Keppra XR off the Insurance list for 2017

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LDiTo

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What are people who have been taking Keppra XR doing in 2017? I have researched all my options, no insurance company in TX covers Keppra/Keppra XR?
I am forced to try the generic. I can't find any data on the success rates, as like me, no one wants to risk a seizure. Keppra/Keppra XR have kept me seizure free for nearly 9 years.

I am truly scared. Please respond if you are facing this issues? If you have switched to the generic? I would like all the data I can get for the community. I will gladly share my own journey in return.

:hugs:
 
Unfortunately, there is no way to force the insurance companies to pay for the brand-name version. Your doc can certainly prescribe it, but the *@*&! insurance companies don't have to foot the bill. :(

To get some help, there are FREE coupon and pharmacy discount programs:
https://www.internetdrugcoupons.com/keppra-coupon
https://familywize.org/drug-price-look-up-tool/drug-price-lookup-results

And here are links to other resources that may help:
http://www.efwp.org/programs/ProgramsAdultServicesPap.xml

I have no experience with Keppra, but I switched from brand Lamictal to generic lamotrigine without any problems. Good Luck!
 
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Hi LDiTo,
Welcome to CWE.

My friend takes Keppra and every month it changes from name brand to a different generic and back and forth, there is no change in seizure control.
 
Hi LDoTo,

Welcome to CWE. I'm sorry your insurance co. is refusing the keppra. one thing you can do is report this matter to your state insurance and file a complaint by doing this they will do a background check on the insurance co. you are with and if they at endangering you or anyone else they will be held responsible. I went through this a few yrs. ago when my ins. co. refused to cover me anymore for Depakene but in the long run they had to pay for it all. Wishing you only the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue
 
! ! ! ! Welcome to CWE ! ! ! !

LDiTo,

When I started taking Keppra I was given name-brand Keppra for about 4 years. When a Generic Keppra(Levetiracetam) became available I was automatically switched to it by the Insurance Co.
I have never noticed any difference in the control of my E when I was switched from name-brand to generic.
I have had the same results when other AEDs I take have been changed to the generic type.
A person can read all of the research data they want to and still NOT know how a change in medications if going to affect them. Each and every case of E is different just like every person's fingerprints are different. The only way to know for sure is to try to use the new medication and find out how it may affect that person.
As you will read on CWE from the many members each person may have different results from each and every AED that is taken. If a person w/E accepts the results of a study with too much certainty that what has happened for some people in that study is going to happen to them personally that person may get a totally different result from what they were expecting. :ponder:

acshuman
 
I agree, my husband is in medical research. It is a double edge sword with all medications brand or generic. I personally have had issues with generic drugs in other medications. I haven't used a generic AED yet. I am going to try.
Also, I am following the other replies. We all know you have to be your own advocate. So I will talk to my local pharmacy about the discount cards. I registered a complaint with the TX insurance commission. I wrote to UCB, the maker of Keppra XR. I will continue to do everything in my power to find a solution.
I am very impressed by this community and grateful to all who have responded.
 
Try This!

LDiTo,

I can only make a suggestion to you about trying to mitigate the costs of the medications.
When you find out what pharmaceutical manufacturer makes your med you could write them a letter or send them an email that explains how hard it will be for you to pay the prices that will be charged for their medication. In this you need to ask for some type of relief from the costs.
When I was on brand-name Keppra the price was more than I could afford ad I sent this kind of communication to the Keppra manufacturer. I was surprised to receive a package one day in which I found a 6 month supply of name-brand Keppra that they had sent to me free-of-charge. This came to a total of over $4000 and helped me tremendously. Of course this was 2008 and that value would be much higher today.
This may be something you want to try. These companies set aside a portion of their budget to use to satisfy their customers/medication users so this is a trivial amount to them.

acshuman
 
What are people who have been taking Keppra XR doing in 2017?

I've been on Keppra for years and so far, my insurance has covered most of it. But now my question for those of us in the U.S., are we still gonna be protected because of our "pre-existing conditions" in the next year?
 
"pre-existing condition" is for coverage, not what is covered nor at what cost. A big concern for us all. This type of manipulation around the cost of insuring someone with a pre-existing condition is bound to get creative no matter who is in office. Insurance is a FOR PROFIT business. I personally am conflicted as medical companies pay my bills given my husbands profession. It is costly to get new drugs and devices to market in the US. Companies spend billions of dollars and the drug or device may never make it to the market. I don't have the solution to this complex problem. We need the research to improve the quality of our lives and the insurance to afford to keep a roof over our heads and food on our tables.
 
Is Coverage Going To Continue After 1-20-17?

This is something that we(people w/E) are facing with no idea of what the answer may be!
I feel that this is something that most people w/E will have to deal with in the same way that we have deal with our questions as to whether an AED will work in our case. This question is something that no one has an answer to right now, so we are going to be forced to wait and deal with the result. If the decision that is made is hurtful to us we will have to make sure we voice outrage and put ourselves out into the public to make sure that everyone who is a citizen of this country sees what has been dealt to us and make sure that these people understand that our situation could very well exist in their lives in an instant id someone in their family is diagnosed w/E or any other 'chronic condition' that could be considered 'pre-existing'.
Many of us are not able to just pay for the AEDs we need 'on our own' like the super-rich who think they are in control now, so we need to get others to understand that what may happen to 'coverage' may be 'harmful' to everyone, NOT just us!

acshuman
 
"pre-existing condition" is for coverage, not what is covered nor at what cost. A big concern for us all.
Now a "pre-existing condition" is covered by insurance companies. That only went into effect in 2014, not long ago.

LDito said:
This type of manipulation around the cost of insuring someone with a pre-existing condition is bound to get creative no matter who is in office. Insurance is a FOR PROFIT business.I personally am conflicted as medical companies pay my bills given my husbands profession

And so is seeing a doctor. Nowadays some doctors are not seeing folks on Medicare, either. All IS for PROFIT! PHARMACEUTICALS are the BIGGEST PROFIT seekers!!

LDito said:
It is costly to get new drugs and devices to market in the US. Companies spend billions of dollars and the drug or device may never make it to the market. I don't have the solution to this complex problem. We need the research to improve the quality of our lives and the insurance to afford to keep a roof over our heads and food on our tables.

Tell me about it!! Been on 13 meds, 2 were trial meds, one that was only on the market a short time because of bad side effects. Another med for depression was taken off the market in Japan because it causes Diabetes for some. I was one of them! Thankfully, insurance now covers the insulin I now have to give myself in addition to the AEDs! It is costly to stay alive when one has a pre-existing condition.
 
This is something that we(people w/E) are facing with no idea of what the answer may be!
I feel that this is something that most people w/E will have to deal with in the same way that we have deal with our questions as to whether an AED will work in our case. This question is something that no one has an answer to right now, so we are going to be forced to wait and deal with the result.......
....... these people understand that our situation could very well exist in their lives in an instant id someone in their family is diagnosed w/E or any other 'chronic condition' that could be considered 'pre-existing'.

Read this for more info about frightened individuals with "pre-existing conditions" now that we will have a new leader in the U.S.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry...-trump-presidency_us_582f721ae4b08c963e343eef

As part of his plan, Trump has vowed to re-introduce high-risk pools, which can significantly raise rates for those with pre-existing conditions. ACA (Affordable Care Act) also prohibits caps on services and requires that durable medical equipment, like exam tables, mammogram equipment, and scales, be accessible to people with disabilities. In addition to Medicaid, I also have private insurance, and losing it would be devastating, as it allows me to see certain specialists who do not accept Medicaid.
 
What are people who have been taking Keppra XR doing in 2017? I have researched all my options, no insurance company in TX covers Keppra/Keppra XR?
I am forced to try the generic. I can't find any data on the success rates, as like me, no one wants to risk a seizure. Keppra/Keppra XR have kept me seizure free for nearly 9 years.

I am truly scared. Please respond if you are facing this issues? If you have switched to the generic? I would like all the data I can get for the community. I will gladly share my own journey in return.

:hugs:

May I ask what prescription insurance you are on? I live in TX, and, yes, my epileptologist has to write "brand medically necessary" for me to get brand Keppra, but I had not heard that no insurance in TX will cover brand next year. That is indeed unnerving. :?

Do you have a link to more information on this? Thanks in advance, and welcome to CWE!
 
I am on Cigna Cobra and it is currently covered. I am looking at the exchange, private and group insurance policies. In my research and working with representatives, all PPO offerings are off the exchange. Many don't cover prescriptions AT ALL. The private and group policies exclude Keppra XR.
Cigna has pulled out of the exchanges. I believe almost all the major providers are out in TX. BCBS has a group policy that I am trying to secure. I own my own business. Cigna doesn't offer group policies in TX for small groups.
 
Thanks. My employer's open enrollment period just ended, and since I had no changes to my plan, I did not closely scrutinize the materials we were given. Our prescription coverage is through Maxor. I do know that Keppr is not a preferred medication on my plan, but up to now has been covered. I will have to see if I still have my packet, or if I can get the information again from our risk management office (who handles insurance).
 
We just started our 13 year old son on the generic pill version of Keppra 100/ML solution this week as a 500MG Levetiracetam generic pill. We had been taking the 100/ML solution for 9 years and struggling to stay on the name brand. After a lot of the insurance changes and an 36 month exemption to stay on the name brand through 2019, the cost after the insurance discount was over $600. Previously we'd pay the $400 per month after discount to stay on Keppra solution name brand and use HSA to at least pay for it tax free. The generic looks to be about $110 per month which helps but we're all obviously nervous about additional side effects and the fact that you can have a 25% less solution one month and a 25% additional solution the next month while going with a generic, especially when Keppra is prescribed by weight. Will keep you posted. Glad to have found a great site with a great amount of knowledge concerning this topic.
 
How Different are the Gerneric and the Name Brand?

AtlantaDad,
I have been taking the generic levetiraceta 500mg tablets for 6 years now after taking name-brand Keppra 500mg tablets for over 4 years. I have not had any problems after the change was made!
The important thing that you need to do is make sure you take your son to see the doctor for tests on his blood levels of levetirceta. The important thing to do is to make sure that your son's blood levels of levetiraceta stays at the levels needed to be at for good treatment of his seizures.
These levels may change a small amount when the meds are changed, so you have to make sure that his blood levels are at the same level that they were when he was taking the name-brand Keppra! This could possibly require an adjustment of how many tablets he was to take to keep the bood-levels at the same level. :ponder:

acshhuman
 
Thanks, I made the switch and haven't noticed any difference. Good to hear about the blood test. I will make sure to test on my next visit.
 
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