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Finances and multiple sclerosis – How to find a balance.

Because of the high price of therapies and a lifetime of treatment, it’s important to start planning for your financial future. Here are some tips to get started:

  • Keep track of multiple sclerosis (MS) expenses: Start a journal or a spreadsheet, and begin to keep track of medical-related costs. For example: copays1, medications, lab work, and rehabilitation costs.
  • Know your ways to save: Saving for the future can begin with a few simple steps. Know your employer benefits and insurance coverage and learn what medications are preferred under your plan. Check to see if your insurance covers medical supplies you may need when they are prescribed by your doctor, such as braces, walkers, etc. Check to see if the manufacturer of your MS medication offers a financial assistance program or gives credits toward copays. Also consider applying for programs that could help provide financial aid, such as Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, and state programs for low-income individuals.
  • Think long-term: While no one can know exactly how their illness will progress, it makes sense to be prepared for the future. Now is a good time to understand your long-term care insurance and to find out if your insurance can cover costs such as in-home medical services. Ask your occupational therapist to assess your home and point out any places that may need modifications. This way you can consider their costs and think through any changes that you may need to make depending on your symptoms such as adding ramps, widening doorways, simplifying stairways, among others.

Understanding your medical expenses now and in the future can help reduce some financial stress that may be associated with MS. And just like CVS Specialty can help you with things like medication support, we are also here to help you navigate financial challenges. CVS Specialty can assist with financial resource support – from locating potential financial assistance to helping you file insurance claims. It’s just one of the ways we help make managing your condition a little easier.

Call our CareTeam at 1-800-237-2767 to learn more.

Need additional information on MS? Check out the following resources:

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Multiple Sclerosis Association of America

Multiple Sclerosis Foundation

The Myelin Project

MS Association of America

This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Talk to your doctor or health care provider about your medical condition and prior to starting any new treatment. CVS Specialty assumes no liability whatsoever for the information provided or for any diagnosis or treatment made as a result, nor is it responsible for the reliability of the content.

CVS Specialty does not operate all the websites/organizations listed here, nor is it responsible for the availability or reliability of their content. These listings do not imply or constitute an endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation by CVS Specialty.

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1Copayment, copay or coinsurance means the amount a member is required to pay for a prescription in accordance with a Plan, which may be a deductible, a percentage of the prescription price, a fixed amount or other charge, with the balance, if any, paid by a Plan.