brand name Prescription cost vs generic. Where do you get your prescriptions?

[Junebug]

My husband went and got my Rx at the pharm. yesterday and called me to say that my Lamictal cost $130+ more. I called the insurance co. and asked why all of a sudden it cost so much more and they said that I have to pay the difference in cost no matter if I choose the brand name or my dr. orders the brand name only to be dispensed. It doesn't matter which pharm. I go to I still have to pay the differnce in cost. I was on the generic Lamictal when it first came out and it did no good for me. I was having 10 grand-mals a month around my monthly cycles so 10 times in one week. NOT GOOD! Now that I'm on the brand name again I haven't been having any grand mals.
I did start taking the Keppra XR at the same time as I went back on the brand Lamictal but I don't want to take any chances with switching back just to save $, it's just not worth it.

Anyhoo....where do you get your prescriptions and does one place cost less than the other w/ insurance? i.e. Walgreens vs. Albertsons
I've always gotten mine at Albertsons but if there is some other place that is cheaper then I'll have to switch.

[Kansas Educator]

Junebug.......Do you have a mail-order option on your insurance plan? I get a 3-month supply of Depakote ER via mail-order for $35 although it is going up to $65 for the 3-month supply after the first of the year. My insurance is pushing people to get generic too by offering 4 3-month generic prescriptions FREE but I can only take name-brand Depakote. Anyway, even at $65 for a 3-month supply, it's not too bad and is less than I can get it locally. You might check and see if your husband's prescription coverage offers mail-order. Good luck!

[alivenwell]

I go into my local retail drug store and get a one month supply of all medications. I will pay the difference between the brand name full cost and my insurance coverage. It's not worth the cost of an injury or some other accident during a seizure to go cheap with this stuff. Brand name only works for me. I refuse to switch.

[Belinda5000]

My Tegretol I can only take the brand name if my insurance didn't have a low down payment I'd have to pay close $200.00 topamax is a lot more
but clonazepam just $30.00 a month an dI'd never make it with out insurance.

It doesn't usually matter if I get generic or name brand except for Tegretol.


Belinda

[Junebug]

Well now since there is a generic for Keppra too then we are going to have to do some MAJOR re-vamp on our budget.

My lamictal now cost $260 vs $143 and now my Keppra will cost $191 vs. $99.
I don't think that my insurance will cover the mail-order prescriptions.

What's this about a dr's note to get the brand name? My insurance won't cover the brand name regardless if my Dr. has checked brand name only or not.

I'm going to be doing some checking around next week after my family is gone after the Christmas holiday.

[Meetz1064]

do the brand name for the seizure meds........unless I want to turn into a 2 year old again. There's just no option for me.

Right now, Carbatrol controls most of my seizures, with Klonopin dealing the rest. Topamax kicks in to cover the migraines, and just a bit of the seizures, too.

Topamax, WITHOUT insurance, for SIXTY 100 milligram tablets is $505 and change.

Carbatrol, WITHOUT insurance, for ONE HUNDRED TWENTY 200 milligram capsules (gray/blue) is $212 and change

Klonopin, WITHOUT insurance for THIRTY tablets is $30. Although, for some weird reason, I CAN use the generic of Klonopin if I HAVE to. And still be OK at night. The Klonopin is for my nighttime myoclonics/restless leg problems.

[sixpack]

My daughter is on three brand name meds--keppra, depakote ER, and trileptal. She has primary insurance and medicaid disability. Between the two we have no copay.

Before she went on medicaid disability we were forced by the primary to do the 3 month mail in. I hate that. One time I ordered one seizure med 2 or 3 wks early. At three weeks we still didn't have it. The ins took ZERO responsiblity for the prob. Saying they weren't responsible for the post office. Then they sent us a second round of the meds via DHL. Which never came. In the end they sent a third round of meds and okay'd letting our local pharm fill a 2 week supply. We finally got the first order 6wks after ordering. The third round they ordered came a week or two later. I HATE MAIL ORDER DRUGS

[simple.partials]

My neurologist insists that generics don't control seizures as well as name brand drugs. I can afford the generics but not name brand.

The patient assistance program allows me to get name brand with no charge. When my income increases later, I will probably have to find a new neurologist.

[morgan381]

JuneBug,
Just a thought here...when I had no insurance, and I was footing the entire bill for my Keppra, I had been getting my 'script filled at Wal-Mart. One day I went in to get it, but they were out & said they couldn't have any in for 3 days. Unfortunately I had waited too long to go to the pharmacy and I needed the meds immediately. They agreed to transfer my script to another pharmacy. The meds were actually cheaper there...It might be worth your while to call a couple pharmacies and just ask them what their brand name will cost you. Sometimes there is a difference in cost between pharmacies. Where I live a small, locally owned pharmacy is less expensive than Wal Mart, CVS and Walgreens. Good luck!

[CarolinaBrittany]

I was on my dad's insurance until his work changed plans.When they changed it did not fully cover my meds.It restricted how much it covered per year which didn't work out.At the time I had been on brand name Lamictal and Felbatol.My Lamictal out of pocket costed $360.00 alone.My parents decided to put me on medicaid.When I went and got my prescription next time I noticed it wasn't the same pills.I called my CVS Pharmacy and they told me the switch was because my medicaid was not willing to pay for the brand name Lamictal unless specified by my Neurologist.Otherwise I had to pay out of pocket.That was not possible.In my case it was not CVS Pharmacy that made the decision.They had nothing to do with it.It was my state's choice.
I was living in CT at the time recently moved to NC and got on medicaid here and found a Neurologist.This Dr specified it must be brand name and I am paying more when I pick it up.The pharmacy whether it is Wal Mart,Walgreens,or any other it will always be the same price.

[morgan381]

I was living in CT at the time recently moved to NC and got on medicaid here and found a Neurologist.This Dr specified it must be brand name and I am paying more when I pick it up.The pharmacy whether it is Wal Mart,Walgreens,or any other it will always be the same price.

Let me clarify what I was saying...With no coverage, paying every cent out of my pocket, I found a pharmacy that was less expensive than another. Now, with insurance, I always have to meet my annual deductible and pay my co-pay. With the insurance, it always costs me the same no matter which pharmacy I use...If I read what you said correctly, you pay the same regardless of where you go because that is what medicaid requires you to pay.

My point was that if JuneBug has to pay the difference between what the generic vs the brand name costs the insurance company, she might pay less at a pharmacy who lists their drug at a cheaper price. (like milk being less expensive at one grocery store than another, etc) It may not be a huge difference, so it may not be worth the effort. For me, the difference was about $60 per month, which adds up.