After I had the blood clot in my left leg I was prescribed 100 mg per 1ml of Lovenox (Enoxaparin is the generic drug).  From what I’ve been told this drug is always an injection and must be picked up at a retail pharmacy, mail order is not allowed.  (If someone knows where to get it mail order please tell me!)

My first time filling the generic prescription I was covered under my Kaiser plan.  The 30-day supply cost to me was $15.  My insurance covered $1,214.90 of the total $1,229.90.

My second time filling the generic prescription I was covered under my husbands ODS plan.  The 30-day supply cost to me was $394.44.  My insurance covered $2,053.93 of the total $2,448.37.

I don’t know exactly how medical/dental/prescription insurance works.   From my point of view it is pretty messed up.  I worked for the City of Portland, Oregon and SW is at Nike, both large organizations who can offer comparable insurance.  We pay more out of pocket for the ODS plan than Kaiser.  Nike, SW’s employer, pays more for the ODS plan than City of Portland, Oregon did for Kaiser.  We have higher out of pocket expenses on the ODS plan than Kaiser.  Also, my ODS pharmacy is charged a much higher rate than Kaiser, for the same drugs.

Health care reform anyone?

I spent a hour today on the phone with the insurance company arguing about what my chemo drugs are going to cost me.  Days like this I miss going out on a run.  (Damn lung cancer for taking that away from me!) I’m settling for pull ups on the rock rings in the garage.