Pharmacy tip

happysmileylady · 07-29-2007, 09:13 PM

Just thought I would share my experience with pharmacy issues.

I am in my 2ww with my first IUI. My insurance covers all my testing and meds and such but at various percentages. I was on Clomid and Menopur this month and the Menopur is EXPENSIVE. I usually get my scripts filled at CVS and they informed me that the Menopur would be $500 WITH insurance coverage (I believe that it's like $2k or something like that without.) I called the dr office and asked if there was a cheaper sub.

Instead of a different script, they asked where I got it, told them and they said I needed to go to a different pharmacy. There's a local specialty pharmacy about an hour from my house (but closer to the office, they are about an hour too) and that's who the office recommended. They offer the Menopur at $250 BEFORE insurance. Unfortunately, my insurance doesn't cover the specialty pharmacy. No worries, the Kroger pharmacy, which my insurance does cover, matches the prices of the specialty pharmacy. SO, the Menopur ended up costing me only $25.

So, my tip is, research your pharmacy options completely. I had no idea that prices could vary at all, let alone so much.

SHANNONK · 08-12-2007, 04:06 PM

my insurance pays for prometrium and femera. all my labs and us however not iui or ivf

lianyla · 08-13-2007, 08:19 AM

Yep. The VERY first thing you need to do before starting fertility treatments is call your insurance. Ask them which pharmacy they "prefer" for fertility drugs. Mine turned out to be a specialty pharmacy affiliated w/ Walgreens in New Jersey called "Schrafts". They were the only one that my insurance would cover 100%. It worked out GREAT, but I never would have known this if I did not make that call. Check it out. They usually have a pharmacy they will "send' you to.

**BC-MiracleTwins** · 09-23-2007, 10:23 AM

my insurance covers Everything. Meds, IVF, you name it, they do it ( only because i ma in a mandated state). I use an online pharmacy IVP Care, that send your meds the next day.There is another online place also, but i canot remember.

SomedayMommy · 09-26-2007, 07:52 AM

WONDERFUL advice!

melgrace · 09-30-2007, 01:47 PM

My insurance does not cover any treatment - no meds at all. We use Shraft's too - through mail order, this is who my RE recommended - we got menopur through them for $50 a vial. We have friends who own a pharmacy that we usually get our meds through because they give us a discount - he said that his cost (what he pays for it, not what he sells it at) is $60 a vial - so this was much cheaper.

Fed'sWife · 10-10-2007, 08:38 PM

I know what you mean. I was under the impression that I was going to have to pay thousands for meds regardless and wasted a year because of it. I had a weird gut feeling in the night...pulled out my old IVF med list (good for a year) and took it to chain pharmacy. Got it all for around 100.00
Funny. Had NO CLUE a year ago.
I love this board because of that. Everyone pulls for everyone else to get the best help than can!

victoriagirl · 11-08-2007, 05:33 PM

We called around a lot. Schrafts was way cheaper. Two friends of mine who did IVF before me one the same exact meds paid $3500 and $4200. Mine was $2,090. Insurance only covered prednisone, antibiotic and estrogen patch. They were really easy to work with.

SHANNONK · 11-09-2007, 03:15 AM

can u post schafts i spelt that wrong website thanks.

melgrace · 11-09-2007, 06:05 AM

I use them too - I deal with them by phone - their number is 800-876-4545. My RE just faxes them a prescription then they call me to set up delivery time.

07-29-2007, 09:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
happysmileylady 800-899 post 10 of hearts Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Indpls IN Posts: 872	Pharmacy tip Just thought I would share my experience with pharmacy issues. I am in my 2ww with my first IUI. My insurance covers all my testing and meds and such but at various percentages. I was on Clomid and Menopur this month and the Menopur is EXPENSIVE. I usually get my scripts filled at CVS and they informed me that the Menopur would be $500 WITH insurance coverage (I believe that it's like $2k or something like that without.) I called the dr office and asked if there was a cheaper sub. Instead of a different script, they asked where I got it, told them and they said I needed to go to a different pharmacy. There's a local specialty pharmacy about an hour from my house (but closer to the office, they are about an hour too) and that's who the office recommended. They offer the Menopur at $250 BEFORE insurance. Unfortunately, my insurance doesn't cover the specialty pharmacy. No worries, the Kroger pharmacy, which my insurance does cover, matches the prices of the specialty pharmacy. SO, the Menopur ended up costing me only $25. So, my tip is, research your pharmacy options completely. I had no idea that prices could vary at all, let alone so much.

08-13-2007, 08:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
lianyla 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: May 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,027	Call your insurance Co. first thing to see which pharmacy.. Yep. The VERY first thing you need to do before starting fertility treatments is call your insurance. Ask them which pharmacy they "prefer" for fertility drugs. Mine turned out to be a specialty pharmacy affiliated w/ Walgreens in New Jersey called "Schrafts". They were the only one that my insurance would cover 100%. It worked out GREAT, but I never would have known this if I did not make that call. Check it out. They usually have a pharmacy they will "send' you to.

09-26-2007, 07:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
SomedayMommy 10000-15000 post ace of hearts Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 16,194 Blog Entries: 75	WONDERFUL advice! __________________ Stacie(37) DH(30) Bilateral hydros (cauterized), elevated dheas IVF#1 8/02 BFN -- IVF#2 3/05 BFN -- FET#1 6/05 BFN IVF#3 9/05 BFP Ben 4/29/06 -- FET#2 11/07 BFN IVF#4 5/08 BFP Ashley 1/2/09

09-30-2007, 01:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
melgrace 600-699 post 8 of hearts Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kansas City Posts: 664	My insurance does not cover any treatment - no meds at all. We use Shraft's too - through mail order, this is who my RE recommended - we got menopur through them for $50 a vial. We have friends who own a pharmacy that we usually get our meds through because they give us a discount - he said that his cost (what he pays for it, not what he sells it at) is $60 a vial - so this was much cheaper. __________________ Melissa (30), DH (31) DD - 8/04 3rd cycle of clomid - BFP - m/c at 6 1/2 weeks - 4/07 4 more cycles clomid - BFN 2 IUI's - BFN 01/07 - BFP on a natural break cycle!! - due date 10/3

11-09-2007, 06:05 AM	#10 (permalink)
melgrace 600-699 post 8 of hearts Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kansas City Posts: 664	I use them too - I deal with them by phone - their number is 800-876-4545. My RE just faxes them a prescription then they call me to set up delivery time. __________________ Melissa (30), DH (31) DD - 8/04 3rd cycle of clomid - BFP - m/c at 6 1/2 weeks - 4/07 4 more cycles clomid - BFN 2 IUI's - BFN 01/07 - BFP on a natural break cycle!! - due date 10/3

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08-12-2007, 04:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
SHANNONK 300-399 post 5 of hearts Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ALTAMONT NY Posts: 392 Blog Entries: 7	my insurance pays for prometrium and femera. all my labs and us however not iui or ivf

09-23-2007, 10:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
BC-MiracleTwins Preg after loss/ May-June Playgroup Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 5,127 Blog Entries: 36	my insurance covers Everything. Meds, IVF, you name it, they do it ( only because i ma in a mandated state). I use an online pharmacy IVP Care, that send your meds the next day.There is another online place also, but i canot remember.

10-10-2007, 08:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
Fed'sWife 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 89	I know what you mean. I was under the impression that I was going to have to pay thousands for meds regardless and wasted a year because of it. I had a weird gut feeling in the night...pulled out my old IVF med list (good for a year) and took it to chain pharmacy. Got it all for around 100.00 Funny. Had NO CLUE a year ago. I love this board because of that. Everyone pulls for everyone else to get the best help than can!

11-08-2007, 05:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
victoriagirl Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Louisville Posts: 89	We called around a lot. Schrafts was way cheaper. Two friends of mine who did IVF before me one the same exact meds paid $3500 and $4200. Mine was $2,090. Insurance only covered prednisone, antibiotic and estrogen patch. They were really easy to work with.

11-09-2007, 03:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
SHANNONK 300-399 post 5 of hearts Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ALTAMONT NY Posts: 392 Blog Entries: 7	can u post schafts i spelt that wrong website thanks.

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