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Suboxone and Insurance

I've been on Suboxone for 18 months. It was mostly covered by my previous insurance. I'm on Medicaid now and it is $800 'out of pocket' for a months prescription. Too much. I've filled out some coupon forms but the Pharmacy says it rarely covers a fraction of what it says it does.

Anyone know how I can stay on Subs cheaper than $800 month?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Brian
***@****
17 Responses
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Avatar universal
Are you prescribed the brand name or a generic? Maybe the generic version would be a lot cheaper. I know it is with my insurance.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,

With all the coupons I have it at about 7.50 a strip. Is it true that the generic tabs are actually more than the films. doesn't make sense but that's ehat I was told.

I'm looking into subutex. I have no desire to IV and I believe that is the only reason the naltrex is in the Suboxone. Otherwise it is identical.

Peace
Brian
Helpful - 0
4522800 tn?1470325834
Walk into a meeting and everything is going to be Great..Hahaha What do they have??A magic stick??
This Disease is a Life Long Process with many stages. No Matter what route you take to try to get clean, it still takes working on for the rest of our Life. Life is not always Peaches and Cream and when the shiit hits the Fan..You better be prepaid by having all the support you can.

I have to agree that maybe switching to the Subutex might be a bit cheaper. I know it is in my town becasue I have some friends who have been on them for a while..I also agree that the Less is better and the Shorter Time on them will be less of a intense w/d. I wish you the best no matter what you do you have Taken a Step toward your Recovery.
Bless
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
"I was paying over $12.00 per strip and was taking 3 a day at one point...so I know ya'll have calculators.  Not to mention ( I don't know if you can legitimately add in the $$ for what I bought outside of my script but that was another $250/mth b/c on the street OUT HERE there $16.00/ pc!)  It's real easy when all you have to do is pay a copay!"

It would have been easier, not to mention less expensive, if you had stuck to the program and not been buying Sub off the street too. You were paying $12 a strip and buying them for $16 off the street?

"NO, I didn't just walk in and everything was hunky dory...it's a process that's going to take time.  There's a difference between being DRY and being HAPPY!  I want to be HAPPY."

I was addressing the Original Poster, not you, but you sound anything but happy. Good luck with that.

I'm on my 12th day since I finished my taper off Suboxone and pretty happy with the way things have gone.
Helpful - 0
7163794 tn?1457366813
COMMUNITY LEADER
OK.... I feel like I need to say something here b/c I don't think people realize that every state is different and NOT EVERYONE HAS INSURANCE ( I had Acute Lymphotic Leukemia as a teenager so I'm considered uninsurable) ...so going to the pharmacy alone, I was paying over $12.00 per strip and was taking 3 a day at one point...so I know ya'll have calculators.  And NO, that dollar amount did NOT include the $225.00 per month we had to pay to the doctor to write the script.  Not to mention ( I don't know if you can legitimately add in the $$ for what I bought outside of my script but that was another $250/mth b/c on the street OUT HERE there $16.00/ pc!)  It's real easy when all you have to do is pay a copay!  Suboxone is meant for short term relief....and YES, we are supposed to do some form of treatment, N/A, counseling, etc...while on the subs so that we don't fall backwards. But how many of us can HONESTLY say we did that? My dr didn't require it of me, or even ask if I WAS doing anything to be honest? My meeting with her every month lasted about 2 minutes.
I attend N/A every day (and it's NOT for everyone)...and NO, I didn't just walk in and everything was hunky dory...it's a process that's going to take time.  There's a difference between being DRY and being HAPPY!  I want to be HAPPY. It really is going to depend on what YOU want....do you want to be on some sort of maintenance for the rest of your life?  Or, would you rather get to where you can learn how to handle life "on life's terms"?  
On the sub website, I'm sure they DO say you can be on them forever....the stockholders of that pharmaceutical company love that!  Just look at what your putting out every month! Honestly, what are you going to do if you can't afford them financially? What's going to happen if you run out? I think you really need to think about these situations that can really happen b/c you don't want to just "run out" at a high dose.  Maybe it's time to make a plan....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
"I'm looking into Subutex as an alternative. I'm a chronic relapse and I've been clean 18 months. I could never make it a week. Want to stick with what's working but the cost man."

Some people need to be on it for an extended period to get their life together. I was one of them and spent 4 years total on Suboxone. However, it was only over the last 2 years I actually did the work I should have been doing all along to get my life together and my mind right. The the first time I tapered myself off it wasn't long before I wanted to start using again, and went back on it for another 2 years.

Not everyone agrees that being on Sub is clean, and some have the belief that you should just be able to go CT, walk into a 12 Step meeting and everything will be hunky-dory as long and you follow that mindset. While it's no doubt helped a lot of people, it never did anything for me and neither did treatment. My time on Suboxone gave a chance at a new life, and I have it better now than I ever have in my life.

But is this something you really want to spend the rest of your life on? It wasn't till my 4th year on it that it started to cause me to retain fluids, and I felt like I was a candidate for congestive heart failure if I didn't come off it. You have the cash problems to deal with, my co-pay for a script was $6.35 for 30 8mg strips at Walgreens. If not for the physical implications, I'd probably still be on it now.

You can work a taper and get off if you want to, I did so at a very slow and had an easy time of it. But only you can tell if you're ready to come off it or not, and you won't be ready till you do the work to keep yourself clean before you do get off it.

Good luck.
Helpful - 0
7163794 tn?1457366813
COMMUNITY LEADER
I hear ya....that **** ain't cheap!  I made the pharmacy print me out a printout every year of how much I spent on this crap for my taxes!!!!  Great deduction...but horrible for my pocketbook.  
Chronic relapse.....  it's been 18 months now though?  Maybe it's time to give it another try?  Why don't you ask your doctor to start tapering you (which will make it cheaper, lol) and see how you do?  I'm telling you right now...suboxone and subutext are just as addictive as everything else that we can get our hands on.  You will find that you've only traded one drug for another and the longer your on the subs the harder it is to get off.  I was on them WAYYYY to damn long.  From what I've read, were only supposed to be on them for 3-6 months.....We're addicts, to quit is hard, but at 18 months of the subs, you should look into starting the taper.  Just my opinion though.....
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
Hi there!  I'm sorry you find yourself in this predicament!  I agree with vicki, in that sub needs tapered, hence why I can understand the importance of you trying to find a solution.  

Please don't feel as though your decision to stay on the subs right now makes your recovery any less valid, because it doesn't.  I know people mean well, but you weren't asking for advice on how to come off, and clearly, based on what you've said, you were struggling to even get out of the gate, which is why you chose the sub route.  Each person needs to make that decision for themselves.  There is no judgement here.

Now, onto your problem.  What dose are you on?  $800 a month seems AWFULLY high.  In my experience, I've never seen or heard of someone having to pay that much, even as cash pay patients.  Is that price strictly for your prescription, or does that also include your doc visits?  If the latter, that would make a little more sense, although it's still very high.

The coupon offered, if you're a cash pay patient, would allow you to get a max discount of $50/month if I recall correctly.  There is also a program available to people struggling to pay for their script, although I have to caution you not to get your hopes up, as it's pretty limited, they only offer it to a handful of patients per clinic/doctor.  Here's the info:

http://www.suboxoneassistedtreatment.org/84.html

http://www.pharmacydrugguide.com/Suboxone_Patient_Assistance_Programs

Just looking at the requirements, I'm afraid you may not be eligible because you have Medicaid.  It doesn't hurt to contact them anyway and give it a shot.  

Beyond that, I would suggest calling multiple pharmacies, and ask them prices for different dosage distribution.  Sometimes, a drug is cheaper when dispensed in different doses.  For instance, you may find that the 2mg strips are cheaper than the 8mg strips, which would be one easy way to cut costs, by asking your doc to prescribe the cheaper strips.  

I wish you the best and hope you find a solution.  Let us know okay?
Helpful - 0
7689249 tn?1408018598
i have to pay out of pocket and its 188$ with the coupon but I'm almost off them
Helpful - 0
1310633 tn?1430224091
Not sure what dose you're on, but out-of-pocket for 30x8mg at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, HEB, etc, hasn't ever cost me any more than $300.

I guess if you're Dr Rx'd you 60/mo, it'd be in the $600/mo range, but even then, it's not $800.

That said, I apply the $50-off coupon that my doc gives me, each time I pay for my Rx.

I'm on 2mg's now, so it's considerable less.

Sorry about your loss of insurance. Truly sucky.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey Brian... Insurance is effecting everyone lately! Sorry your going through that.. You've been on subs for 18 months? Do you have a plan in place to taper from the subs at some point? What did you get clean from if you don't mind me asking?
Helpful - 0
7671414 tn?1395660495
If u read my second post I also told him to taper.I also said I was sorry for sounding harsh in the first post.If u read his he is asking how to get it for cheaper because of lack of ins and or money.That is staying on not getting off.Yes he would have to taper we all know that.If he wanted to stop which is what we are all trying to do here.I don't mean to sound harsh to u either.Sometimes writing,like texting leaves out emotion.I feel for him,u and everyone else with the pain of addiction.Brian be careful what ever u decide and try and get help with it also.You cant so it alone.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm looking into Subutex as an alternative. I'm a chronic relapse and I've been clean 18 months. I could never make it a week. Want to stick with what's working but the cost man. It's excrutiating and my GF sees how much I'm spending on it when it should go to her to some extent. Sad.
Helpful - 0
7163794 tn?1457366813
COMMUNITY LEADER
I was on suboxone for 6 yrs and paid cash the whole time. It was more $$ than that! In my opinion, maybe its time to get off the subs??? Your only prolonging what your going to have to do which is w/d. Honestly, this site is for people that want to quit.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
As with Methadone, SUBOXONE should be tapered so he still needs to be on it...and the fact that he's on it tells me he's trying to get clean...

Brian- Contact the manufacturer at Suboxone.com. They often provide meds at a reasonable price for folks in need. Good luck!
Helpful - 0
7671414 tn?1395660495
I am sorry if I sounded harsh.I am a very hard time in my wd and never want to be here again.I just wish I could tell everyone the harsh realities of the medical drugs we find our self victim to.u really need to try a taper if u want to get off.Talk to your dr. first.Good luck Brian.I wish u well.
Helpful - 0
7671414 tn?1395660495
Sorry about your loss of ins.. We here are all trying to stay clean.We are either off or trying to stop.If you decide to quit their are a lot of ppl here with very good advice.we can not give u ideas on staying a victim to your addiction.sorry again and good luck.
Helpful - 0
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