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If You Hand Over Your Prescription Card Every Month for $200-$400 Inhalers. Here's What Your Insurance Isn't Telling You.
By: Walter Chao | Sponsored by Carda Health
January 15, 2025
Thousands of Medicare beneficiaries are accessing at-home COPD rehab that could be 100% covered with qualifying supplemental insurance. They're strengthening their lungs and reducing medication dependency. If you pay $0 at the doctor, you could pay $0 for Carda.
It's the second Tuesday of the month.
It’s time to refill your prescriptions.
You grab your purse or bag, make sure your keys are there, and shuffle to the car. The drive to Walgreens isn't far—maybe 10 minutes—but by the time you park and walk inside, you're already a little out of breath.
You wait in line. Pull out your Medicare prescription card—the one with the worn edges because you've used it so many times. Hand it to the pharmacist.
"Advair and Spiriva, right?" she asks, barely looking up.
You nod. You've been picking up the same two inhalers for the past five years. Maybe longer.
She scans your card. Types something. Waits.
"That'll be $94 for the Advair and $86 for the Spiriva. $180 total today."
You hand over your credit card. Again. Just like last month. And the month before that.
You stuff the white paper bag into your purse and head back to the car, already feeling tired from the outing.
On the drive home, you do the math in your head. $180 this month. That's over $2,000 a year. And that's just two inhalers. It doesn't count the albuterol rescue inhaler you keep in your nightstand. Or the prednisone you needed last month when your breathing got really bad.
You get home, put the inhalers on the kitchen counter next to the old bottles, and think the same thing you always think:
"Is this really all I can do? Just keep paying for these inhalers while I keep getting worse?"
Because let's be honest—you ARE getting worse.
Five years ago, you could walk around the block. Now you can barely make it to the mailbox.
You used to go to the grocery store by yourself. Now you need your daughter to take you because walking through the aisles leaves you breathless and exhausted.
You used to play with your grandkids in the backyard. Now you watch them through the window because you don't have the energy to keep up.
Your inhalers help you get through the day. They keep you breathing. But they're not making anything better. They're just... keeping you stuck.
And every single month, you hand over that prescription card, pay your co-pays, and wonder if this is just what life is now.
Here's what nobody at that pharmacy counter has ever told you—and what your doctor may have never mentioned:
That same prescription card covering your $400/month inhalers could ALSO cover a type of care that actually strengthens your lungs so you're not as dependent on those expensive medications.
It's not a new drug. It's not a surgery. It's not some experimental treatment.
It's a clinically proven program that's been around for decades—one that medical experts call "essential" for people with COPD.
And it's covered by Medicare with qualifying supplemental insurance.
The catch? 95% of people with COPD never hear about it. And even fewer ever get it.
But that's starting to change.
The Treatment That Actually Makes Your Lungs Stronger (not just manages symptoms)
Let's talk about what your inhalers actually do.
Advair, Spiriva, Symbicort, Breo—they're all bronchodilators or corticosteroids. They help open your airways and reduce inflammation so you can breathe a little easier.
And they work. For managing day-to-day symptoms.
But here's what they DON'T do:
❌ They don't strengthen your lungs
❌ They don't improve your lung capacity
❌ They don't make your COPD better
❌ They don't help you climb stairs or walk further
❌ They don't give you your life back
Your inhalers are like a cane for someone with a broken leg. The cane helps you walk, but it doesn't heal the bone.
Now imagine if there was something that actually helped HEAL the damage. Something that made your lungs stronger, improved your breathing capacity, and helped you do things you thought were gone forever.
That's what pulmonary rehabilitation does.
What is Pulmonary Rehab? (And Why Is It So Powerful?)
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a comprehensive program specifically designed for people with chronic lung diseases like COPD.
It combines three key elements:
1. Supervised Exercise Training
Not just "walk around the block" exercise. This is carefully monitored cardiovascular and strength training designed to build your lung capacity and endurance safely.
2. Breathing Techniques & Education
You learn specific breathing strategies that help you manage breathlessness and use oxygen more efficiently. These techniques can help you feel less panicked when you're short of breath.
3. Disease Management & Support
You learn how to better manage your COPD, recognize warning signs, and prevent flare-ups that land you in the hospital.
Here's what makes it so powerful:
Unlike your inhalers, which just help you maintain, pulmonary rehab actually improves your condition.
Medical research has proven that pulmonary rehabilitation can:
✅ Significantly improve your ability to exercise and breathe
Patients report being able to walk farther, climb stairs, and do activities they thought were impossible.
✅ Reduce hospital readmissions by up to 50%
Fewer emergency room visits. Fewer hospitalizations. Fewer scary moments where you can't catch your breath.
✅ Improve quality of life
Patients report feeling more independent, more confident, and more like themselves again.
✅ Help reduce dependence on medications over time
As your lungs get stronger and you learn better breathing techniques, many patients find they don't need their rescue inhaler as often.
✅ Extend life expectancy
Studies show that pulmonary rehab can help people with COPD live longer, healthier lives.
The National Library of Medicine reviewed dozens of studies and concluded that pulmonary rehabilitation is "essential" for people with COPD.⁴
The American Lung Association says it's "one of the most effective treatments available for COPD."
Think about that: One of the MOST EFFECTIVE treatments for COPD isn't a new drug or surgery. It's a program that strengthens your lungs through supervised exercise and education.
And yet...
Why 95% Of COPD Patients Never Get This Life-Changing Treatment
If pulmonary rehab is so effective—if medical experts call it "essential"—why haven't you heard about it?
And why do only 5% of eligible COPD patients ever access it?
Three big reasons:
Reason #1: Most Doctors Don't Have Time to Explain It
Your doctor has 15 minutes with you. Maybe less. They're focused on immediate problems: adjusting your medications, ordering tests, checking your oxygen levels.
Pulmonary rehab requires a referral, insurance approval, and a longer conversation about commitment and expectations. Many doctors simply don't have the time—so it never comes up.
Reason #2: Traditional Rehab Is Impossible to Access
Even when doctors DO refer patients to pulmonary rehab, here's what they're asking you to do:
Drive to a hospital or outpatient clinic 2-3 times per week
For 12 weeks straight (that's 36 trips)
During their limited hours (usually weekday mornings)
Find parking and walk through crowded facilities
Pay $22+ per session out of pocket (over $800 total)
When you can barely walk to your mailbox without getting winded, how are you supposed to drive across town to a hospital three times a week?
You can't. So you don't go. And you miss out on the treatment that could change your life.
Reason #3: Insurance Makes It Confusing
Even though Medicare covers pulmonary rehabilitation with qualifying supplemental insurance, most people don't know:
That it's covered
How to access it
Whether they qualify
How much they'll pay
So they never even try.
The result?
Millions of people with COPD keep paying hundreds of dollars every month for inhalers that only manage symptoms—while the treatment that could actually strengthen their lungs and improve their quality of life sits unused and unknown.
Until now.
The Breakthrough: Virtual Pulmonary Rehab That Comes To Your Living Room
Here's what's changed everything:
A new type of virtual pulmonary rehabilitation program has eliminated every single barrier that kept you from getting this life-changing care.
No more hospital drives.
No more exhausting commutes.
No more impossible logistics.
The program comes to YOU.
The company leading this virtual revolution? Carda Health—a program that's already helped thousands of COPD patients reclaim their independence using a completely at-home system.
And here's the best part:
It's covered by Medicare with qualifying supplemental insurance—just like your prescriptions.
In fact, if you pay $0 co-pay when you see your doctor, you could pay $0 for Carda.
According to Carda Health, 50% of their patients pay nothing out of pocket because their Medicare with qualifying supplemental insurance covers the full cost.
Let that sink in:
You're spending $300-600 every month on inhalers that manage symptoms.
Meanwhile, a program that could actually strengthen your lungs and help you need LESS medication could be sitting there, fully covered by your insurance, and you never knew about it.
How Virtual Pulmonary Rehab Works: The Carda Experience
Here's exactly what happens when you enroll in Carda Health:
📦 STEP 1: Your Complete Care Package Arrives (FREE)
Within a few days, a box shows up at your door with everything you need:
✅ Tablet (pre-loaded with the Carda app—no setup required)
✅ Heart rate monitor
✅ Blood pressure cuff
✅ Pulse oximeter (measures your oxygen levels)
✅ Instruction materials (simple, easy-to-read guides in English or Spanish)
You don't pay for any of this equipment. It's included.
And if you're worried about the technology? Don't be. If you can press a button to turn on your TV, you can use this. And Carda's support team is available by phone to walk you through everything if needed.
👨⚕️ STEP 2: You're Matched With Your Own Clinical Exercise Physiologist
This isn't a generic workout app. You're not watching pre-recorded videos or exercising alone.
You're assigned a dedicated Clinical Exercise Physiologist—a licensed medical professional trained at institutions like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Mount Sinai.*
Your physiologist reviews your medical history, talks to you about your goals, and creates a personalized rehabilitation plan tailored specifically to:
Your current lung capacity
Your fitness level
Your health conditions
Your personal goals (maybe it's walking to the mailbox, or playing with grandkids, or just having more energy)
This is YOUR program. Built for YOU.
*Carda Health is not affiliated with these hospitals.
🏠 STEP 3: Live, Supervised Sessions From Your Living Room
Three times a week, you sit down in your living room, turn on the tablet, and connect with your physiologist via live video.
They can see you. You can see them. You talk like you're in the same room.
But here's what makes this so powerful:
Your physiologist monitors your vital signs in real-time during every session:
❤️ Heart rate
🩸 Blood pressure
🫁 Oxygen levels
They're watching every second. If your heart rate spikes, they see it immediately and adjust. If your oxygen drops, they slow things down. If you're having a rough breathing day, they modify the exercises on the spot.
You're NEVER exercising alone. You have a medical professional watching you live, keeping you safe, and making sure you're progressing.
📈 STEP 4: You Get Stronger Week by Week
Over the course of 12 weeks (36 sessions), something remarkable happens:
Week 1-2: The exercises feel hard. You're breathless. You wonder if this will actually help.
Week 3-4: You start noticing small changes. Maybe you can march in place a little longer. Maybe your oxygen levels stay more stable.
Week 5-8: The improvements become undeniable. You're walking farther. Climbing stairs doesn't leave you gasping. You have more energy during the day.
Week 9-12: You're doing things you thought were impossible. Walking to the mailbox without stopping. Going to the grocery store. Playing with your grandkids. Living again.
And here's what Carda's data shows:
**92% of patients report feeling significantly better after just 12 weeks.**¹
Not a little better. Significantly better.
Real Patients, Real Results: What People Are Saying
Don't just take our word for it. Here's what real Carda patients say:
Lynn Brooks, 68:
"I went from counting 35 steps before getting winded to walking normally and doing activities I thought were gone forever. When I found out my insurance covered this, I couldn't believe I'd never heard about it before. I wish someone had told me two years ago. I lost two years of my retirement being trapped in my house."
Diane Ellsworth, COPD Patient:
"I was literally stuck in my house on my oxygen 24/7. Now I can go to the grocery store, visit friends, have a LIFE! This program has literally changed my life. I will definitely keep doing my therapy even after I finish."
Paul, 65:
"This weekend I went to the baseball game with my grandson and walked around the stadium for the first time in a very long time instead of using my scooter—after just 6 weeks in the program. My therapist is great, she is the best part about the program."
Doris Helfer:
"My energy level has gone up and I can now climb stairs without losing my breath. Thank you Carda Health, you have changed my life."
Linda, 73 (COPD with only 30% lung capacity):
"I was diagnosed with COPD in 2015 and have only 30% lung capacity. I was stuck at home on oxygen 24/7, afraid I'd be housebound forever. I saw Carda's ads but didn't believe them—until I read hundreds of reviews from people exactly like me. My pulmonologist made the referral. Medicare covered it with my supplemental insurance. Now I can grocery shop alone, visit friends, and have my independence back. If I can do it with 30% lung capacity, anyone can."
These aren't hand-picked stories. Carda Health has a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot from over 700 real patient reviews.
This works. The question is: How much longer will you wait to find out if it could work for you?
What About Your Medications?
Let's be clear about something important:
Carda doesn't ask you to stop taking your prescriptions.
Your inhalers are important. They help you breathe. You should always follow your doctor's orders about your medications.
But here's what pulmonary rehab does:
It strengthens your lungs and improves your breathing capacity so you're not AS dependent on those medications over time.
Many Carda patients report:
✅ Using their rescue inhaler (albuterol) less frequently
✅ Feeling less breathless during daily activities
✅ Having more energy throughout the day
✅ Fewer COPD flare-ups that require emergency medication adjustments
✅ Better able to manage symptoms without always reaching for their inhaler
Your Carda physiologist works closely with your doctor. If your breathing improves significantly during the program, your physician may choose to adjust your medications. But that's a decision made by you and your doctor—not something Carda decides.
The goal isn't to replace your medications. The goal is to strengthen your body so those medications work better and you don't need to rely on them as heavily.
Think of it this way:
Your inhalers are the safety net. Pulmonary rehab is what helps you need the safety net less often.
But Here's The Part That Should Make You Angry
You've been handing over your prescription card every single month for years.
You've been paying hundreds—maybe thousands—of dollars for medications that only manage your symptoms.
And the entire time, your insurance could have been covering a program that actually strengthens your lungs and improves your quality of life.
Nobody told you.
Not the pharmacist.
Not your insurance company.
Maybe not even your doctor.
You've been paying into Medicare for decades. You may have supplemental insurance specifically to cover things like this. And yet this treatment—one that medical experts call "essential"—has been sitting there, covered, unused.
That's why we're writing this.
Because if one more person with COPD spends another month trapped in their house, watching life pass by, paying for inhalers that only maintain the status quo—when they could be getting care that actually helps them get stronger—that's one person too many.
Could You Be 100% Covered?
Here's what you need to know about coverage:
Pulmonary rehabilitation is covered by Medicare Part B with qualifying supplemental insurance.
According to Carda Health:
✅ 50% of patients pay $0 out of pocket with their Medicare and supplemental insurance
✅ If you pay $0 co-pay when you see your doctor, you could pay $0 for Carda
✅ The equipment (tablet, monitors, etc.) is included at no cost
✅ Available in 48 states
How do you know if you're covered?
Carda has a simple 2-minute online check. You answer a few basic questions about your insurance, and they tell you right away if you're likely covered and what (if anything) you'd pay.
No complicated forms.
No digging up insurance cards.
No phone calls to insurance companies.
Just quick, clear answers.
LIMITED Enrollment Spots Each Month
Here's something you should know:
Carda Health can't take unlimited patients.
Why?
Because they refuse to sacrifice quality. Every single patient gets their own dedicated Clinical Exercise Physiologist who provides live, one-on-one supervision during every session.
That level of personalized care means they can only enroll a limited number of new patients each month.
As more people discover this program (like you're discovering it right now), those spots fill up fast.
When enrollment is full, new applicants go on a waitlist.
The difference between Carda's waitlist and a traditional hospital program?
With traditional programs, people join the waitlist and never actually start because it's too hard to get there.
With Carda, people on the waitlist are eager to start because they know they can actually complete the program from home.
Bottom line: If you're interested, don't wait. Check if you qualify now while spots are available.
Check If You Qualify (Takes Less Than 2 Minutes)
Carda Health has a simple online check. No complicated forms. No digging up medical records. Just basic questions that tell you right away if you're likely covered.
→ CHECK IF I QUALIFY NOW
✅ Free to check
✅ No credit card needed
✅ Takes under 2 minutes
✅ Available in most U.S. states
You'll answer basic questions like:
Do you have Medicare?
Do you have supplemental insurance?
Have you been diagnosed with COPD?
Can you walk or do light activity?
That's it. Based on your answers, you'll know right away if you're likely covered and what (if any) out-of-pocket costs you'd have.
If you pay $0 co-pay when you see your doctor, there's a strong chance you'll pay $0 for Carda with qualifying supplemental insurance.
→ CHECK IF I QUALIFY FOR $0 CARDA WITH QUALIFYING SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE
Sources & Citations:
[1] Based on Carda Health internal patient outcome data from verified patient surveys.
[2] Philip A. Ades, MD, Steven J. Keteyian, PhD, et al., "Increasing Cardiac Rehabilitation Participation From 20% to 70%: A Road Map From the Million Hearts Cardiac Rehabilitation Collaborative," Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2017 Feb; 92(2): 234–242.
[3] Carda Health patient testimonials and verified Trustpilot reviews (4.9/5 rating based on 700+ verified reviews).
[4] "Pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease," Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, National Library of Medicine.
