Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
I just saw my LLMD and she wants to start me on bicillin shots (2 shots per week).
I got one at the office and it was $92 for the med and $40 for the injection. Yikes. This is going to add up and it's okay for me to do them at home.
What's the cheapest pharmacy to get this stuff? I have insurance and can go down to CVS, but I was wondering if there's a better way.
Thanks!
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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surprise
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Member # 34987
posted
Judie, when I was on Bicillin, I had to pay full/ manufactures price through my LLMD's office,
but then I put the prescription through my pharmacy (like CVS) they ran it through my insurance, and a large portion was covered.
My prescription said my Dr.s office was going to administer, but they trained my H so I would bring the box home. HTH.
-------------------- Lyme positive PCR blood, and positive Bartonella henselae Igenex, 2011. low positive Fry biofilm test, 2012. Update 7/16- After extensive treatments, doing okay! Posts: 2518 | From USA | Registered: Nov 2011
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
Thanks! That sounds like the situation we're in. I have no idea what my prescription says about administering.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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posted
I'm currently fighting with my insurance company over bicillin. They will not cover it at the pharmacy level.
It is classified as a non self injectable drug, so they denied it. I am currently paying out of pocket, and getting it at my local Walgreens. My wife has no problem administering them at home, in fact, I think I've noticed an evil grin a few times before the stick!
I'm paying $674 for a box of 10 injections. You can print off a coupon from goodrx.com and get them cheaper.
My cost would be $800 without the coupon.
I will say that I have made tremendous progress over the last 4 months of use!
Keith
Posts: 19 | From Central Alabama | Registered: Sep 2011
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
Thanks Keith, I'm beginning the fight with my insurance company too. It was just denied. That coupon site looks great!
I read somewhere that Costco has it for cheap.
There was also the mention of another source in this thread, but it's a bit out of my comfort zone.
"My husband and I have Lyme; we shoot each other. Our LLMD had us order http://www.calvetsupply.com/category/Antibiotics Penicillin G with Benzathine - 100 cc. is the same as Bicillin. It costs us under $100./mo. for both of us, including needles and syringes."
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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posted
Judie, I could be using the same thing while fighting my insurance company, but I think it's against the rules to discuss it on the forum.
And it is not quite the same as bicillin-la. The pen G with benzathine is a 50/50 mixture of fast acting procaine, and long acting benzathine.
Also with bicillin-la, you are getting 1,200,00 units of pure benzathine per 2ml dose. With the other variety, you are getting 300,000 units of procaine, and 300,000 units of benzathine with the same 2ml dose.
I'm not saying that either of us should or should not use it. Just letting you know that the dosage is weaker, and it also contains 50% of a fast acting penicillin.
For all I know, it could be better.
My theory at this point, is that desperate times call for desperate measures! Posts: 19 | From Central Alabama | Registered: Sep 2011
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Judie
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posted
Keith - Thanks for explaining the differences. I was wondering if it was the same thing.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
I just talked to the insurance and they couldn't find bicillin anywhere on their formulary or even for medical (like in an office).
Ugh. The price is 80% of my monthly income. (the coupon WILL help, thank you)
They said the doctor or myself can write an appeal.
Is it better to have the doctor write the letter?
Is it even worth it to appeal?
I'm so confused. I don't know what to do. I'm suppose to do my next injection Saturday. The doctor's visit already ate up a ton of my money for the month.
All my orals have been covered so far.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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susank
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22150
posted
Does your insurance company have their own special pharmacy? That is how I got mine. Covered under medical.
-------------------- Pos.Bb culture 2012 Labcorp - no bands ever Igenex - Neg. 4 times With overall bands: IGM 18,28,41,66 IND: 23-25,34,39 IGG 41,58 IND: 39 Bart H IGG 40 Posts: 1613 | From Texas | Registered: Aug 2009
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
"Does your insurance company have their own special pharmacy?"
They do and they didn't see it listed, even under medical.
Not sure what to do.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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posted
My pharmacist said he could cheaply compound it . Call a compounding pharmacist ( or several ) and get quotes.
Posts: 153 | From Huntsville Al | Registered: Jun 2013
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posted
My pharmacist said he could cheaply compound it . Call a compounding pharmacist ( or several ) and get quotes.
Posts: 153 | From Huntsville Al | Registered: Jun 2013
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posted
My pharmacist said he could cheaply compound it . Call a compounding pharmacist ( or several ) and get quotes.
Posts: 153 | From Huntsville Al | Registered: Jun 2013
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susank
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22150
posted
Sounds like your special pharmacy is playing dumb.
It is prescribed for many things.
-------------------- Pos.Bb culture 2012 Labcorp - no bands ever Igenex - Neg. 4 times With overall bands: IGM 18,28,41,66 IND: 23-25,34,39 IGG 41,58 IND: 39 Bart H IGG 40 Posts: 1613 | From Texas | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
My insurance finally told me that if I had it administered at a medical facility, by a GP, that it would be covered. They lied before, so I guess we'll see what happens.
My LLMD is a 1200 mile round trip, so that's not an option twice a week!
The next problem is trying to find a local GP to administer the injections at their office. I've been turned down by 3 so far, and that's with a note and prescription from my LLMD for them to be administered.
The first two didn't want the liability, and the last one started arguing with me about Lyme treatment. He said he'd never heard of bicillin being used to treat Lyme.
I told him that I just wanted the shots administered, and if I had thought he knew how to treat Lyme, that I wouldn't be driving 1200 miles to get it treated to begin with. Needless to say, I'm still searching for one who will cooperate with my LLMD.
As far as the appeal, I wrote my own letter. I just called and told them I wanted to appeal their decision not to cover it, and they sent out the forms to fill out.
Then I got a letter stating that the appeals had been denied. The letter states that there are two more levels of appeal that can be filed with them, but the lady I talked to said it would be best to go to the state level. She said that more internal appeals would most likely result in the same answer.
I can't speak for you Judie, but to me, it's definitely worth it! They told me originally that I could go to ANY medical facility to have the shots administered, and they'd be covered.
After I had 28 shots administered, they told me that they weren't paying because it had to be administered by a GP, and that it wasn't covered under the physicians contract that I chose!
In the meantime, I racked up a bill of over $4,000.00 to the doctor who was giving them to me! All I got in my denial letter was an apology from them because they told me ANY medical facility would work.
I think their whole intention is to cover you up with paperwork, and make you give up! I told the customer service lady that it wasn't just about the money anymore, that it was about the principle now! I did EXACTLY what they told me to do, then got denied after I did it.
I have requested audio tapes and transcripts from my conversation with the person who initially told me that they would be covered, and will file a complaint with the state when the last denial letter arrives.
When I originally appealed their decision, they sent out a separate form for each claim, so I had 28 forms to fill out and mail back to them! That's a LOT of writing and stamps, but again, I think their whole purpose is to make you give up! I just wrote one letter pleading my case, and put a copy in each appeal form.
Keith
Posts: 19 | From Central Alabama | Registered: Sep 2011
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Judie
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Member # 38323
posted
Keith - that sounds like a nightmare! I barely have enough energy to pay 1 bill. What a pain in the ass!
I spoke to my insurance and they said my husband's company opted not to pay for the med because it's so expensive.
Ms Dixie - Called all the compounding pharmacies in my area and they said they couldn't do it. It's commercially available and they can't get the ingredients.
I'm so at a lost and devastated. If I still had plane medicare part D like last year, it WOULD be covered!!!!
I opted to take my husbands insurance this year and am already getting screwed.
This has gotten pretty said. My husband and I even talked about getting divorced so I could go back to having just medicare to get my meds paid for.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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susank
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22150
posted
I wonder if your ins. co. would cover Bicillin CR.
It's a bit cheaper - maybe would help vs no Bicillin at all.
What's crazy is that this is really a cheap drug.
I wonder what the pharmacies actually pay for it.
I know many folks have researched the animal version because it's so cheap - but I have my reservations about it and personally would not do it.
Myself, I think I am having some problems with Bicillin - perhaps a serum sickness-like reaction. The Penicillins seem to be on the top of the list for causing SS/SSLR.
When researching this I came upon info about the injectable form for Penicillin G - when mixed with procaine - can cause problems. Like Hoigne'syndrome.
Not sure if Bicillin CR has procaine in it. The cheap animal stuff does. I say not worth it.
-------------------- Pos.Bb culture 2012 Labcorp - no bands ever Igenex - Neg. 4 times With overall bands: IGM 18,28,41,66 IND: 23-25,34,39 IGG 41,58 IND: 39 Bart H IGG 40 Posts: 1613 | From Texas | Registered: Aug 2009
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
The insurance covers no bicillin. They couldn't even find the word and they searched it in multiple ways (benzylpenicillin, etc...).
When they did find a reference, it was to say it was not covered and there was no alternative for it offered.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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Judie
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posted
Dixie - I called all the compounding pharmacies in my area. No one would compound because they said they couldn't get the ingredients.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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susank
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22150
posted
Call Infuserve in Florida.
Maybe they compound it.
Or maybe they sell the "normal" Bicillin-LA - not componded - cheaper to patients who self pay - no insurance.
Worth asking. They compounded and shipped Glutathione to me here in Texas. Dunno about California tho.
-------------------- Pos.Bb culture 2012 Labcorp - no bands ever Igenex - Neg. 4 times With overall bands: IGM 18,28,41,66 IND: 23-25,34,39 IGG 41,58 IND: 39 Bart H IGG 40 Posts: 1613 | From Texas | Registered: Aug 2009
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