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United Healthcare drops coverage for Canasa

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/5/2019 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
I got a message today from United Healthcare stating that they will no longer cover Canasa suppositories under their drug plan as of July 1st. They already don't cover the new generic, so there will be no coverage at all for any mesalamine suppository. It's nice that they can just arbitrarily drop coverage for a medicine many rely on to stay healthy.
Posted 6/5/2019 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
If you check the manufacturer's website (they switched owners and I can't recall offhand the name of the manufacturer now, but a search will bring it up), they probably have a program to help you out. I was getting mine for free from them (have to have a household income below a certain level). It was kind of a pain because they insisted on mailing the order to my doctor's office instead of my home, which wasn't at all convenient since he's 45 minutes away, but was way convenient cost-wise! I don't recall if they have a low-cost copay option too.

Looked it up: http://www.canasa.com/en/patients_resources

Allergan is the manufacturer.
Posted 6/6/2019 5:09 AM (GMT 0)
The generic will be covered so no worries. The NDC needs to get loaded in their system by that time. I already asked.
Posted 6/6/2019 10:50 PM (GMT 0)

ASellers said...
The generic will be covered so no worries. The NDC needs to get loaded in their system by that time. I already asked.

That would be great. I ordered some from Canada just in case.

The dude I talked to at the customer service line for United seemed pretty clueless, but I can't imagine them not covering such a basic U.C and U.P. med.
Posted 6/8/2019 5:26 AM (GMT 0)
So now when I called, the pharmacy coverage line tells me that Canasa coverage ends June 30th and Generic starts July 1st. They sounded pretty adamant. They better be right because I cancelled my shipment of Canasa (salofalk) from Canada.
Problem being I live in AZ, and have one of those metal "super-mailboxes". The heat would destroy those waxy suppositories if I dont get them out of there right away, which isn't always easy due to the fact that mail delivery times vary wildly, as does my work schedule.
Posted 6/8/2019 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
Can you have them delivered to you at work instead of your home address?
Posted 6/9/2019 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah don’t worry. If you look at the letter again, I believe the box to the right of the box that says Canasa even says generic is covered. What day did you last fill the brand name and what was the day supply? I am guessing if you did 1 month you could simply get a 30 day supply of brand during the last few days of June and then the next refill will swap over to generic. Trust me, this happens to pharmacy customers all the time. Be sure to call in any refills a few days early in case they need to order it.
Posted 6/9/2019 2:33 PM (GMT 0)

Serenity Now said...
Can you have them delivered to you at work instead of your home address?

Good idea!
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