Damnit I'm pissed at Blue Cross and Blue Shield!

[glen123098]

This is sort of embarrassing but I am 23 years old,and I have severe erectile disfunction. I have only been successful in sex once, so its a huge problem. I decided to go to my doctor today to address the problem, and he gave me a prescription for Viagra. I was incredibly happy, but when I got to the pharmacy I learned that insurance will not cover it, and even worse its 136 god damn dollars! I live on a fixed income of less than 700 a month so obviously that is a huge problem. Why are insurance companies allowed to deny me my basic human right to have sex? I don't get it but damnit am I pissed. I now understand the humiliation women have to go through whenever they are denied birth control. But does anybody here have any ideas of what I can do, or know of any drugs that is covered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

[supernova]

1. Ask your doc if he as samples

Drug reps come around all the time and hand out samples for free. Except Oxycontin. He or the practice should have some.

He should have given you some samples anyway, so you could test it out and see if it helps your situation.

Much luck to you. That must be awfully difficult to be a young man with this situation.

[glen123098]

4. Yeah I called my doctor.

I'm gonna ask for samples, but unfortunately they will not last forever.

[Warpy]

2. Insurance companies have taken a lot of heat lately

for approving Viagra but refusing to cover birth control pills. Their response, instead of doing the right thing, has been to abandon their coverage of Viagra.

You might contact your doctor to fight with the bastards, but it's unlikely to do much good. All you can do at this point is call around for prices and save for the best price you can get and fill one pill at a time. Pharmacists are used to filling partial prescriptions for people who can't afford a full one.

Viagra is a blockbuster drug on patent. The patent has only a few more years to run and then it will be generic, which means the price will drop eventually.

It sucks but it's not the worst horror story out there. Too many of us can't get insurance at all because we have life threatening illnesses.

This is the best advice I can give you.

[glen123098]

3. That's a terrible way of going about it.

Its like our society refuses to acknowledge people have sex. But yes, thank god this isn't life threatening, but damnit I want to make love to my girlfriend. Insurance companies should be forced to cover both Viagra and birth control. And yes I already called my doctor, and he should be giving me a call later today. Thank you for this message. I can't wait for viagra to go generic.

[Warpy]

6. Remember, one pill at a time

It's a great way to discover if it will work for you, at all. It's entirely conceivable that your problem is neurological and not vascular, and that means your best bet is a surgical one and BC/BS will pay for that.

Good luck. I can't imagine being a 23 year old who wants to and can't.

[nightrain]

5. have you considered therapy?

[glen123098]

9. I see a therapist once a month.

I've never talked to him about this, but I guess I could next time.

[nightrain]

13. great idea! perhaps boost your frequency, you might get more out of therapy that way.

[otohara]

12. 70% Cases Are Physical - 30%

are psychological causes although often there are both physical and psychological reasons for the condition.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/68643.php

[nykym]

7. You could try to

contact Pfizer. Often Drug companies provide help to people who can't afford a drug.

This from the Pfizer website:

Uninsured? Need help paying for medicine? Pfizer has programs that can help, no matter your age or income. You may even qualify for free Pfizer medicines.

Click here for more info www.PfizerHelpfulAnswers.com

[glen123098]

8. Great Idea Thank you!

Yeah this might work. I'm gonna try this!

[tomm2thumbs]

10. just as a reference, this article shows another program (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/14/free-lipitor-viagra-other_n_203408.html

at least it gives you a sense that options are out there, not necessarily that this is the one

good luck

[glen123098]

11. Thank you!

You've all been a big help to me, don't know what I'd do with out you guys and gals!