What was your cost of SUBOXONE?

Thus far I have recieved:

3 day inpatient medical stabilization - $4500
Suboxone clinic intake - $200
2 meetings with psychiatrist (prescriber of suboxone) - $75/visit
2 meetings with psychologist - $75/visit
1 drug test - $50/test
3 weeks worth of Suboxone - $375

Total: $5425

Total I had to pay: About $500 so far.

Estimated total cost: $6000
My responsibility: $600

Conclusions: Insurance is worth it. I used to hate looking at my checks and seeing my premium taken out every 2 weeks. Now I am more than happy to pay those fees. Treatment was the only way to go for me. I have tried so many times to quit on my own. Never works, I always relapse. I don't think I will relapse this time. You get so much support from people when you are honest about your problem. If you are thinking about Sub treatment or any treatment for that matter...I say go for it. I would be willing to pay the $6000 for the treatment I got. When you think about how much you waste on drugs, it is totally worth it...in my case atleast.

[IBKleen]

I have excellent insurance. However, there were NO doctors in my area who would accept it for Sub treatment. They all wanted cash. It was $250 for the first visit, and $90 a week thereafter. the pills themselves were $6 a piece. Also, well worth it.

[marcatj]

my insurance didn't cover it either.. he also (my doc) did some pain managment (coritsone shots, other pain managment stuff... and the sub) included in my first visit.

first visit including the shots et al: $500
visit every two weeks after: $125 - includes counceling
sub for 15 days: $80 approx.

worth every dang penny...

[GoingToMakeIt]

$600.00 Drs visit
$75.00 Trip to Pharmacy
Getting Clean...Priceless!

[marcatj]

LOL!  totally!

[ButchH8]

Don't you love these doctors. I pay $1342 per month for insurance for me and the wife. My insurance fully covers all detox treatment, but the doctors won't take insurance.  I paid $300 for first visit and the doctor wanted $150 for each weekly visit to monitor me on Suboxon. He didn't get the chance. I called up after three days, told him I stopped Subox. and cancelled my appointment. Now THAT was FUN!

[OBXman]

I'm curious, these doctors you spoke of, do they not accept insurance at all, from any patient for any reason? Or only Suboxone patients? Do they not accept ANY insurance or just your insurance?

When a doctor accepts insurance, he/she is accepting the their payment as "payment in full," based on what has been determined as "fair and reasonable." I may be wrong (I'm sure others here can tell us), but I don't think doctors are allowed to selectively accept insurance from some patients for some conditions, but not from others. Either they participate with the insurance company or they don't.

I'd be suspicious of a doctor who accepts cash only for Suboxone treatment. That means he/she wants over and above what most insurance policies will pay. It tells me he is more interested in a buck than helping people.

When I was on Suboxone (it's been a year since I've stopped) it was being paid for by state medical assistance. This was in PA-- I guess if you're an opiate addict, PA is a good place to live, economically. I only had to pay $8 per office visit, and that was only for the urine test. My co-pay for the prescription was $3.

When I began treatment, my state insurance wasn't set up yet so I payed cash for the first few visits. This was back in '05, but the office visit was $78; urine test $8; and the Rx for a weeks supply of 14, 8 mg. tablets, was around $68 (from K-Mart).

If your doctor doesn't accept insurance, the important question is: does your insurance cover it? If they do they will reimburse you for what they have determined is "fair and reasonable." Often doctors who don't participate will help you with this paperwork, or even do it for you.

Once I went to an Orthopedist because of a broken bone. He didn't accept insurance so he could charge $325 for an office visit. Otherwise he would have to accept the insurance company's payment as "payment in full." That's the law. It was a waste of time, all he did was look at the X-ray I had brought with me from the ER. They did the paperwork for my insurance company, and told me to endorse the check over to them when I received it. I got a check for $115, what my insurance company declared "fair and reasonable" for his services. I sent them $15 a month until it was paid. They were quite upset about it, calling and harassing me for that $115 check. I told them since they chose not to participate, it was between me and my insurance company and none of their business. As long as they received a payment every month, there was nothing he cold do, the S.O.B.!

[lonote]

I paid 40 dollar copay, a visit with a councelor, an asessment, another 40, and  13.00 co paY FOR 90 PILLS. i GUESS I'M FORTUNATE with good ins.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Maybe that's why they want cash?

[wait2long]

i dont have insurance, and still consider myself lucky...i have an awesome doctor...she even makes house calls, and no charge for the first 7 months, because SHE IS a caring doctor who truly wants to help, now i only have too see her about every 3 months and its $50.00 for the visit, and i pay cash for my sub, about$ 6.40 per pill, and $20.00 weekly for my therapy...i am still so fortunate.
i hear horror stories of addicts getting raped by their doctors, it is so unfair to take advantage of someone in need, but know that there ARE doctors out there who TRULY care and want to help...you just have to find them