Question about birth control and the "monthly visitor"

I wonder why they don't just automatically give the 3 pack refills. It's not just less expensive, it's way more convenient. I just started thyorid meds last week and when I picked them up at the pharmacy, it was a bottle of 30. That means I'll have to refill those every month too. It's not like BCPs or thyroid meds are likely to be overused, right?

I don't know why insurance companies do most of what they do.  I think it's terribly ironic that many won't cover birth control for birth control...so they'd rather us have babies and cover that instead?

Liesje

I don't know why insurance companies do most of what they do.  I think it's terribly ironic that many won't cover birth control for birth control...so they'd rather us have babies and cover that instead?

Ironic indeed.  Yet strangely enough (or maybe not so strangely) I understand a lot of them will cover viagara.

Joyce

fuzzy_dogs_mom

I understand a lot of them will cover viagara.

Men are the lucky ones!!

Thanks for the advice!  I take Femcon Fe.  I have to get the script refilled every month and the drug store that I use will tell me that it's "too early" to refill it, even if there's only the "non active" pills left.  I have to get it filled the day before I take the last non active pill.  I wish they would give me enough for 2 or 3 months at a time.  I do have an extra pack that the Gyno gave me during my last appt.  I can deal with some light bleeding but I just don't want the full "flow"!!!

 I am one of those people who need to have a period. I go to Planned Parenthood for my yearly and they give me 7 packs and then I just go back for the other 5. I take Ortho-Tricyclen Lo and I know the exact day I start, everytime and it lasts exactly 4 days. I'm very happy with the pill.

 Bullymom, can't you just use a different pharmacy? That sounds really jerky of them :(

Bullymom

fuzzy_dogs_mom

I understand a lot of them will cover viagara.

 

Men are the lucky ones!!

Thanks for the advice!  I take Femcon Fe.  I have to get the script refilled every month and the drug store that I use will tell me that it's "too early" to refill it, even if there's only the "non active" pills left.  I have to get it filled the day before I take the last non active pill.  I wish they would give me enough for 2 or 3 months at a time.  I do have an extra pack that the Gyno gave me during my last appt.  I can deal with some light bleeding but I just don't want the full "flow"!!!

ottoluv

Walgreens online will give me 3 months at a time, but my pharmacy at work will only give me one month. Walgreens only charges me a copay of 15 for thee months while the other is 20 a month. You just have to do a little leg work to find the pharmacy for you ;)

I use Walgreens for all my scripts and when I've called to refill it earlier than close to the 4 week mark, they told me my insurance wouldn't cover it yet. Is there some kind of code wording I should try using?

Cita

 Bullymom, can't you just use a different pharmacy? That sounds really jerky of them :(

I have been going to this pharmacy for years but I think it's time for a change!  I go to CVS and some of the people that work at that particular location are RUDE!  They just built a new Wallgreens closer to where I live so I'll have to try them!

About having the doctor change the script, do I have to make an appt with him or can I just call him?  I hate having to go to the pharmacy so much so if he could change the script so I can get more at one time, that would be so great!!

cakana

ottoluv

Walgreens online will give me 3 months at a time, but my pharmacy at work will only give me one month. Walgreens only charges me a copay of 15 for thee months while the other is 20 a month. You just have to do a little leg work to find the pharmacy for you ;)

I use Walgreens for all my scripts and when I've called to refill it earlier than close to the 4 week mark, they told me my insurance wouldn't cover it yet. Is there some kind of code wording I should try using?

I'm a pharmacy tech and it's not the pharmacy that's refusing to fill your script, it's your insurance. If you want to pay out of pocket for it, tell the pharmacy staff that you'll pay out of pocket for it and they'll fill it for you. Keep in mind that Femcon FE is brand name and is expensive.

If skipping placebos is something you want to permanently do then the best thing is to contact your doctor and ask her/him to write a new script with directions that state something to the effect of "skip placebo week and start new pack". This way, the pharmacy can enter in the script for a 21 day supply. The insurance should accept it that way and if they don't, the doctor can call for a prior authorization so that they'll pay for a 21 day supply as opposed to a 28 day supply. 

Bullymom

Cita

 Bullymom, can't you just use a different pharmacy? That sounds really jerky of them :(

 

I have been going to this pharmacy for years but I think it's time for a change!  I go to CVS and some of the people that work at that particular location are RUDE!  They just built a new Wallgreens closer to where I live so I'll have to try them!

About having the doctor change the script, do I have to make an appt with him or can I just call him?  I hate having to go to the pharmacy so much so if he could change the script so I can get more at one time, that would be so great!!

What you need to find out is if your insurance will pay for a 3 month supply through retail or if you must go through mail order. Some insurances will only pay for 1 month at a time through retail or will make you use a mail order pharmacy for a 3 month supply. If they'll pay for 3 months at retail level, all you have to do is ask the pharmacy staff to contact your doctor for a refill request and ask for a 3 month supply. It should be no problem unless you haven't seen your doctor in a while then he may want to see you before giving you a new script. If you have to go through mail order then you'd have to get a new script for a 3 month supply and mail it out to the company who will then fill it and mail it back to you. It really depends on your insurance though. Some will do 3 month supply through retail and some will only do 3 month supply through mail order.

meilani

I'm a pharmacy tech and it's not the pharmacy that's refusing to fill your script, it's your insurance. If you want to pay out of pocket for it, tell the pharmacy staff that you'll pay out of pocket for it and they'll fill it for you.

I figured it was simply an insurance issue. If I ask them to refill it earlier and pay for it myself, I will ultimately run thru my script before the end of the year though, right? I just really need to talk to my Dr. I'm taking the pill for HRT reasons. Within 1-2 days of finishing the last pill, I start having horrible night sweats. I can get thru a nasty week, but I'm not really happy about it.

I take Microgestin. Is there a generic for that?

cakana

meilani

I'm a pharmacy tech and it's not the pharmacy that's refusing to fill your script, it's your insurance. If you want to pay out of pocket for it, tell the pharmacy staff that you'll pay out of pocket for it and they'll fill it for you.

I figured it was simply an insurance issue. If I ask them to refill it earlier and pay for it myself, I will ultimately run thru my script before the end of the year though, right? I just really need to talk to my Dr. I'm taking the pill for HRT reasons. Within 1-2 days of finishing the last pill, I start having horrible night sweats. I can get thru a nasty week, but I'm not really happy about it.

I take Microgestin. Is there a generic for that?

 How many refills do you have? If you have "PRN" refills that means you can get it unlimited refills for 1 year from the original date. Technically, you shouldn't run out of refills by the end of the year if you're seeking an early refill. All you're doing is filling your script earlier than when the insurance will pay for it. There is no generic for Microgestin as Microgestin is the generic of another birth control pill. 

meilani

There is no generic for Microgestin as Microgestin is the generic of another birth control pill. 

Oh, so that means it shouldn't be too expensive to pay for myself, right? PRN means "as needed", right? Mine said 12 refills at the start and now has 5 or 6 left before I see my dr. again. Do some dr's actually use "PRN" instead of a set amount? That'd be nice.

cakana

Mine said 12 refills at the start and now has 5 or 6 left before I see my dr. again. Do some dr's actually use "PRN" instead of a set amount? That'd be nice.

That would be nice!!  I went to the pharmacy earlier and I asked if I could get my script every 3 months and the lady said that she would call my doctor and get everything switched over!!  I now have 14 refills left until I have to go back for my annual (next year!)  

Meilani, is there a generic form of Femcon Fe??  My insurance covers a little of the cost but I don't know what happened this time.  The insurance didn't pay any and I had to pay $60 for a one month supply.  If the insurance is going to stop covering this medicine, I am going to have to try a cheaper medicine.