I'm in heaven

evilqueen · Mon Aug 23, 2010 5:40 pm

Well not really but it does feel like it. When I went to the doctor last week, she gave me a few sample of flector patches for my back. I tried on today and I hardly been in any pain and I did not realize I limp when I walk because of the back. I could bend over with very little pain. Well don't you know that these things are not covered by the insurance company and my mom said they cost over $100 for a dozen of them. So what would you do, have money and back pain or now money and very little pain. That would be around $300 a month. That's more than my car payment.

lilkoala3 · Mon Aug 23, 2010 5:42 pm

I think it's sad that in our country, people have to live in pain because they can't afford patches. Political commentary over.

shayla_rose · Mon Aug 23, 2010 5:45 pm

Well that is awesome it works.. not so good insurance wont cover them.. did they tell you why? hmmm that is a tough one.. it really depends how much pain I was in. I think I would go with no pain and broke.. I mean if I can't enjoy spending my money because Im in pain then let me be broke and pain free.. either way good luck.

evilqueen · Mon Aug 23, 2010 5:45 pm

We pay over $800 a month for health insurance because of being in a small business. You would think the insurance company would cover everything. But I can say when I had my surgery back in december, the bill was over $6000 and all I had to pay was a $250 copay for the hospital. So we do have really good insurance when they want to pay.

shayla_rose · Mon Aug 23, 2010 5:47 pm

lilkoala3 wrote:I think it's sad that in our country, people have to live in pain because they can't afford patches. Political commentary over.

ITA! I was hoping they had an alternative that they want her to try first or generic version.. you know how insurance companies are! But it is a shame!!

evilqueen · Mon Aug 23, 2010 5:48 pm

My mom used to work in billing at the medical center that I go to and she said that they just cost so much money that none of the insurance companies pay for it. I don't think there is a generic form of it.

shayla_rose · Mon Aug 23, 2010 5:54 pm

evilqueen wrote:My mom used to work in billing at the medical center that I go to and she said that they just cost so much money that none of the insurance companies pay for it. I don't think there is a generic form of it.

Hmm well if they aren't getting a lot of buisness, they are more likely to work with insurance companies and offer a "discounted" rate to the insurance companies. Or they may just drop the price, don't understand why they wouldn't want it available through insurance.

scrap-o-holic · Mon Aug 23, 2010 5:55 pm

Maybe you could check into to seeing if the manufacturer will help with the cost. I know some drug companies do that. Just a thought.

milmomma · Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:00 pm

I agree call manufacture. Can't hurt anything. Otherwise as some who has enough pain, I'd say be broke for a month and see if it's worth it. Then you can reflect on it all and decide if you'd rather have the green and be pain free or ride the coaster of pain with the fat wallet in tow.

Grandma Flowers · Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:08 pm

shayla_rose wrote:
lilkoala3 wrote:I think it's sad that in our country, people have to live in pain because they can't afford patches. Political commentary over.
ITA! I was hoping they had an alternative that they want her to try first or generic version.. you know how insurance companies are! But it is a shame!!

It's deplorable. Can they be cut in half or is there a generic. Nobody should have to be in pain in this day and age.

Ayla · Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:36 pm

I work in the ER so am not terribly familiar with a lot of treatments for chronic pain, and have never heard of flector patches. If they're working though, definitely try talking to the company that makes them as they may have a drug assistance program. Also call around pharmacies for different price quotes...you'd be amazed at how prices can vary. You shop for the best price on bread, make sure you are getting the best price on your prescriptions too. I take Synthroid, and the doctor makes me use the brand name. I have gotten price quotes that range from $28/month to $52/month, and the $52 was with the "customer preferred pricing"!

Another thought.... have you tried Lidoderm patches? They are well accepted for help in managing pain, and I have seen people very successful with those. As far as I know, most insurance companies are covering them, so that might be an option.

Ayla · Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:40 pm

Just googled the Flector patches. They are made from diclofenac, which is a Motrin type drug, and is available in pill form as well. Is this an option for you? That's been around a long time and is widely accepted as well. Talk with you doctor about that being an option, and also talk to the doctor about how long he/she would expect you to be on this patch. From what I see, it's indicated for short term use. Is the doctor able to provide samples to cover your treament period?

evilqueen · Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:47 pm

I was just talking to my mom and she knows everybody at the center and told the nurse that if any come in to grab them for me. Before she retired last year I got about two years of lexapro samples. But I did tell her that it could be a Christmas present. I was on the flector website and they are given $30 off and checking out the drug sites 30 patches cost $180. I have to see if they can be cut in half because it is a big patch.

anazelia · Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:49 pm

I would petition the insurance company and try to see if you can work something out. Not sure it would work, but it would be worth trying. But I would rather pay the money than be in pain.

GeriNY · Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:07 pm

My sister in law has terrible arthritis in her back and was just given 3 sample patches to try. They worked wonders for her. Now she is also fighting with her insurance company to get them covered. She was told to contact her doctor so he could verify that she had tried oral anti-inflammatory meds for a period of time. She thinks hers will be covered but she will probably have a large copayment with them. Good luck to you, and definitely contact the manufacturer for help.

msseptmbr · Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:07 pm

lilkoala3 wrote:I think it's sad that in our country, people have to live in pain because they can't afford patches. Political commentary over.

pop out a half dozen kids and apply for medicaid. that's how to get help from the govn't.

TraciL · Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:09 pm

I was just snooping around the web and found this site and it appears to be free

http://medicationcoupons.com/

I also checked and flector patch was FDA approved so that's a good sign.

evilqueen · Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:11 pm

msseptmbr wrote:
lilkoala3 wrote:I think it's sad that in our country, people have to live in pain because they can't afford patches. Political commentary over.
pop out a half dozen kids and apply for medicaid. that's how to get help from the govn't.

I can't I'm not illegal.

evilqueen · Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:12 pm

SWAY2865 wrote:I work in insurance and have for 20+ years and I say call the your drug insurance co., direct and see why they wouldn't be covered. It may be that there is a less costly alternative or it may be that they are not FDA approved yet or something. OR - it could be that they are covered for certain people but the doctor would need to request an auth or something.

If you get a rep that claims they don't know ask for a supervisor it has got to be written somewhere specifically why it wouldn't be covered.

I don't want everyone to hate me on here, but there is usually some type of logic behind it.

Also, shop pharmacies - you might find it more reasonable at somewhere like Walmart or Kmart.

Good Luck - back pain sucks and can effect so many areas of your life.

My chiropractor is finally helping and now my neck hurts and I'm running out of the visits allowed by my insurance so I have to decide how much its helping.

When I talked to my mom she said the the insurance companies claim that it is an experiemental drug and it is not covered. That's their was of saying it cost too much money and they are not paying for it.

kittymomma · Mon Aug 23, 2010 8:33 pm

Yeah--my Dh went to a training seminar a couple years ago. The speaker used to work for an insurance company and his job was to figure out how to get out of paying and covering patient's insurance! So twisted!

All of a sudden our insurance company stopped covering a popular birth control pill (Not YAZ) totally-not a higher copay or anything--just flat NO coverage for it I tried the "generic" version--and started getting really anxious and panicky on it! I spoke to the pharmacist who tried to assure me that the generic was the same--within a certain allowable percentage of difference==well then it isn't the same! The thing is the generics can change each month because pharmacies or whoever orders shop for the cheapest generic at the time....

just seems so wrong that they are able to say what we can take, what we can do....

I have nodules on my thyroid--that last scan showed they are 'complex" which could mean cancer--so I went to a specialist. She said not to worry--even if it is cancer--it probably isn't what I would end up dying from--WTH? Then she bumped my ultrasounds to every two years. (My general dr. had me going once a year and then bumped it to 6 months when they started getting bigger...) This endocrinologist said--well now, the protocal says every two years is good enough--and that everyone went every year--imagine what the nation's healthcare costs would be! Hello!!!??? first of all, we have a high deductible--so most likely I would be paying out of the pocket for the test. now you say, it could be cancer, it is getting bigger---let's EXTEND the timeframe before we check on it again!?

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