrate these programs
to seniors and families.
1. In New York State, changes have made the Elderly
Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Program more accessible.
Who qualifies: Residents age 65 or older who
lack drug coverage or have inferior drug coverage
Income restrictions: Annual income must not exceed $35,000/individual,
$50,000/couple
The deal: EPIC is a cost-sharing program covering nearly all drugs;
those earning higher amounts pay more. Those earning less than
$20,000 a year ($26,000/couples) pay an annual fee between $8
and $300, depending on income and marital status. Those with higher
incomes pay an annual deductible ranging from $530 to $1,700,
depending on income and marital status. After paying the fee or
meeting the deductible, plan members make co-pays of $3 to $20,
depending on the prescription cost.
Cost to join: None
Brochures, enrollment forms and details are available to Senior
Connections Desks, (800) 332-3742
2. The Prescription Drug Assistance Programs section of Medicare.gov
provides information on public and private programs that offer
discounted or free medication, as well as Medicare health plans
that include prescription coverage. www.medicare.gov/Prescription/home.asp
3. The Medicare Rights Center http://www.medicarerights.org/
has put together a resource list of discount drug programs with
links to state, mail order and internet programs and discount
cards.
4. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers
of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading research-based
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Their website HelpingPatients.org,
http://www.helpingpatients.org/
is an interactive site for individuals families and doctors to
find patient assistant programs which offer free medications from
their member companies.
5. A national program – Volunteers in Health
Care (VIH) http://www.volunteersinhealthcare.org/home.htm
supported by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation – is a
resource for health care providers who want to organize volunteer-led
services for the uninsured. One service, called RX Assist, offers
assistance to health care providers in locating Federal, State,
Pharmaceutical, Veterans and other prescription discount programs
with useful comparison reports.
6. Multiple pharmaceutical companies
formed Together Rx, a program which provides varied savings on
more than 150 widely prescribed medicines, right at the pharmacy
counter. Brochures, enrollment forms and details are available
to Senior Connections Desks.
AARP Pharmacy Services offers MembersRX with more
than 53,000 pharmacies. Call 800-933-4327
7. Canadian Drug Suppliers
An estimated one million people purchase medications across the
border according to AARP. That number is growing because of high
medication needs and the drug prices are substantially lower in
Canada. Internet sites offer ordering ease and competition. U.S.
customs said it’s hard to enforce laws since this is a new
venue. It is against the law to import drugs of any kind into
the country. According to the FDA, they are not prosecuting, but
are warning buyers to beware. We are not aware of legal action
and know only what the media reports from the pharmaceutical companies,
and our conversations in libraries. There will be no formal endorsement
by Senior Connections, however, we do offer information, and express
concern and caution. AARP estimated in April that there are 80-90
websites offering drugs at lower Canadian prices. The following
have been referred to us as resources: medsforall.com,
PharmacyOnTheNet.com,
Canadianpharm.com.
Depression What
is Depression?
Depression is a serious mental illness. In contrast to the normal
emotional experiences of sadness, loss, or passing mood states,
depression is persistent and can interfere significantly with
an individual's ability to function.
What Are the Symptoms of Depression?
Symptoms of depression include persistent sad mood, loss interest
or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed, change in appetite
or weight, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, physical slowing
or agitation, energy loss, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate
guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating, and recurrent thoughts
of death or suicide. A diagnosis of unipolar major depression
(or major depressive disorder) is made if a person has five or
more of these symptoms and impairment in usual functioning nearly
every day during the same two-week period. Major depression often
begins between ages 15-30 or even earlier. Episodes typically
recur. An estimated 5.3 percent of American adults ages 18 to
54 suffer from unipolar major depression in a given year.
Some people
have a chronic but less severe form of depression, called dysthymia
(or dysthymic disorder), that is diagnosed when depressed mood
persists for at least two years and is accompanied by at least
two other symptoms of depression. An estimated 1.6 percent of
American adults ages 18 to 54 have dysthymia in a given year.
Many people with dysthymia also have major depressive episodes.
While unipolar major depression and dysthymia are the primary
forms of depression, a variety of other subtypes exist.
Depression
can be devastating to all areas of a person's everyday life, including
family relationships, friendships, and the ability to go to work
or go to school. Many people still believe that the emotional
symptoms caused by depression are "not real," and that
a person should be able to shake off the symptoms if only he or
she were trying hard enough. Because of these inaccurate beliefs,
people with depression either many not recognize that they have
a treatable disorder or may be discouraged from seeking or staying
on treatment because of feelings of shame and stigma. Too often,
untreated or inadequately treated depression leads to suicide.
Research has
shown that stress in the form of loss, especially death of close
family members or friends, may trigger major depression in vulnerable
individuals. In addition, research supports existence of a genetic
component to risk of depression.
What Treatments Are Available for Depression?
Antidepressant medications are widely used, effective treatments
for depression. Antidepressant drugs are known to influence the
functioning of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals used by brain
cells to communicate), primarily serotonin, norepinephrine, and
dopamine, known as monoamines. Older medications - tricyclic antidepressants
(TCAs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) - affect the activity
of all of these neurotransmitters simultaneously. Their disadvantage
is that they can be difficult to tolerate due to side effects
or, in the case of MAOIs, dietary and medication restrictions.
Newer medications, such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs), have fewer side effects than the older drugs, making
it easier for patients to adhere to treatment. Both generations
of medications are effective in relieving depression, although
some people will respond to one type of drug, but not another.
Medications that take entirely different approaches to treating
depression are now in development.
Psychotherapy is also effective for treating depression. Certain
types of psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and
interpersonal therapy (IPT), have been shown to be particularly
useful. More than 80 percent of people with depression improve
when they receive appropriate treatment with medication, psychotherapy,
or the combination.
Recently there
has been enormous interest in herbal remedies for various medical
conditions including depression. One herbal supplement, hypericum,
or St. John's wort, has been promoted as having antidepressant
properties. However, no carefully designed studies have determined
the antidepressant efficacy of this supplement. NIMH is currently
enrolling patients in a first large-scale, multi-site, controlled
study of St. John's wort conducted in the U.S. as a potential
treatment for depression.
Fact Sheets, Major Mental Disorders; Symptoms and Treatments
Mental Health:
A Report by the Surgeon General
Department of Health and Human Services
The entire 487 page report, Mental Health: A Report by the Surgeon
General is available
online. Chapter 5 is titled "Older Adults and Mental
Health."
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