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Insurance issues with medication

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/17/2018 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
A few years ago I switched insurance and was forced to go from azathioprine to mercaptopurine because the az was labeled as a “specialty drug” by my new insurance. Now I have switched insurance again and mercaotopurine has also gone way up for the same reason. Anybody have a similar issue and what did you do? It’s literally going from fifteen bucks to 200. It’s the only thing I take for my UC and it’s worked grea5 for me. Only a few minor flares over the years, those seemed mostly due to stress.
Posted 9/17/2018 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum. I believe battling with insurance companies is the official past time of chronic illness patients. I and most here have been frustrated dealing with insurance having us change which meds we have to take.

You can either accept this change, or you can try and appeal (sometimes appeals work).

In the end, azathioprine metabolizes within your body into mercaptopurine. So if you end up taking the mercaptopurine then you just save a step, and can take smaller pills. The mercaptopurine dosages are roughly 1/2 that of azathioprine. I'm on mercaptopurine (also known as 6MP) and it works well for me.
Posted 9/17/2018 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
You can try looking on one of these sites to find a place with a better price
/www.goodrx.com/mercaptopurine

I wonder if the cash price is better than the insurance price? If so, they should tell people that at the pharmacy.
Posted 9/17/2018 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
I would certainly try to appeal this one. Insurance is the bane of my existence sometimes!
Posted 9/18/2018 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
both are types of Thiopurines. They have been around a while, and generics should be available. Maybe check the formulary for other drugs in this class that are covered. Or go the appeal route - it is commonly prescribed.

good luck
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