Insurance company denying a new prescription for a drug I have been taking

[liberal N proud]

I have been taking a medication for more than a year. I returned to the doctor for a follow up visit last week and get a new prescription.

Since our company uses a mail order for any long term medication, I had to send the prescription in and wait for them to send it. Usually no problem and the doctor provides a second prescription or samples to get you through.

This time the doctor gave me 10 days supply of samples along with the prescription. I just got off the phone with the insurance company because they sent me a notice that they are denying the coverage of the prescription and the doctor would have to change the medication to something they (the insurance company) would cover.

This is sick people, the insurance companies dictate the treatment we are allowed to receive. The doctors are over a barrel.

To late in the day to call the doctor today. I have a 2 week business trip in Europe coming up with no medication. I will be lucky if I get this straightened out and have a prescription that will work effectively.

:wtf:

[PDJane]

1. I am sorry..........

I'm living on samples at the moment, too......it's not fun.

[orleans]

2. why do repukes want INSURANCE COMPANIES running our health care?

do they really want INSURANCE to come between them and their doctor? what morons!

[babylonsister]

3. I've had to switch to all generic, too, and drop one that there's

no equivalent for. I haven't started taking them yet, so don't know about any negative reactions I might have.

[slipslidingaway]

4. That stinks...can you buy it in Europe??? n/t

[Ocracoker16]

5. the same thing has happened to me twice

It is just ridiculous the way these insurance companies jack us around at our expense. It is just stupid to refuse to allow you to continue to take a medicine that you have been taking for a year which has proven effective for your condition. This is a medicine that your doctor instructed you to continue to take. I think asking you to try other cheaper medicines when you already are on something that works is crazy. You may not respond to some of these other medicines or they may cause really bad side effects. This is a clear instance of insurance getting between you and your doctor.

[timeforpeace]

6. Your doctor likely knew this, or if not does now and will make the therapeutic class interchange.

[peacebird]

7. which sounds good but I know that not all drugs are equal

I have some drugs that I can take as the generic, and there are others where the generic simply does not work in my body. It can give me hives, or violent itching under the skin, or just not do the job.
I know there are bunches of different classes of drugs for allergies for instance. I have tried a bunch of different prescripts but in my case most do nothing, and there is one drug that works like a charm.

It really should be up to the doctor to choose the treatment. And the doctor should not be forced to change prescriptions based on which pharmacuetical company owns your insurance plan.

[Mojorabbit]

10. I listened

to my hubby who is a family physician hollering into the phone at an insurance company bean counter,"Well, what the hell will you cover for this diagnosis?" when his first two choices of medication for his patient were denied.

[Ocracoker16]

11. I think you are oversimplyfing this

I have been on over 40 medicines. I have taken entire classes of medicines and found only one to be effective and tolerable. Some things work well, but they cause horrible side effects that make it near impossible to take them. I could provide a million examples which might show that your assertion isn't always valid for every drug class.

[peacebird]

12. then we are on the same side - no?

[Coyote_Bandit]

8. Doctor? Prescription?

I haven't seen a doctor for any reason in nearly 15 years. I cannot wait another 15 years for health care reform to be re-considered. IMHO, it is inexcusable that a Dem President with an majority in both the House and Senate cannot deliver meaningful healthcare reform.

Sorry for your inconvenience. Consider how lucky you are compared to those of us who are denied access to healthcare.

[smoogatz]

9. For profit health insurance is for suckers.

Just ask your congressman.

[TexasObserver]

13. it's not right