Changed insurance and now Asacol HD is $3000 (3mosupply) has anyone just stopped cold turkey?

When I called this morning to re order my meds I was shocked that the price I'd have to pay is $3000 (THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS??!!!) for a 3 month supply. I have been on Asacol HD since 2011 with good results (flare up here and there but made better with Uceris) and so far things going well. But, given the high cost of my meds I am wondering, has anyone just decided to stop their medication? Did a flare follow quickly? Or did you do okay? Thanks for your experience with this question of just stopping prescription meds cold turkey. I also use Rowasa a few times per week, take VSL3, and a bunch of supplements.

I've used my US prescription to order from Canada. it's so much cheaper there!!! I didn't realize there is now a generic though, that sounds like an equal or cheaper option at this point. Ask the pharmacy to substitute the generic,..

Canadian Pharmacies deliver to you, and you can get a large quantity at once. You can email a picture of a valid prescription. They have a lot of choices but they definitely won't take US insurance...I just looked and it seems like it's typically $315 for 252 tablets of Asacol 800mg. I am not sure how that compares to your US plan.

The thing about US insurance, is that sometimes, if you know you're going to end up using it and paying out that $3,000 over the year, it may make sense to spend it - unless it's going to be $3,000 every 3 months indefinitely. I can't imagine a plan like that though. Usually the deductible is $3,000, then you pay 10% copay up to 6k of whatever, then everything is covered. Of course, you could get Asacol 2x and end up spending the $4k, and that's your only medical expense of the year. In that case, it would make more sense to order from Canada. You should really thoroughly review your plan and see why they want $3,000 up front for this. Seems excessive to me, but you should have been aware of this when you saw the plan documents. It's usually all pretty clear.

I think i'd give the generic a try if you can get it for a reasonable price. I've never tried it so I can't give much feedback.

I was doing great with Humira so I stopped cold turkey with no issues at all.

find out what the formulary is covering instead of Asacol HD. Likely Diazacol or one of the other delayed release.

Then decide between the one you ins wants and one of the generics.

I woud stay on some low-level of oral mesalamine just as a hedge against flaring.

I switched from Asacol to Apriso with no ill effects. We don't have medical insurance so it's 'only" $523 for a month supply.