By Rob Metzler

Buffalo State College students that require brand name prescription drug medications may find themselves in financial bind, but the Weigel Health Center wants them to know help is out there.

Prescription drugs, particularly the brand name variety, can be very expensive. The college’s health care plan, through Aetna, comes with $500 worth of prescription coverage. Kim Jablonski, medical program director at Weigel, said if a student thinks their expenses will go beyond that, they should look into other options.

Healthy New York and Family Health Plus are two state-offered plans for low-income students. If students meet the state guidelines Jablonksi will sit down with them and fill out an application for Family Health Plus on the spot.

Needymeds.com offers links to a variety of ways for students to get medication at a discounted rate or even free. Jablonski said it is a very useful site for anyone facing the high cost of medications.              

“It’s a clearing house for almost every medication,” she said.

Education and notifying students is the key to helping them in Jablonski’s opinion.

“I can’t talk to everyone,” she said.

Flyers sent out before the deadline for declining the Aetna insurance, attending orientations and letting students know their options are a few ways that she gets the word out.

“The college’s plan is a good plan. The majority of students needs are met by having the insurance” said Jablonski.

She does admit the college had to pick between costs and effectiveness. “It covers students if they go to the emergency room or the hospital,” she said. 

She told the story of a student who spent two nights in a hospital that would have cost $10,000, and instead was only responsible for $2,000.

There is help for students who have gone over their limit for prescription drugs, however. Carrie Pettys, a pharmacist at Wegmans on Amherst, said students can file a claim with Aetna to get the medication at a discounted rate. Also, Pettys said different pharmacies charge different prices, so shopping around might help.

Jablonski feels that knowing the options available is the most important part of this issue.

“If they ask me about the insurance, I go through the overages with them and point out the $500 maximum,” said Jablonski. “If they think they are going to go over that, we look at other options.”

The plan also offers other coverage:

The plan, said Jablonski, covers only emergency situations. Routine check ups are not covered, such as annual physicals and blood work, but the Weigel Health Center does offer annual check ups for little or no cost to students. Flu shots are also not covered under Aetna, as they are considered routine practices.

Students who have medical needs beyond the coverage of the college’s plan should be aware that other options are available, and the staff at Weigel is available to inform them about these options. The center is open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 4:30 p.m. on Fridays.

Rob Metzler can be contacted at mailto:Metzrj68@mail.buffalostate.edu