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Where to buy VSL#3?

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Posted 9/16/2011 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I got my PCP to get me a script for VSL. I went to pick it up at the pharmacy and my insurance won't cover it. It's $123.00 for a 20 day supply. I'm so sad!! I cannot afford that amount of money so frequently since I am not working right now. How do you guys pay for your VSL? Does your insurance cover it?? My dad is calling Highmark today about it and I hope it will somehow be covered. I just think it's bull crap that a more natural product wouldn't be covered yet my drugs that could potentially give me cancer are all covered. Err I just had to rant about this.
Posted 9/16/2011 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
I buy a box of 30 packets from the company direct and make yogurt out of it. That is about $90 a year plus 30 gallons of skim milk.

I couldn't possible afford $90 a month that the packets cost

I just figured out that I spend $600-800 a year on supplements and another $240 on RX copays. Then figure $250 in doctor copays and the DENTIST. That is if I don't have a flare.

Oh my insurance bill just came. $810!!!
Posted 9/16/2011 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
Just saw your weight Bannagirl. Use whole milk
Posted 9/17/2011 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Um you can buy VSL#3 online with no script. www.vsl3.com Its $52 for a 30 days supply of the capsules. My surgeon doesn't even write scripts for it anymore since its now available over the counter. Even when I asked for a script to get it at the pharmacy, she said most insurances don't cover it so we don't bother. Probiotics are very extremely rarely covered by insurance. (which is dumb) but yeah go to their website and order it direct from them. and Yes whole milk! it tastes better too!
Posted 9/17/2011 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
freshly diagnosed with UC, I was told to buy this by someone on Yahoo! Answers, only problem is, I don't know how!
I'm from Ireland, does anyone know if they ship internationally?
Posted 9/17/2011 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
thanks guys. my mom is gonna get it for me for my birthday next week from www.vsl.com. i'm gonna get the packets and just mix them with water. it's $86 but that's still a good bit cheaper than the pharmacy.
Posted 9/17/2011 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
I thought there were people on this forum that found a way to get it covered by insurance. It was a script for the extra strength version of VSL. Was I imagining this?
Posted 9/18/2011 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
The VSL#3 DS (Double Strength) is prescription only, 20 packets per box.

My insurance does not cover regular VSL but does cover the DS kind.

It took me about 10 months and 3 tried to get the doc to write out the right prescription (DS, 20 per box) and the pharmacy to fill it correctly, but now it's
covered - I do pay my normal copay.
Posted 9/18/2011 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
I found the best deal for 28 packets of VSL 3 was at Costco. $60 plus $5 tax, something like that.


My plan was to have VSL 3 carry me into remission from a flare. I was only able to afford one pack a day and flared again so i abandoned it because I couldn't afford 2,3 or 4 packs a day.

There are other probiotics, though this one has been clinically studied. Probably one of the reasons its so expensive. Paying for trials.
Posted 9/18/2011 8:50 PM (GMT 0)

JamieIsLame said...
freshly diagnosed with UC, I was told to buy this by someone on Yahoo! Answers, only problem is, I don't know how!
I'm from Ireland, does anyone know if they ship internationally?

Go to the international VSL#3 website for non-North American orders.

http://www.vsl3.com/order-international.asp

Age 42 (male)
UC since 1992
Asacol 2 800 mg x 3
1 VSL#3, omega 3, imodium (as needed), acetaminophen/paracetamol (as needed)
Pred 5 mg, hydrocortisone 10 mg (tapering)

Post Edited (ahnadlass1) : 9/30/2011 4:37:41 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/18/2011 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
hi all,

Long time Suffer of UC, 23 years, the past two years spent time on the Ostomi forum, but finally in remission after 2 years. I also want to start taking VSL can you tell me the powder and yogurt thing, I don't understand. I read another person on another forum who use the powder VSL and add it or made yogurt with it, to make a starter, please explain I don't understand how that works.

thanks,
Salamore
Posted 9/20/2011 7:39 AM (GMT 0)
As someone else stated above, some insurance companies pay for i but only in the double strength. VSL#3DS - my internist writes my script.
Posted 9/20/2011 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
my vsl came in the mail today!! i am so excited. it's the regular kind instead of the DS because i couldn't find DS online.

how weird is this though. the pharmacy called us over the weekend and said my vsl#3DS was in so my dad was just gonna pick it up and pay the $123. this is before i knew i could get it cheap online.

well, he goes in and they say "ok, it's $186." my dad was shocked because that wasn't the price they had first told us. the pharmacist said that the medicine price was raised since the last time we were at the place (a day before) and that is my new price if i want to get it at the pharmacy. how absurd is that??
Posted 9/20/2011 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
Bananagirl-

You won't find VSL#3DS online because it is Prescription only
that means your Dr has to order it through the pharmacy

not sure where you live but I was able to get vsl through the pharmacy at my local Safeway and I only paid about $75 for a 30 count box of packets.

Keep exploring ways you can get VSL and where- it is worth it :)
Posted 9/21/2011 10:38 AM (GMT 0)
What is VSL 3DS? Is that the powder form, and how different is that from the pill form..

Salamore
Posted 9/21/2011 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
What is the difference between taking VSL#3 powder form and taking the pills? I have always taken the pills.
Posted 9/21/2011 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
The packets have more probiotics in them and you keep them refrigerated.  You can mix them with anything cold like yorgut, applesauce, ice cream, cold drinks. The DS is the only one available by prescription.  If your insurance does not cover getting the non DS will work.  You just use 2 in place of 1 packet of DS.  Depending on what you need you may need several packets a day and then maintance you cut down.
Posted 9/21/2011 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
My insurance also pays for the DS Rx-strength packets only.
Posted 10/1/2011 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
I'm confused about people saying VSL3 DS requires a prescription. I was told this also by a representative of the company that makes VSL. But I went to CVS and Target today and they both said they could order VSL3 DS without a prescription. Strangely, the price (when you figure it out by cost per CFU) is significantly more expensive for the VSL3 DS than the regular VSL3. Price for 30 pack at Target: $70. Price for 20 pack DS version: $138. It looks like they just doubled the price but didn't take into account you're only getting 20, instead of 30, packets. So if I pay out of pocket it's cheaper for me to get the regular VSL3 packets and just use two.

Also, does anyone know if the DS version comes in an unflavored, as well as flavored packet? Target and CVS only had one listing for the DS version and they didn't know if it was flavored or not.

Lastly, has anyone been able to get Blue Shield (of California) to cover VSL?

Thanks for any feedback.

Post Edited (gg555) : 9/30/2011 6:57:28 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/1/2011 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
There should be a telephone number on your health insurance card to call with questions.  I called mine, United Health Care, and our particular plan covers DS.  Drug stores sometimes have problems when talking to them about it as it's not requested too much.  They usually don't have it on hand but will get it for you.

I think the Target employee may have misunderstood and got the answer wrong.  On the VSL #3 website you can't order the DS as it's prescription only.  If your insurance won't cover it and you can get it from Target for the quoted prices I'd say get the least expensive way.  I hope you start using it as I wish I'd known about it before and I had my colonectomy, if I'd used it then maybe I'd still have my colon.  I'm using it now.  Mine is not flavored, I usually mix it with any yogurt, a fruit smoothie or applesauce.  You need to mix it with something cold.  I tried with cottage cheese once - not a good idea.

I hope your insurance company covers it. cool

Posted 10/1/2011 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
journey2health, i don't have a costco membership but luckily my cousin does. i'm gonna go with her next time to get the VSL. do i just ask the pharmacy to order it for me or is it with the other probiotics? would they order it even though i am not a costco member?
Posted 10/1/2011 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
Ask your cousin to order it or see if they have it in stock. You don't need a prescription for the regular one so anyone can buy it.
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