posted
I have a script here for a 30 day supply of zithromax - which my insurance will cover - but I have to pick it up every 3 days. With how long it takes me to recover from a day "out", it's unlikely I will put myself through this.
Plus, my medicare supplement is close to $500 every 3 months thanks to my doctor-hopping throughout this (it kept jumping every time I saw a new specialist), so there is no way I'm paying an abx copay every 3 days on top of the skyrocketing premium for my supplement.
Is it my insurance or the drug? My doctor wrote it for 30 days, but I can only have 3 pills at a time. They even gave me 30 days worth of Klonopin in one clip, so I find this stupid.
I doubt I'm going to take this one, because I'm limiting the number of hoops I'm going to jump through, and this is just another one of their hoops.
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posted
I was on Zithromax for 30 days and I got it all at once. I'd have to say it's your insurance.
Good luck.
Posts: 97 | From Clinton, CT | Registered: Jun 2007
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Contact your the insurance company. They will have your doctor fill out a form and then you will only have to pick it up once a month. At least that's what I've seen happen for myself and others.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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tailz
Unregistered
posted
Thanks! I wonder why the pharmacy didn't tell me that. There was no way I was going to force myself to go out every 3 days, regardless of how I feel. Thanks again!
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cantgiveupyet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8165
posted
If your on medicrap, ummm medicare, some plans have limits :-( So, i bet that is what yours is. I think medicare.com has info on their site for each plan in your area.
I go on medicare in march, and ive been trying to find plans with NO limits, hard to do.
Why did your medicare suppliment go up? Do they raise it based on the appointments?
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pos babs, bart, igenex WB igm/igg Posts: 3156 | From Lyme limbo | Registered: Oct 2005
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
I've been on 2 medicare prescription coverage plans and they both have allowed me to increase the limit to 30 days by having my doctor fill out a form.
No guarantee that yours will but my guess is that they will.
My prescription premium went up a huge amount from last year. I can't remember the percentage but I think it was close to 40%. It was not based on usage but an overall increase for everyone probably based on their overall experience.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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Monitor how much zith it takes to produce your herx. You might be able to split pills and still do enough bug killing to produce a herx. For me, 60 mg once every 10 days has been enough to trigger herx, with the level maxing about 3 days after the dose.
Posts: 727 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2006
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
What about generic zith?
It may be cheaper to buy 30 days worth than your co-payment for your insurance may be.
Sheesh! You'd probably save that in gas money.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I think it might also depend on the dose. For some reason certain doses trigger things in their computer programs. So if it is for x amount they assume you would be doing three days worth thus going in there every three days. Sometimes if they prescribe for a different dose you can avoid that trigger
Posts: 984 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2006
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david1097
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3662
posted
Whats the dose? zith has a 3 or so day half life so if you take a high dose every 3 days the average might still be ok.
Posts: 1184 | From north america | Registered: Feb 2003
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Peacesoul
Unregistered
posted
Too bad I live in another country, I have 18 boxes of zithro I will prob never use.
Silly that they will only give u 3 days at a time. Sounds fishy!
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
Very strange. I dont really know about medicare though. I think that is way too much for a sick person to deal with.
would it be different with a generic?
Hopefully if you make a stink you will get all of it at once.
Good Luck MElissa
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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minoucat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5175
posted
It's the insurance. Same thing happened to me on private insurance.
Your doctor has to be willing to argue with the insurance and provide them written directions that the zith is required in 30 day doses. Not guaranteed to work, but it often does. Very hard on the docs--major time waster.
It's pretty common, though, so LD docs really should have standard statements written up and ready to fax to the insurance companies with blanks for the patient's names.
I found that what pharmacy I dealt with made a big difference. Walmart could care less (my local one, anyway) and made no effort. My small local pharmacy worked hard to help.
Insurance made it very difficult, which is why I think a form originating from the doc and faxed to the insurance rep and to the pharmacy (get a specific name insurance rep and number) would be helpful -- my insurance company took forever to get the form to the LLMD, then said they'd "lost" it at least 3 times.
I hate stuff like this -- it's very worrisome to pop your head up into the insurance strikezone, for doctors and for patients.
Good luck.
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