LymeNet Flash: Cheapest cost for bicillin LA?

This is topic Cheapest cost for bicillin LA? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :

Good news -- after that first shot, bicillin seems to be a great treatment for me! Truly, one shot seemed to help clear some symptoms more than a couple of months of amoxy. [Big Grin]

Bad news -- looks like I will have to pay for this out of pocket for as long as I can afford it. It is very expensive, bicillin LA 1.2 M goes for about $50/shot, or about $500 for a box of ten in the pharmacies near me. [Frown]

Anybody hear of it being sold cheaper anywhere in the tri-state region or northeast?

Thanks everyone!

Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :

What tri-state region?

Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :

Okay, duh, VERMONT!

Posted by David95928 (Member # 3521) on :

You may be able to file for the Bicillin under major medical rather than the prescription plan. It took a good bit of arm twisting to learn that. It still was more expensive than running it through the Rx plan, and I had to pay up-front, but they covered 80% as I recall. PM me if you want to know about some other optins. I've been at this a while.

Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :

Did you check with your insurance company?

I did not know for a while that if I ordered my shots through a mail away pharmacy, it would be covered under my insurance.

Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :

Hi 6kids, David, Savebabe & Cave

Thanks so much for your replies and information. Some folks have been PMing me with info, thanks it is really appreciated. Lymenetter's come through again!! [Smile]

I had a long talk with a rep from my medical insurance company after posting this question. Turns out that they will cover some of the med, but they will not tell me over the phone how much they will cover, nor will they tell me how they make that decision!!!

It is based on 'reasonable' cost, but they will not tell me what they think the reasonable cost for bicillin is.

I have to pay first and then submit the receipts. Perhaps I was not adept or assertive enough in speaking with them, I get so very frustrated when dealing with them because their coverage is always less than hoped for. Seems that they think that an llmd should charge almost nothing for a visit as a 'reasonable' cost -- ha!

Thanks for all your wonderful help, guys and gals. Onward and forward with treatment! My best wishes.

Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :

I would tell you where the 'cheapest' is,,,but my tailfeathers ar still smoldering from the last time I mentioned it.

Me thinks you probably KNOW too, otherwise we better go 'off' the baord!! Its NOT a source for ALL patients but surely a source for 'some',,,hopefully--just don--

Posted by lymebytes (Member # 11830) on :

Hi, I am trying to get on Bicillin right now and I am glad to hear it has worked so well for you.

My insurance will only cover L-A shots if I do them in a "clinical" setting, either at the doctor's office or some hospitals have outpatient IV/Shots services.

First of all (check with your doctor about this and then your insurance) since my insurance won't cover LA (bought at the pharmacy so I can do them at home) but they will cover Bicillin C-R only.

Many don't understand that both L-A and C-R contain benzathine penicillin G. C-R contains slightly less peniciillin G and has penicllin procaine.

Some insurances will cover Bicillin C-R and not L-A.

Take care.

[ 19. August 2007, 01:47 PM: Message edited by: lymebytes ]

Posted by lymebytes (Member # 11830) on :

I just stated the differences Cave - both have penicillin G, CR just contains slightly less than LA and has penicillin procaine.

Check out this link. It states it clearly - they once gave CR to syphilis patients by accident - it wasn't that they got the WRONG medicine it was that they recived a smaller dose of pencillin G recommended by the CDC: http://tinyurl.com/28l3z2

Here is another for good comparisons: http://www.rxlist.com/drugs/alpha_b.htm#BiBn

I have studied this subject indepth, even how fast it enters the system and maintains blood levels and written about it here: http://www.truthaboutlymedisease.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=542

Bottom line, both contain what is needed to kill LD Pencillin G.

[ 19. August 2007, 01:52 PM: Message edited by: lymebytes ]

Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :

Thanks for all the information Lymebytes - I hope it works well for you too! Yes, this one is a keeper for me. I am getting my second shot today, and actually looking forward to it, it worked so well last week.

Thanks just don and Cave -- yes, I remember that old deleted thread. Wish I copied it before it was cut!

I always say, by any means necessary. I would not hesitate to use any valid source when health is so clearly at stake!

Posted by David95928 (Member # 3521) on :

My experience with "Reasonable cost" was that, after I really pressed them on it, they would consider their network pharmacies' prices to be reasonable. One thing to be aware of is that they sometimes price it out in 600,00 MU units. Thus, 1.2 MU is two units of 600.000. Then of course they make seemingly deliberate mistakes. In my case, perserverence eventually paid off and I got them doing it right for a while.

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