9 Ways to Save on Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Costs How to Get Help With RA Medications, Therapy and More

When you have a chronic disease like rheumatoid arthritis, treatment costs can add up fast. There are expensive medications, high-priced surgeries and multiple trips to the doctor. But women with rheumatoid arthritis don’t have to empty their purses. Find out how to save on the newest drugs, therapies, health insurance and more… Rheumatoid arthritis doesn’t just cause physical pain. It also can make a painful dent in your bank account. Treatments may include surgery, physical therapies and expensive medications – for example, cutting-edge biologics – that can add up to more than $2,000 a month, according to a July 2010 study by Consumer Reports magazine. Even with health insurance, you still may get hit with substantial out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles or other non-covered charges for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. “More than 40% of rheumatoid arthritis patients have difficulty paying for medical care,” says Fred Wolfe, M.D., former director of the National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases in Kansas and co-author of a 2006 study that examined the burden of out-of-pocket RA expenses on more than 8,000 patients. “Of those patients, 38% can’t afford cutting-edge biologic drugs because of high co-payments, and 7% decline surgery because of the cost,” Wolfe says. The financial struggle gets worse when severe symptoms force you to quit your job or trim hours, making you less able to pay for rheumatoid arthritis treatment costs. You could even lose employer-sponsored insurance coverage, Wolfe warns. Even middle-income women are at risk of not being able to afford rheumatoid arthritis treatment and medications. That’s because “they make too much money to qualify for many government and private programs, but not enough money for top-notch health insurance that picks up the majority of the tab,” says Martin Bergman, M.D., a Philadelphia-based rheumatologist. But fear not: You still can save on medical expenses. Read on to learn about strategies to minimize rheumatoid arthritis treatment costs, as well as federal, state and private-assistance programs to help with care you need to stay healthy. 1. Get diagnosed and treated early. “Getting treated early and aggressively is the best way to keep down costs, minimize debilitating symptoms that can happen down the line, and get you into remission,” says Stephen Soloway, M.D., a Vineland, N.J.-based rheumatologist and RA advocate. "If you have RA in the family, see a rheumatologist at least twice a year to get checked out – even if you don’t have any symptoms and feel great,” he says. Here’s why: An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging scan) can pick up any joint disease much earlier than an X-ray, and early diagnosis means fewer problems later. “Twenty years ago, a third of women with RA were crippled,” he says. “Today, thanks to early detection and biologics, very few end up in wheelchairs.” 2. Check out private organizations. Several nonprofit organizations can help you get free or reduced-cost rheumatoid arthritis treatment, medications and other therapeutics. Among them: NeedyMeds.org: The NeedyMeds drug discount card saves you 80% or more on prescription medicines. Needymeds.org is also a clearinghouse for info on federal- and state-sponsored health-insurance aid, private patient-assistance programs and plans that offer financial help for specific conditions such as RA. It also offers tips for saving money on rheumatoid arthritis medications, and provides a list of brand-name and generic drugs and patient-assistance programs that cover them. Aid is based on financial, medical and insurance status and other criteria. The HealthWell Foundation: HealthWell provides financial help for medical costs, prescription drug coinsurance, co-payments and deductibles for health-insurance premiums, as well as some out-of-pocket health-care costs. Financial aid is based on financial, medical and insurance status and other criteria. 3. Ask your physician for help. Your doctor may be able to help you afford costly rheumatoid arthritis treatment and medications, so don’t be afraid to ask. “Many physicians give free samples of medications, if you ask,” Soloway says. Your physician can also contact a pharmaceutical company on your behalf to request free or reduced-cost rheumatoid arthritis medications. Finally, don’t overlook your rheumatologist’s office manager. Many can help you fill out financial-aid applications, as well as make phone calls that speed up approval of assistance with copayments, or free or reduced-cost rheumatoid arthritis medications, Bergman says. 4. Get support from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA was established in 1990 to end discrimination in the workplace and provide equal opportunities for people with disabilities. The Chronic Disease Fund helps underinsured women with RA pay for the use of expensive specialty therapeutics. The Global Healthy Living Foundation, an advocacy organization for people with chronic illness, provides research updates, video presentations by experts and options for financial assistance. That includes contact information for public and private-assistance programs, grants and foundations. “If RA has made it difficult for you to do certain parts of your job, such as typing, filing or traveling, it’s extremely important that you tell your employer,” says Isadore Wendel, Ph.D., a Los Angeles-based clinical psychologist and an expert consultant to the Social Security’s Office of Disabilities Adjudication. “Some women are hesitant to tell an employer they have a medical problem or disability because they’re afraid they’ll get looked over for a promotion or raise,” he says. “But if your boss doesn’t know, the law can’t help you.” Once you alert your employer, the law requires them to provide you with special accommodations to do your job, whether adjusting hours, getting specialized equipment or giving you another, more appropriate position, says Wendel. 5. Find out if you’re eligible for Social Security benefits. If you’re under 65 and RA has made it difficult or impossible for you to hold down a job, you may qualify for Social Security income, as long as your physician agrees your condition limits your ability to make a living, says Wendel. “Women with RA should not neglect to apply for Social Security Disability if they think they cannot work full time,” he says. “If you haven’t been able to do your job for the past 12 months, and you and your physician anticipate you won’t be able to do it for the following 12 months, you may qualify.” 6. Look into federal programs. Medicare and Medicaid are federal health-insurance programs that provide low or no-cost health insurance to qualified individuals. Depending on your age, income and severity of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, you could qualify for one of them, says Wendel. Medicare is a federally sponsored program for people age 65 and older, as well as people of any age who are disabled or women who are pregnant, regardless of income. It helps pay for hospital in- and outpatient bills and certain prescription drugs. For more information on Medicare, visit socialsecurity.gov. Medicaid is a federal health-insurance program run by individual states, which set their own guidelines regarding eligibility and services. It’s available only to certain low-income individuals and families who meet criteria established by federal and state law. But you don’t necessarily have to be low-income to qualify. Several states, including Connecticut, Iowa, Hawaii and Arkansas, may extend coverage to women with children who earn up to 200%-300% of the poverty level income. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) website has a list of state requirements. 7. Look for state-run prescription-drug discount programs. Forty-two states have prescription-drug assistance programs. If you live in Washington state, for example, you can qualify for a Prescription Drug Discount Card through the Washington Prescription Drug Program. Participating pharmacies accept the card and provide the discount every time you purchase medications. To find out if your state has such a program, visit the NCSL website. 8. Check out patient-assistant programs (PAPs). Free or discounted rheumatoid arthritis medications may be available through patient-assistant programs, sponsored by various pharmaceutical companies or private foundations, says Wendel. Eligibility for free or reduced-cost drugs is based on several factors, including your condition and how long you’ve had RA, the drug you’re requesting, and your individual or family income level. The following PAPs are offered by companies that make or distribute RA medications: Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation: Gives qualifying patients free access to Humira, a biologic drug. Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient-Assistance Program: Gives patients free access to Orenica, a biologic drug. Encourage Foundation: Sponsored by the Pfizer drug company, this gives qualifying patients free access to Enbrel, a biologic drug. Remicade Patient Assistance: A foundation that gives qualifying patients free access to Remicade, a biologic drug. Safety Net Foundation for Kineret: A foundation that gives qualifying patients free access to Kineret, a biologic drug. 9. Try other sources of support. Many churches, community organizations and senior centers for 55-plus women offer free hot meals and free or low-cost transportation to and from medical appointments, as well as aerobics, strength-training, yoga, Pilates, nutrition, weight loss and healthy cooking classes. For info on senior centers and services in your area, visit AARP.org. A support group also may be a good way to meet other women with RA and get info on physicians, medical services and hospitals covered by your health-insurance plan and/or which offer loans and/or medical installment payment programs. If possible, join a face-to-face support group run or monitored by a health-care professional. For one in your area, visit the Arthritis Foundation. “Avoid support groups that have a ‘pity party’ vibe,” advises Bergman. “They can do more harm than good.” Or join Creakyjoints.org, a free support website for people with arthritis sponsored by the Global Healing Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit advocacy group for people with chronic diseases. The website offers an interactive forum, research updates, health columns, and podcasts and videos with leading rheumatoid arthritis physicians and researchers. For more expert advice and information, visit our Rheumatoid Arthritis Health Center.