I took my daughter to a dermatologist to get some help with her acne. The doctor prescribed an oral antibiotic and a cream one. He said the cream was new and contained Vitamin A to also help the skin. He gave us two small samples plus a coupon to apply at the pharmacy. That's a warning right there that it's an expensive prescription. Well sure enough with the $35 coupon and what my insurance will pay it came to $190.00. (The oral drug was $10.00) Well they had to order the cream so I went to pick it up today. The pharmacist told me that had the cream just had the antibiotic and not the added Vitamin A that it would have been about $30.00! I said well the doctor said it was a new treatment... The pharmacist said well sure, the drug reps come in, buy the office lunch, push the new drug and so the doctor in turn will prescribe them. So I guess I paid for the office lunch! We have another appointment next month and he sure will hear from me. I feel like I've just been robbed. Maybe $160.00 is chump change to the doctor but it's huge for me. It's not like he said we could get a generic.
Anyone else have that experience at the pharmacy??
Take a deep breath...maybe it's because a drug rep brought him lunch or maybe it's because the research shows this is the best new treatment for your child's type of acne.
Good point and breathing always helps!
I've had past experiences with pharmacists who have turned out to be correct about these things though so that's why I am so perturbed.
One saved me a ton of money by telling me to have my doctor give me a 6 month prescription for a larger dose, cut them in half and have it filled at a cheaper pharmacy than the one she was working at!
I appreciate your comments. Thank you!
We have had that experience when dh went to the pharmacy for allergy/asthma meds. He got there and his bill was $300 after insurance! Of course none of the prescriptions were the $4 variety. The pharmacist was nice and told him which ones he didn't need (why would a doc prescribe something you don't need?!) and he got by with $112. Very frusterating
I know exactly were your coming from. I have a chronicly sick DS. His immunologist ordered some test (yes they were needed) but some of the test over lapped (meaning serveral test tested the same things) Anyway to my shock we received a bill of $5000 for a few blood tests and x-ray. I almost died.
The same doc prescribed a sinus med last month plus another antibotic. My insurance did not cover the sinus med and it would have cost me $130. We didn't get it. We just got the antibotic. DS doc appointment tomorrow should be interesting.
We had an article in the paper of a nearby city that stated alot of doctors in our area are not allowing company sales reps to give them free things anymore, including lunches, samples, notepads for the reason that they didn't want to feel the pressure of having to prescribe their meds. It stated that although the samples are helpful for their patients that dont have insurance, it was best all around to not be given gifts, especially since those gifts mean that the medicine costs more. They felt like new medications could be learned about in the medical journals so there was no need to advertise with notepads and pens, etc.
No real help with your case, I don't know whether he thought it was the best medicine to use or if he felt pressured to prescribe that brand. Most of my doctors will tell me when a prescription is going to be very costly beyond my insurance coverage. Your doctor should have discussed it with you.
I last time I saw my doctor, she was complaining about the drug reps. Said she preferred eating a pb&j sandwich & having a little time to herself at lunch. I've seen her for years & she's happy to give samples or change prescriptions when I need, but doesn't push the new stuff. I'm very up front about getting what will help me, but ask for less expenses meds if possible. Of course, my insurance pushes me to use generics too. It doesn't brother me to ask about the cost since I may not feel I can afford it. Sometimes I even say my insurance may not cover it (which has happened) & I need to know how much. Hope the doctor can change your daughter to the $30 med & she will get the same results. I would just try to be up front & positive about it when talking to the doctor.
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I hate that this happened to you. I can empathize. My poor mom was prescribed a blood thinner by a dr. and when dad got to the pharmacy to pay for it it was $1200!!! Daddy paid for it and ofcourse once you walk away from the window with it you can't return it, even unopened. Ugh. Anyway.....that won't happen again. And me, I'm asking for the $4 drugs at Walmart from now on. The dr. better have a very good reason why I can't use those instead of the high priced stuff.
I hate that this happened to you. I can empathize. My poor mom was prescribed a blood thinner by a dr. and when dad got to the pharmacy to pay for it it was $1200!!! Daddy paid for it and ofcourse once you walk away from the window with it you can't return it, even unopened. Ugh. Anyway.....that won't happen again. And me, I'm asking for the $4 drugs at Walmart from now on. The dr. better have a very good reason why I can't use those instead of the high priced stuff.
When we had a less than steller prescription plan, I would tell our doctor that we would be paying the majority of the prescription cost, so please keep that in mind when writing the RX. There are a lot of older medications that work just as well as the newer ones, but our doctor said often patients request the new meds. As long as it works, I don't care if it was created 2 or 200 years ago. lol
I've had a similar situation. A quick phone call to my Dr.'s office and I had an affordable script. Many factor's go into your Dr.'s choice of med's including your medical history. I would listen to what a pharmasist has to say, however I trust my Dr. and will get his advice. The "free lunches" do not sell newer med's. The claims of "improvements" are what sell the med's. I also have a situation where the less expensive med does not work as well as the "premium" drug, and will pay the additional cost. Dr.'s don't know insurance info., or cost of drugs....Most importantly in my opinion, if I were "so mad at my Dr"....I'd be looking for a new Dr. that I trusted and felt good about.
when My kiddos were little our Pediatrition would give me 2 weeks woth of samples instead of a perscription. I was going in at least once a week for ear infections etc with my kids (5 lottle ones)
DS's plastic surgeon did some face reconstruction on him a year ago. when we got the bill from his office (after insurance paid) it was over 16,000. :surprise: anyway, he had told me he would do the surgery for whatever the insurance paid as payment in full. I cried. DH called his office and talked to him and he tore up the bill.
I always ask for samples, too. Our peditrician will give out samples of liquid Tylenol or Motrin if you ask. They are small bottles, but the nurse usually gives me 2-3 of them.
DH and I have to feel we are at death's door to go to a doctor, but when we do go, we tell him straight-up "If it's not generic do not prescribe it. We cannot afford it" We've never had a problem.
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I'm so mad at our doctor...
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