Individuals with pre-existing conditions who have been uninsured for six months may now find it easier to obtain coverage through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP). PCIP was created by the Affordable Care Act to provide interim coverage until the Health Insurance Exchanges are up and running in 2014. Twenty-seven states administer their own PCIP. PCIP is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the other 23 states and in the District of Columbia.

HHS announced on May 31, 2011, that premiums would be reduced by as much as 40% in 18 of the 23 states in which the federal government administers PCIP.

Furthermore, starting this July, applicants in the states where PCIP is administered by HHS will no longer have to establish that they have been turned down for health insurance coverage by an insurance company. They will only have to provide a letter from a doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner verifying that they have or have had a medical condition, disability or illness that qualifies them for PCIP. The letter must be dated within 12 months of the application.

Coverage under PCIP is available to individuals who are citizens or who are living in the United States legally, who have pre-existing conditions, and who have been uninsured for at least the last 6 months. Eligibility is not based on income. PCIP covers hospital care, primary and specialty care, and prescription drugs, even for pre-existing conditions coverage.

Click on the link below for more information on applying to PCIP: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/provisions/preexisting/federal/index.html

Have you ever wondered where the “snake on the pole” medical logo or medicine symbol originated from?

Well all you have to do is just pick up your Bible to find out.

Numbers 21: 4-9 (NIV) says . . .

The Bronze Snake

4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
8 The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

Jesus later explained (see John 3:14 & 15) that just as the Israelites were healed of their sickness by looking at the snake on the pole, all believers today can be saved from the sickness of sin by looking to Jesus’ death and resurrection. It wasn’t the snake on pole that healed the people, but their belief that God could heal them.

I’ll take 1,000 mg dose of the Holy Spirit over any drug – any day

Everyday more people are becoming aware of how much they can save ordering their prescription medications online through eDrugSearch.com. Recently, we have had several individuals contact us to walk them through their first time purchase. Although the process is simple, ordering your drugs online can be a little confusing your first time through. Let’s walk through the process so that you can make your first purchase without hitting any speed bumps along the way.

1. Sign up to eDrugSearch.com- Although this is the easiest step, it is also the most important. Signing up to eDrugSearch.com will not only save you 10% off your entire first purchase, you will also save even more down the road if you continue to order through the site and take advantage of the eDrugSearch.com Points Reward Program.

2. Locate Your Medication- Type in the medication and dosage you are looking for into the search bar and hit search. If the medication you searched for is available, a box will appear showing the lowest price for that medication, the amount offered, and whether it is the brand or generic version. Now, click on the compare prices link that is located directly below the drug name and dosage.

3. Compare Prices- Search the list of drug prices that each pharmacy offers for the drug you are looking to purchase. You can compare the dosage, overall price, price per unit, or even the pharmacy rating. Once you have found the price you like, click on the buy now button.

4. Checkout from pharmacy- After clicking the buy now button, you will be taken to the pharmacy page of the drug you have chosen. Simply add the drug to your shopping cart and head to the checkout page. You must then sign up for a user account and email, mail, or fax a copy of your prescription from your doctor. After your prescription has been verified by the pharmacy you have chosen, you will be able to purchase your medications. The additional 10% eDrugSearch.com discount will be taken off your entire first order automatically at the pharmacy checkout.

You will find that purchasing drugs through eDrugSearch.com will save you both time and money. If you ever have a question about how to use the site, or find that we aren’t currently carrying a drug that you are trying to buy, feel free to contact us through our email or chat Mon-Fri, 9-5. Don’t pay full price for your medications any more, join today and start saving.

More people everyday are prescribed serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors aka SNRIs, which are a class of antidepressant used to treat depression. There are four main SNRIs: enlafaxine (Effexor), duloxetine (Cymbalta), milnacipran (Savella), and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq).

Today we are going to focus on two of the most commonly used of the four, Cymbalta and Effexor. Lets take a look at some of the similarities and differences between the two drugs, so that you can make a more informed decision when choosing between the two.

Effexor is the first and most commonly used SNRI while Cymbalta was most recently released on the market. It was approved by the FDA in August of 2004.

Both drugs work by preventing serotonin and noradrenaline from being reabsorbed back into the nerve cells in the brain. Effexor has been approved to treat, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder,
social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder while Cymbalta has been approved to treat major depressive disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, generalized anxiety disorder, and fibromyalgia.

When treating depression, both drugs are similarly affective. In a randomized, double-blind study which compared Cymbalta 60 mg/day and Effexor XR 150 mg/day both Cymbalta and Effexor XR demonstrated substantial antidepressant efficacy and received a HAMD 17 total score. Both drugs are also affective at treating generalized anxiety disorder.

Effexor has also been proven affective at treating several “off label” uses as well. Many doctors are prescribing it for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy and migraine prophylaxis. Cymbalta has been recently prescribed “off label” to treat bipolar depression and new studies are also showing that it may be affective at treating painful physical symptoms associated with depression as well as stress from urinary incontinence.

Both have side effects that can range from moderate to serious. For a complete list of side effects, click here.

All in all, how affective an SNRI is for you depends on how your body reacts to the medication. One medication may work better than another for you, and not for someone else. Be sure to ask you doctor about the pros and cons of each before you determine whether Effexor or Cymbalta would be right for you.

If you already have a prescription for Effexor or Cymbalta and would like to get it much cheaper than your local drug store, sign up to eDrugSearch.com and start saving today!

Yaz and Yasmin are both very popular and highly effective birth control programs. While they share many similarities, they also have some differences to take into account before choosing one over the other.

Both Yaz and Yasmin prevent pregnancy with an effectiveness rate of more than 99 percent and are the only birth control pills on the market to use drospirenone. They are both combination pills that use a combination of the hormones drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. They operate on a monophasic cycle which means the active pills all contain the same dose of hormones and the inactive pills are taken to simply keep you remembering to stay on your program.

One difference between Yaz and Yasmin is in the number of active in earch set. Yasmin is a 28-pill pack with 21 active pills and seven placebo pills where as Yaz has 24 active pills and only four placebo pills. Yaz markets the idea of shorter periods. Even though it operates on a 28-day cycle, since there are only 4 placebos, Yaz regulates the woman to a shorter period term.

Both Yaz and Yasmin have also been recommended for the treatment of acne, and have been proven to alleviates certain bothersome side effects often associated with the monthly cycle. Both are also recommend to help lighten periods.

Both Yaz and Yasmin potential side effects. Most common side effects are mild and range from breast tenderness to mood swings, nausea and weight gain. Check with your doctor for a full run down on possible side effects.

If you are already taking Yaz or Yasmin and are interested in buying it at a greatly discounted price, sign up to eDrugSearch.com today!

Source

There are many prescription assistance plans offered by both the government and drug companies touting free or discounted medications for those who are down and out. These plans could help those who are in severe need of prescription drug assistance be able to afford medication and live a higher quality of life.

So why aren’t all those in need of a prescription assistance program taking advantage of these great gifts from the government? Simply because not all qualify, the process and litigation is horrendous, and the discounts are not immediate.

Here at eDrugSearch.com we have created a brand new patient assistance program to help all of those who need help now and don’t want to jump through hoops in order to receive the prescription drug assistance they need. We have gone and negotiated exclusive discounts with Canada’s top pharmacies to offer you the best discounts than you can’t find anywhere online.

Our new three-step program is called the eDrugSearch.com Reward Points Program and here is how it works:

1. Use eDrugSearch.com to seek out everyday online discounts of 40% – 80% on your medication

2. Participate in our online community to earn points

3. Redeem those points for additional cash rebates of up to 20%

Joining eDrugSearch.com and participating in the community is easy. You’ll earn cash discounts of up to 20% on our pharmacies’ already-low prices by simply answering questions and helping out other members, rating and reviewing a pharmacy you have used, posting a message online, and many other easy tasks.

The best part of the Points Program is that the rebates are instant and received right when you purchase your medications; no waiting around for a rebate check or refund…you save NOW.

Signing up for eDrugSearch.com is completely free, and if you join now you will get 10% off your entire first order. No jumping through hoops, no having to meet any requirements, just simple no strings attached instant savings.

Join Now!

Summer is here, and the ability to hide underneath layers of cloths is gone. The time of year where virtually everyone is trying to shed some pounds has arrived. The only way to loose those unwanted pounds is to diet and exercise. Period. However, there are some prescription medications out there that may help you reach a healthy weight more quickly.

If you talk with your doctor and he or she deems it necessary to prescribe you a weight loss drug, it will more than likely be sibutramine or orlistat. Lets take a quick look at both drugs to give you an idea of how they work and what to expect.

Sibutramine is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, under brand name the brand name Meridia in the US. Sibutramine is an appetite suppressant that in one study showed in combination with lifestyle changes, a weight loss of 26.6 lbs compared to the drug (11 lbs) or lifestyle changes (14.8 lbs) alone.

Closely monitor your health and be on the look out for side effects if you are prescribed sibutramine. Recently the FDA noted concerns that sibutramine increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease. So if your family has a history of heart problems, you may want to ask your doctor about orlistat.

Orlistat which is commonly known by the brand name Xenical which is produced by Roche or over-the-counter as Alli by GlaxoSmithKline works by preventing the absorption of fats from your diet, which in turn reduces your caloric intake. Like other prescription weight loss aids, it is meant to be used in conjunction with a good diet and exercise.

According to data from the clinical trials, people given orlistat in addition to lifestyle modifications, lose about 4.4–6.6 lb more than those not taking the drug over the course of a year. Orlistat also modestly reduces blood pressure, and appears to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes, whether due to weight loss itself or to other effects. And although its results are not staggering, it has less harsh side effects.

Although the side effects of orlistat are not as harsh as sibutramine and the drug has shown to be safe for long term use, they are somewhat more embarrassing. Orlistat is notorious for its gastrointestinal side effects like oily, loose stools. The good news is the oily loose stools have shown to decrease over time.

Both prescription medications have been shown and proven to aid weight loss, and may be something you should ask your doctor about if you are having trouble getting back to your healthy weight. If you already have a prescription for one of these weight loss drugs, buy it here safely, for much less.

Join our community and save an additional ten percent off!

As many of you may have already noticed, there has been an increase in how much you pay for your drugs. Although inflation remained flat for the year ending in March 2010, the prices for brand-name drugs went up nearly 10 percent, according to AARP.

A recent report on prescription drug prices from The Sun News,

“Last year, the inflation rate was 0.3 percent, but drug prices went up over 9.7 percent,” said John Rother, executive vice president for policy at AARP. “That’s quite a contrast.”

And the price hikes don’t just affect people on Medicare.

Rother says the population aged 50 to 64 represents the biggest increase in people taking drugs, and for some of the most common conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

“The compounded effect is to raise the cost of prescription brand-name drugs way beyond people’s ability to pay,” he said, “particularly if they don’t have insurance.”

The rise in drug prices have really cut into the budget of many all over the US. In South Carolina for example, 713,000 people pay nearly 30 percent of their income on out-of-pocket medical costs including drugs.

The rise in prescription prices is being blamed on no countervailing pressure in the industry.

John Rother, executive vice president for policy at AARP says drug companies raise prices because “there is no countervailing pressure.” Moreover, he says, on average, the industry’s profit margin is about 20 percent.

“We want them to succeed, to be innovators,” he said. “But there’s a need to balance that with reasonable costs.”

Until a true solution can be found, Rother recommends that consumers should try to substitute generic drugs when possible, however not every drug has a generic equivalent available.

We recommend that you take full advantage of the resources here at eDrugSearch.com and join the community of educated consumers that are saving drastically on their prescription medications.

Not only will you find the safest pharmacies with the cheapest drug prices, you will also be able to save an additional ten percent off your drug orders by simply participating in our online community.

Acid reflux has bothered almost everyone at one time or another, and certain foods can aggravate and intensify acid reflux symptoms. Sometimes, a change in diet is all that is necessary to remedy acid reflux. Lets take a look at some of the foods that you may need to avoid in order to better control your heartburn.

Meat
Ground beef, chuck
Marbled sirloin
Chicken nuggets
Buffalo wings

Vegetables
French fries
Onion, raw

Fruit
Orange juice
Lemon
Lemonade
Grapefruit juice
Cranberry juice
Tomato

Dairy
Sour cream
Milk shake
Ice cream
Cottage cheese, regular

Grains
Macaroni and cheese
Spaghetti with sauce

Beverages
Liquor
Wine
Coffee, decaffeinated or regular
Tea, decaffeinated or regular

Fats / Oils
Salad dressing, creamy
Salad dressing, oil & vinegar

Sweets / Desserts
Butter cookie, high-fat
Brownie
Chocolate
Doughnut

Source

Remember, each individual is different, and some foods may affect you more or less. Even with a change in diet, you may still have significant heart burn, and it is then you may want to ask your doctor about trying a a prescription medication. A drug like Nexium, Prilosec, Zantac or Prevacid may be the only way to eliminate your heartburn.

There are currently three main drugs used to treat osteoperosis: Boniva, Fosamax, and Actonel. All three drugs treat the disease in generally the same way, but do have slight differences that you may want to bring up when talking to your doctor. Lets take a look at a few of these differences and find out which drug best suites you.

The first drug on the market was Fosamax, follow by Actonel a few years later, then Boniva. Fosamax and Actonel are both taken weekly, while Boniva is taken monthly orally, and every three months intravenously. If taking medication is hard for you to remember or a hassle for you to keep up with, Boniva would be a good option.

Another thing to keep in mind is that after taking any of the medications, you must be on your feet for a period of time. Both Fosamax and Actonel, you must be standing for 30 minutes, where as Boniva requires you to be standing up for an hour. If you have a hard time staying on your feet for an extended period of time, you may want to consider Fosamax or Actonel.

All three drugs have FDA approval for the treatment and prevention of post-menopausal osteoporosis. Actonel has approval to reduce fractures at vertebral and nonvertebral sites (hip, wrist, pelvis, clavicle, leg, humorous), Fosamax at vertebral and hip, while Boniva has approval for the spine only.

Since there has been no clinical studies directly comparing all of the drugs, it is hard to say which one is statistically the best. All have been proven affective at treating osteoperosis, so I would talk it over with your doctor and weigh out the benefits of each before making a decision.