Cigna denies AsacolHD. Appeal?

I would just switch to Apriso and use the discount card ($0 for the first month then $10/mo. after that). My doc thinks Apriso reaches the colon better than Asacol anyway.

Ditto you can try and appeal or switch.

One of the biggest headaches when switching health insurance policies is you might have to change medications. Here's a basic survival guide to help you through it.

1.) Ask which UC medications are on the insurance's formulary (preferred) list and which are on their non-formulary (not preferred) list. For the lowest out-of-pocket cost, choose from the formulary list.

2.) Generics are the most cost effective. Brandnames are more expensive.

3.) Use the health insurance's price estimator tool (online insurance website, or call insurance, or ask a pharmacy) to learn what your copay will be. You will need to know which medications are applicable. The most common meds used are the anti-inflammatory, mesalamine-based medications that should be available in their price estimator:

• Apriso is brandnamed, comes in 375mg pills, a typical dose is 1,500 mgs or 4 pills daily. A copay assistance card is available from the manufacturer www.aprisorx.com/apriso/savings-card.
  
• Balsalazide Disodium is generic of Colazal, comes in 750mg pills, a typical dose is 6,750mgs or 9 pills daily.
  
• Colazal is brandnamed, comes in 750mg pills, a typical dose is 6,750mgs or 9 pills daily.
  
• Delzicol is brandnamed, comes in 400mg pills, a typical dose is 4,800 mgs or 12 pills daily. A copay assistance card is available from the manufacturer www.delzicol.com/resources/savings-card/
  
• Lialda/Mezavant is brandnamed, comes in 1,200mg pills, a typical dose is 4,800 mgs or 4 pills daily. A copay assistance card is NO LONGER available from the manufacturer, discontinued on 11/1/2017 and will not be renewed into the next year.
  
• Mesalamine DR is generic, comes in 800mg pills (generic Asacol HD) and 1200mg pills (generic Lialda), a typical dose is 4,800mgs. That's 8 of the 800mg pills or 4 of the 1,200mg pills daly.
  
• Pentasa is brandnamed, comes in 500mg pills, a typical dose is 4,000 mgs or 8 pills daily. A copay assistance card is available from the manufacturer /www.shire.com/patients/patient-services/shire-cares.
  
• Sulfasalazine is a generic,comes in 500mg pills, a typical dose is 4,000mgs or 8 pills daily.
  

4.) Once you've found a cost effective medication, call your gasteroenteroligist for a new prescription.

5.) Mail order prescriptions may have lower copays when you get a 90 day supply, instead of a 30 day supply. Check with your health insurance and ask about mail order options.

Pretty much every insurance company haggles with the med manufacturers, they choose whomever givens them the biggest discount as their formulary (preferred) brand, and everything else they penalize. All dollars and cents, and switching us around between brands isn't at all a concern of theirs...

DB.. Well, seems that my insurance and doctor agreed to Lialda at 1/2 my prior dosage. My insurance did tell my doctor I would have to try three other drugs before they would approve mesalamine. Strange, to me, since I'd been taking it for a year. You're correct...I am definitely confused. When I finally got my prescription straight, I went and picked it up at the pharmacy. MESALAMINE but take 1/2 my prior dosage.
That's fine with me; if a lower dosage works...all's great. But SO much confusion to simply get a refill of a prescription. Sorry for babbling off topic...just de-stressing