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Prescription drugs in Nicaragua

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TerryCicada
  11/28/2014 16:56 EST

With all those new health plans coming on board due to Obama Care in the US, can anyone comment on the prescription drug cost situation in Nica ?. Are most of the RX drugs available in the country even as generic versions ?.
Many of the affordable plans have very high deductable paying as much as 40~50% copay after deductible. With this new scheme, low drug cost is out the window unless you pay a high premium or get a big tax subsidy due to low income. This is another reason many will want to look to off shore to afford a comfortable retirement.

blindave13
  11/28/2014 17:21 EST

I think you are missed stating the affect the affordable care act has on prescription drug prices, especially generics. If you aren't getting insurance through Medicare or through an employer based plan, the law will not affect your drug co-pays at all! How exactly do you think this would affect drug prices in Nicaragua? There is no connection between prices charged in United States and other countries

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TerryCicada
  11/28/2014 18:51 EST

Perhaps some miscommunication here.
First let us forget about Medicare. That is a different issue.
Under Obamacare, you have a choice of three categories of health insurance depending on your budget. They are Bronze , Silver and Gold.
Bronze is the cheapest with the highest deductible and the lowest premium. Your estimated premium will depend on your annual income. if your household income is low enough you may be paying a very low premium even if you selected the Gold plan from any of the insurance companies that are quoting because of the tax subsidies.
Those who opt for the bronze plan ( the lowest grade) because their income is high as a result of lower tax subsidy ( premium is approx 200/mth or less) will end up with high deductibles and copay.
The annual deductible is $2500.00 and the maximum out of pocket could be as high as $6600.00 from some companies. From my understanding if your prescription drug is 40% copay with deductible of $300.00 you must satisfy this deductible and still end up paying 40% of the drug cost. Let us say the drug cost $795.00. If you have not satisfied the annual deductible of $300.00, you must also pay 40% of the $395.00.. If the annual deductible has been satisfied, you only pay 40% of $395.00. If I am wrong in my understanding please correct. This applies to other areas such as doctor visits, in and out of network, emergency room, etc. If you are employed, the impact will not be so great since your employer will assume some of the premium cost.
If you are indigent or eligible for medicaid, the state assumes most of your health cost. In that case you stay in USA !
Finally prescription drug prices do vary by the region. Why do you think people go south of the border to Mexico to fill their drug prescription. ?

KeyWestPirate
  11/28/2014 19:36 EST

Most commonly needed drugs like antibiotics are very inexpensive, and are available over the counter without prescriptions. Narcotics and sedatives require a prescription, a second form that is retained the be pharmacy. Many pharmacies will not deal with the hassle, hence , you might have to look a little harder.

Other drugs, like testosterone which is tightly controlled in the US, is available over the counter.

Some drugs are simply not available, if they are new, and expensive and people can't afford them.

This might not be true across the country. Wealthier areas might have better access to a wider range of drugs.. I live in the north; it's a poor part of the country.

Nicas are sick a lot. Most of it is simple flu, head colds. Untreated it can turn into bronchitis or pneumonia. The doctors don't attempt to distinguish between a viral and bacterial infection, so a lot of antibiotics are used.

From what I've seen, most common items are inexpensive. I bring down a significant quantity of Advil, Advil PM, and Nyquil every trip.

I personally hardly ever get sick despite the sick people constantly around me. Diet and lifestyle plays a large role here, IMHO. A diet of chips and gaseosa doesn't build a strong immune system.

iguanalover
  11/28/2014 20:34 EST

Prescription drugs are cheap. I got a series of antibiotics for an infection for 125 cords, plus ibupropen 400s (10 to a card) for another 100 cords. I take one prescription that I understand would cost about $100 per month in the states. I pay $20 for six weeks in Nicaland.

Most of the drugs are manufactured in Columbia or Guatemala. Generic isn't really important. Everything except narcotics is over the counter. You can buy one or a hundred. I have seen kids buying one pill for Grandma, or maybe Grandpa, everyday at about the same time.

There are some things that are not available like a skin cream I need once in a while, but, all in all, it isn't something to worry about.

JohnSS
  11/29/2014 00:00 EST

Everything is relative.
I bought generics from India when I still lived in the US because no prescription needed and a lot less than my deductibles You have to sort out the good companies there compared to the ones the US FDA came down on a while back but that is easy.
Their prices are 1/2 to 1/5 those here and on some drugs like heart ot lungs 1/10 the Nica price.
But you need to find a way to get them here. Hand carry works but too many may get confiscated at the airport.
I ship them in mixed with other stuff and that has worked so far.

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timwood202000
  11/29/2014 09:12 EST

Here are two resources you can check out the availability of your medications:

(1) Vivian Pella Hospital Pharmacy

Email: [email protected]

Contáctenos: NIC: (505)2255-6900

They have people who speak English.

(2) Farmacia Value is a large pharmacy with delivery service in Managua. It gives a 30% discount on drugs. For

determining if your medication is available:

[email protected]

The pharmacy is also on facebook

Phone: 1-801-3276

Senor Horney speaks some English but again, if emailing him, I would use the translator.

elduendegrande
  11/29/2014 09:22 EST

Prices are all over the board--many are cheap,others are the same you would pay in the US. If you are comparing it to somebody with an HMO in the US with nominal copays, you are in for a shock.

Like many consumer goods here, Mickey Mouse can be the rule of the day, If you take a pill regularly, one time you get one brand from one country, the next time you get another brand from another country. Sometimes you get your choice, sometime the choice exists but the clerk won`t bother to tell you. Whether the pills are genuine or have been stored properly always haunts you.

Sometimes you go to buy a months supply and they only have a few pills, so don`t get behind.

I take one pill. When I had an HMO in the States it cost me 15 bucks, although for a long time I had a manufacturers discount so I only paid 4 bucks. ``retail`` price was over $100. Here they are about 50 cents each OTC but I have to stay ahead of the game to get a 30 supply of the same brand that looks legit.

OTC painkillers are available, but watch out for uncoated aspirin, etc. Avoid bringing down big bottles of these as the humidity will damage them if you do not take special precautions. Same with vitamins and fish oil.

I`ve stopped bring vitamins and painkillers for the relatives. Folk culture says vitamins make you fat so they won`t take them, and on all pills I am wary of the mold issue. Adult proff containers are not used here and those brought from the states are therefore problematic.

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