Quit date might be postponed

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No flames please

I went to try and get my perscription filled and found out the cost was $130. Insurance will not cover it. I asked the Pharmacist where I might go to find it cheaper and he said Costco might have it for less. I was going to go today to fill it at Costco but their Pharmacy is closed on Sunday : ( I am going to go to the Costco near work to check tommorow. If it is still so expensive I am going to call my Dr and see if he can perscribe Zyban which also has high success rates. I am also going to call Pfizer tommorow and ask them about payment assistance for the medication.
It isn't $130 and I am done I need to continue for 12 or so weeks and it is $130 monthly. I am very commited to doing this and am not giving up to finding a quit method that is right for me. If nothing else works I will end up paying for the $130 perscription
Thanks for your continued support : )

MrsBonj

I'm surprised that your insurance won't cover it.  You might want to call them too or ask your doctor if there is a generic.

jess98ac

Well that just stinks all around!!  I hope you find it cheaper!!

 

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Mrs Bonj- Most insurances won't cover smoking cesation programs : (

MonaLS

Ugh.  Ours just recently began covering smoking cessation in 2008.  Check with your employer's occupational health department too, ours is offering it for free to employees but it isn't widely publicized. 

Kim2884

Yale is doing a study on Chantix and Zyban right now. You should try to participate if it is convenient for you. Then you won't have to pay at all, and they may even pay you!

http://ycci.yale.edu/clinicaltrials/trials/trial.php?id=88

PrincessDi80

That is CRAP that your insurance won't cover it, you would think it it would save them money long term if most of their patients quit smoking, ::shakes head at american health care::

KAG061876

Grace- only you can make the changes for your life. If those changes are delayed by a day--- thats okay....dont beat yourself up.

Mikes1Gal

Ugh Grace, that sucks...but unfortunately, I'm not surprised your insurance won't cover Chantix - it's rare for insurance to cover something like smoking cessation.  Most insurances won't pay the upfront costs of a smoking cessation program, because the benefits usually don't show up until much further down the road...therefore it's no financial benefit for them to put up the money, since it's rare for you to stay long enough with an employer for them to see returns on their investment.

Here's the Pfizer site for assistance with Rxs:  http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/misc/Default.aspx If the Chantix is still too much at Costco, or if you don't qualify through the Pfizer program, have your doc write a Rx for bupropion.  It's the same med as Zyban, and since it's generic it'll be much less expensive than Chantix.  And don't beat yourself up about not starting at your original quit date...studies show that just having a set quit date makes all the difference.  Even people who fall off the wagon and have to set a new quit date (after starting up on a smoking cessation program) have a much higher rate of success than those without a plan.  You can do this, I know you can!

august282005

You should also contact your HR dept at work (or DH should depending who carries your insurance), they might have a smoking cessation program paid for by your health ins.carrier that will cover the cost of the prescription.

GL quitting!!

gespenst

I had one patient ask for the prescription.  He had to get it preauthorized and part of the requirement was that he join a support group.  The online Chantix support group counted for these purposes.  He had to enroll and send a copy of his enrollment page to the insurance before they would preauthorize the medication.

HTH.

MrsBonJovi

That sucks!
If all else fails, ask your doc about Wellbutrin. Same thing as Zyban and you can get it as a generic for 4 bucks a month. That's what I did. I don't blame you for not wanting to shell out that kind of money.

LeesheBee

You might want to try the Walmart and Target pharmacy's too.  I was just looking up the cost of a Rx drug last week and it was actually cheaper at both of those than at Costco.  $130/mo is a lot of money, I don't blame you for trying to find the best deal.