The Allergy Clinic
Specialists in Allergy & Asthma Care
Specialists in Allergy & Asthma Care
| Saving $$ |
In 1988, when managed care was ramping up, the health care crisis was explained to
me as follows: You can have excellent quality health care, it can be affordable, and you
can have universal coverage. Now pick any two you want; you can never have all three.
As humble physicians, we limit our efforts to making sure that The Allergy Clinic’s
patients are well cared for. Still, the targets are constantly moving, particularly with
insurance coverage for prescription drugs. Co-pays have been rising annually, and
formularies are becoming more restrictive. There are, however, several tactics we
recommend to cope with these challenges.
One is the combination of information and communication. By knowing your plan’s
formulary and sharing it with your physician, you both win. You get your prescription
more quickly and for a lower co-pay; your doctor’s office gets fewer phone calls to
return.
Another idea is taking advantage of rebate programs. Nasonex currently has an offer to
get a FREE 30 day supply for new users, and a $10.00 discount voucher for current
users. That’s the quickest way to turn a $35 co-pay into a $25 co-pay. Similar
programs are also available for Nasacort, except that you get a $20.00 discount
voucher. Veramyst, the "new, improved" version of Flonase, has you sign up for its
program. They email or snail mail you a voucher for a free 30 day supply or a $25.00
discount voucher. Astelin, the nasal antihistamine, has a $10.00 mail-in rebate.
Allegra has gone generic, but Allegra D 12 hour and Allegra D 24 hour each has a
$24.00 mail-in rebate.
Singulair just started its Asthma Information Resources (A.I.R.), which includes a
$10.00 discount.
Another favorite is the free Advair program. Advair, an asthma inhaler, is used regularly
to prevent symptoms. Go to Advair's web site and look for the "Save on Advair" link.
As you fill out the information, it will offer you the opportunity to print out a coupon for a
free Advair if your doctor has never prescribed Advair. If you have been on Advair, it will
offer you a $10 coupon instead.
As for generics, sure they save money. But sometimes they save BIG MONEY. My
advice for self-pay patients is to fill their generics at Costco or Sam’s Club pharmacy.
You don’t have to have a Costco or Sam’s membership to use their pharmacy, and it’s
often worth your while to compare their price to CVS or Walgreen’s. If you are one of
the lucky folks for whom Claritin is helpful, the Sam's Club and Costco generics of
loratadine are incredibly inexpensive. You can buy 2 bottles of 150 pills for about
$11.00! That's about 3 cents/pill. Remember, though, that Claritin is only non-sedating
at 10 mg/day. Many people require 2 or 3 Claritins to achieve adequate relief of their
symptoms. At that dose, it may make you sleepy. And don't forget about the $4.00
generic prescription list at Wal-Mart
If you shop at Mission Allergy, here's how to save a little money: Mention Code: "DM5"
before ordering. You'll get a 15% discount on Premium Microfiber encasings, or a 10%
discount on Barrier Fabric II.
me as follows: You can have excellent quality health care, it can be affordable, and you
can have universal coverage. Now pick any two you want; you can never have all three.
As humble physicians, we limit our efforts to making sure that The Allergy Clinic’s
patients are well cared for. Still, the targets are constantly moving, particularly with
insurance coverage for prescription drugs. Co-pays have been rising annually, and
formularies are becoming more restrictive. There are, however, several tactics we
recommend to cope with these challenges.
One is the combination of information and communication. By knowing your plan’s
formulary and sharing it with your physician, you both win. You get your prescription
more quickly and for a lower co-pay; your doctor’s office gets fewer phone calls to
return.
Another idea is taking advantage of rebate programs. Nasonex currently has an offer to
get a FREE 30 day supply for new users, and a $10.00 discount voucher for current
users. That’s the quickest way to turn a $35 co-pay into a $25 co-pay. Similar
programs are also available for Nasacort, except that you get a $20.00 discount
voucher. Veramyst, the "new, improved" version of Flonase, has you sign up for its
program. They email or snail mail you a voucher for a free 30 day supply or a $25.00
discount voucher. Astelin, the nasal antihistamine, has a $10.00 mail-in rebate.
Allegra has gone generic, but Allegra D 12 hour and Allegra D 24 hour each has a
$24.00 mail-in rebate.
Singulair just started its Asthma Information Resources (A.I.R.), which includes a
$10.00 discount.
Another favorite is the free Advair program. Advair, an asthma inhaler, is used regularly
to prevent symptoms. Go to Advair's web site and look for the "Save on Advair" link.
As you fill out the information, it will offer you the opportunity to print out a coupon for a
free Advair if your doctor has never prescribed Advair. If you have been on Advair, it will
offer you a $10 coupon instead.
As for generics, sure they save money. But sometimes they save BIG MONEY. My
advice for self-pay patients is to fill their generics at Costco or Sam’s Club pharmacy.
You don’t have to have a Costco or Sam’s membership to use their pharmacy, and it’s
often worth your while to compare their price to CVS or Walgreen’s. If you are one of
the lucky folks for whom Claritin is helpful, the Sam's Club and Costco generics of
loratadine are incredibly inexpensive. You can buy 2 bottles of 150 pills for about
$11.00! That's about 3 cents/pill. Remember, though, that Claritin is only non-sedating
at 10 mg/day. Many people require 2 or 3 Claritins to achieve adequate relief of their
symptoms. At that dose, it may make you sleepy. And don't forget about the $4.00
generic prescription list at Wal-Mart
If you shop at Mission Allergy, here's how to save a little money: Mention Code: "DM5"
before ordering. You'll get a 15% discount on Premium Microfiber encasings, or a 10%
discount on Barrier Fabric II.
