canefan17
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 22149
posted
My insurance allows me to use Medco to purchase antibiotics in bulk (3 month supplies for roughly 10 bucks a med - great deal).
However, they recently red flagged my account and called my doctor to ask what we're treating. My LLMD had to say Lyme... and as a result Medco has cut me off (they follow IDSA guidelines & they won't supprt longterm treatment)
Does anyone know a good place to get my prescriptions filled for cheap?
My doctor is willing to help me, so I just need to find a supplier/pharmacy.
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
| IP: Logged |
kgg
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5867
posted
I have heard Costco is good for lower prices. And you don't need a membership. You tell them at the door that you are going to the pharmacy.
Posts: 1625 | From Maine | Registered: Jun 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
OMG, I have express scripts which was just merged with Medco. They are a pain in the you know where. They save me money but it sounds like they may cut me off too. I have had them since January for my bulk pharmacy.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
| IP: Logged |
TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Same here faithful. I do not fill any lyme prescriptions from medco or any other mail in pharmacy.
posted
Our plan changed to Medco and I have intentionally NOT gotten 3 mos supplies for fear this would happen.
So far, I have been filling my scripts monthly (very low co-pay) and have not had an issue.
Posts: 396 | From EAPennsylvania | Registered: Dec 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
So you can get past this by going to a local pharmacy. Normally not a problem until you consider what Mepron costs!!!!! I hate it but have to take it.
Does anyone know how medicare views abx for Lyme?
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
| IP: Logged |
canefan17
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 22149
posted
faithful,
What do you mean you can get past it by going to local pharmacy.
My local pharmacy will fill my prescriptions - but at retail price (for Rifampin thats 250+ dollars, etc)
Is there no where else to get cheap antibiotics ala Medco/Express Scripts?
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
| IP: Logged |
TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
You can usually get a 30 day supply at your local pharmacy through your insurance company. My co-pay is the same per month whether I get it a medco or my local pharmacy. Restrictions may apply depending on your insurance company.
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think you can get a 30 day prescription from a local pharmacy but can't dot the 90 day mail away.
My LLMD is already seeing prescriptions refused from her patients who mail them in.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
| IP: Logged |
Razzle
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 30398
posted
Another option is to get prescriptions from Canada. We've had good luck with bigmountaindrugs.com for some meds that were very expensive (before they went generic in the US).
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4166 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
Wow I guess I was lucky...or maybe my LLMD was creative with her prescription codes. I don't know. But I used Medco for quite a while before my insurance switched to Caremark. Medco never gave me any problems with all my prescriptions. Thank goodness!!!
Unfortunately I don't have any suggestions for getting cheaper meds. The only thing I can think of is to try to fight it like Terry suggested.
-------------------- Sick since 10/2001. Tested CDC positive for Lyme 10/2008 through Quest and Igenex. Started treatment 1/2009 with LLMD. Lyme, Erichilosis, Chlamydophila Pneumoniae, Q Fever, Strep Syndrome and probably a few others I am forgetting. Posts: 451 | From Virginia | Registered: Feb 2009
| IP: Logged |
Catgirl
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 31149
posted
Bummer. I read last year where someone was having problems once opting for the mail order program, so I've avoided it.
Medco/Express scripts has a computer program which flags doses that fall out of the normal dosage. So the pharmacies are forced to contact the Dr's office to verify the dosage.
Maybe your state legislature can help you.
-------------------- --Keep an open mind about everything. Also, remember to visit ACTIVISM (we can change things together). Posts: 5418 | From earth | Registered: Mar 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
Unfortunately I pay a lot more to go through a local pharmacy than to use mail order, but I would rather do that than have to go to an overseas pharmacy all the time.
They are nasty people to deal with. When they merged in January with Express scripts I had already made my move to CO. I did not change my address with them right away as my husband was going back and forth from VA to here.
When I finally changed my address before prescriptions were sent out, they sent them to the VA address and of course no one was there any more. As messed up as their computer system was then, they sent out replacements and billed me again saying it was my fault and I didn't change my address before they sent the medicine.
They don't send a confirmation when you change your address so it is my word against theirs I am disputing it with my bank. $75 is a lot of money!!!
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
It took me about 2 months to clear up some issues with Express/Medco. I had to talk to probably 3 supervisors and they still couldn't fix it. Even they were annoyed.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96117 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
Medco has been horrible for me for years---denying coverage of meds, only covering 6 pills of Alinia for $35, severely limiting the amount of any med that my drs rx.
And I NEVER won on appealing it. BUT, I did usually (not always) win on having my dr apply for a Quantity Exception, when they limited the amount per month.
But now that they have merged with Express Scripts, it's waaay worse!! Plus, they are slower than molasses at sending out the med, and then I am out of it.
The amount of denials and hassles are endless with both of them.
If your dr in the future could truthfully (or slightly stretching it?) say that the med was for one of the co-infections, that would be more likely to work, as they wouldn't know anything about them.
One other really important thing that most people don't know: when your dr rx's IV abx or Bicillin, that should be filled through Major Medical, not your pharmacy benefit. And once your plan has covered the amount they allow for Lyme (usually 28 days), you can then usually get it covered by not having preauthorized.
Instead, buy it out of pocket through Infuserve (or simlar), and have them submit it to insurance. More often than not, it is covered without questions. It doesn't work for everyone, but it often does work.
[ 03-04-2013, 05:54 AM: Message edited by: Rumigirl ]
Posts: 3766 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
I feel your pain. It feels like Medco is holding me hostage. No doubt my file has been flagged as a "problem patient" for the numerous issues I've had to call them about.
Hope you are able to find a workaround.
-------------------- ---------- Danni Posts: 311 | From Glen Mills, PA | Registered: Jan 2009
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic