drugs

J

jsizemore

Bronze
Aug 6, 2003
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medical drugs

Ok guys
I have another specific question. My mother is on medications and is thinking of moving down when I get there. She has no insurance yet as she is not old enough for Medicare. She has state insurance but if she moves down she looses it. We were wondering what the cost of an average doctors office visit and are the following drugs available at a decent price. Her prescriptions would cost $500 a month stateside out of pocket and we were wondering if she could afford to go it out of pocket for the five years until Medicare kicks in.

These are the drugs in question.
glucotrol XL(glipizide), ditropan xl 5mg, accupril 5mg, zoloft 100mg,
Thanks John
 
Last edited:
K

Ken

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
13,884
495
83
First, under present laws, Medicare doesn't provide any benefits if you live outside the US.

Doctors charge much less than in the US, but rates vary depending on where you are. For example, I pay less in Puerto Plata than I do in Santo Domingo. Where will your mother be.

Most drugs are available here, including many that are licensed in Europe but not yet in the US. May not be the same name, but the ingredients and benefits will be. Not all farmacias stock all the same drugs. From experience you get to know where you need to go for each.

If we know where your mother will be, we may be able to be more specific.
 
J

jsizemore

Bronze
Aug 6, 2003
691
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sorry

Sorry we will be in Sosua.
The ironie is my mother should be covered because my father was killed in the military in 1975 but because he was in the National Guard and not activated for over 180 days we were not eligible for medical.
We will be in Sosua. The medications are for diabetes and Fibro Mialgia.
Thanks John.
 
K

Ken

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
13,884
495
83
John, I live in Sosua, too.

A doctor in this area that I like and have confidence in is Dr. Plaut at ServiMed in Cabarete. ServiMed is open 24 hours a day, but he is on duty in office Mon-Friday in the afternoon. He charges RD$300 or less for an office call. He is German and trained in Germany and is very good.

In Sosua we have Gil & Garcia. Ok for basic stuff and emergencies. Open 24 hours a day. They have a German nurse that is really outstanding.

I go to Dra. Dilcia Mercado at Bournigal in Puerto Plata for anything related to the respiratory system. She is outstanding; I would put her up against any doctor anywhere. She charges RD$400 for an office call. I have gone to an ear and throat specialist there that she recommended. She charged RD$600 for first visit and RD$400 thereafter. I wouldn't go to anyone at Bournigal that Dra. Mercado didn't recommend to me.

Most of our doctors are in Santo Domingo because we lived in Samana for 12 years and there were no doctors there you could trust with more than common cold and emergency first aid. But if I were locating in Sosua from outside the DR, I would consider the doctors in Santiago. Best doctors in country, as a general rule, are in Santo Domingo and Santiago. But there are exceptions, including my respiratory specialist at Bournigal.

There are two farmacias in Sosua; between then they have most things. There is also a farmacia in Charamicos that is even better stocked and is open 24/7.

If Barbara and I can be of more help to you and your mother, let us know.
 
J

jsizemore

Bronze
Aug 6, 2003
691
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Glucotol

Thanks Ken
glucotrol XL(glipizide), is the primary drug my mother was wondering about it is for diebetes the others are related to arthiritus and fibromialgia which will not be that big of deal since everything for them is related to pain. Does anyone take that or a subsitute locally and could tell me how much it cost?
With those cost that is less than the co pay in the states.
Thanks John
 
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