Pentasa

I've been on Pentasa for the past three years. I have never had any side effects from the drug and it has been very successful in treating my mild Crohn's disease and I have remained in remission while on it. When I started, I was taking two 500mg capsules a day and now I am only taking two twice daily.

I'm a college student and still on my parents insurance and it has been a great thing. If I was not covered by their insurance it would be neigh to impossible for us to afford the prescription. As I'm sure you're all well aware it is not a cheap drug. My parents insurance is going through some changes right now for some reason.

During the month of April they are not covering any prescriptions or anything. Whatever we would normally use the insurance for we have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, the company wants them to pay $3000 at which point they will start covering us again. Until the $3000 is used up, at which point we would be paying again.

Luckily I have my prescription to last the month, but it is going to run out eventually. I am unsure of what to do. We cannot afford to pay for the prescription out of pocket, and I cannot afford to go off it either. I plan on calling my doctor because he's always asked if we have trouble covering the costs. In the past we never had because all we have had to pay is a $50 payment, and the insurance covered the rest.

I'm just looking for feedback here and what others think. Are there any places out there that will help with this sort of thing, or potentially cheaper ways to obtain the same prescription?

Any thoughts or suggestion are greatly appreciated!

Post Edited (Sisen) : 4/12/2011 2:10:20 PM (GMT-6)

Thanks Nanners! :)

I actually found the Shire Group listed on that page earlier on their website. They do cover Pentasa but they are stingy with the diagnosis. Perhaps I should say strict. They only provide coverage if you're diagnosed with a few diseases, ulcerative colitis is one but Crohn's disease isn't listed.

Post Edited (Sisen) : 4/12/2011 3:05:44 PM (GMT-6)

I know right? I could possibly ask my doctor about it. I just know it won't be ethical or proper for him to lie and say I have UC instead. There is possibly something else out there though.