December 6, 2006 - 3:30pm
I am going to get a prescription filled for my grandmother, who takes Viagra for her Pulmonary Hypertension. She has been on the medicine since 2001. Since then, we have been fortunate enough to know enough doctors to give her samples to last her through each month. Now, her samples are almost out and it was time to have a script filled. The price of Viagra at the pharmacy for 1 (one) fifty milligram tablet was $10.40. Insurance does not cover this medication for her for two reasons.
1. She is female
2. It is being used off label
Well, as I'm sure most of you know, Viagra was intended to be a heart medication, but changed it's marketing after finding the effects it has. Now, I am going to pick up a prescription called "Revatio".
Active ingredient in Viagra: Sildenafil Citrate
Active ingredient in Revatio: Sildenafil Citrate
Cost of Revatio through insurance for one month is $2.00
Cost of Viagra through one month is over $1100.
Not to make such a long post, but this is what really honks me off about pharmaceutical companies. They are allowed to make the same da(r)n drug in a different dosage, and market it differently. This is absolutely absurd, though commonplace. Why an insurance company will accept claims on one drug over the other, when the two are absolutely the same drug in different doses, is ridiculous. The pharmacists have told me in the past that since it wasn't approved for female use, and insurance pays for it, it is a form of the insurance agency saying that it is okay to take the drug. Now that Pfizer has remarketed the pill as a Pulmonary Hypertension drug, insurance decides that now they can pay for it.
Anyone care to guess what is listed as the main side effect?
Gtrplayer
December 6, 2006 - 11:22pm
#2
Just a follow up
I went in to pick up the prescription, which was phoned in by the doc, and the pharmacist says that insurance declined it until, "doc gives prior authorization". The fun world of insurance companies.
gtrplayer
December 7, 2006 - 12:57am
#3
Well, I don't know if this
Well, I don't know if this is the case everywhere, but I show Revatio 20mg to be more expensive per pill than Viagra 25mg.
Revatio 20mg cost $11.72 per pill
Viagra 25mg cost $10.76 per pill
Of course these figures are without insurance, and the reason Revatio ends up being so much cheaper is that insurance covers it. It can be annoying, but at least there is this option available rather than having insurance not cover the Viagra at all (and still needing it).
December 7, 2006 - 9:36am
#4
You are correct Incognito,
You are correct Incognito, the medicine without insurance is actually more per pill, which makes you wonder why they would keep the price point the same if this drug truly is for pulmonary hypertension. To me, it seems like dipping your hand into the honey pot twice. Not real sure why they are requiring a doctor's written explanation of why the med is being used, if they already know what it is being used for. Under no circumstances would grandma's insurance pay for Viagra. Now they are requiring a doctor's note to accompany the Revatio insurance. Surely I am not alone in having so much trouble with insurance companies.
gtrplayer
December 7, 2006 - 10:27am
#5
No way, you're definitely
No way, you're definitely not alone.. insurance companies are a pain in the you know where.. I've had so many run arounds with my insurance company, I almost think it'd be easier to just pay the price without insurance rather than deal with them.
______________________________________________________
The universe is shaped exactly like the earth, if you go straight long enough, you'll end up where you were.
December 7, 2006 - 10:52am
#6
GuitarPlayerin reference
GuitarPlayer
in reference to...."Not real sure why they are requiring a doctor's written explanation of why the med is being used, if they already know what it is being used for."...
it is exactly as i am sure you have guessed, only b/c the med is high dollar. so, your grannys insurance says..."hmmm.... now does she really need that? i know the doctor thinks it is important for her health...but it is kind of expensive... we might not come out on top of this one:("
all thoughts and opinions expressed are those of my own and should not be mistaken for medical advice. i am not a doctor nor a pharmacist. all medical questions should be answered by a licensed pharmacist, doctor, or primary care manager.
December 8, 2006 - 12:35pm
#7
Pic of Revatio, front and back
Well, here are the pictures. Took some time, but finally got insurance straightened out.
Revatio 20mg front:
Back of Revatio Tablet: Back of Revatio 20mg tablet
Click on Thumbnail to enlarge
Maybe this isn't a big deal for a lot of people, but for us this is an absolute blessing. The cost difference was $940 between this and Viagra, same ingredients, different reasons for prescribing.
Revatio, by Pfizer. This med is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor used to treat pulmonary hypertension.
20mg Sildenafil Citrate.
Front Imprint: RVT 20
Backside: Pfizer
Color : White
will take measurements later.
gtrplayer
Is it an erection lasting 4 or more hours? LOL