Does anyone do the $25 Prevacid savings card?

[cuzisaidso]

Originally Posted by sdasilva27

Actually, I worked for Walgreens throughout college up until summer 2007. The savings cards are not EVER automatically used. There's no way to possibly do that. The good techs pay attention when they refill something but not all of them care to do their jobs thoroughly. The easiest way to do it is tell them you have a savings card on your profile for your copay. Waiting to tell them when you get there means you have to wait for them to do it and there are a lot of techs that do not properly know how to use the savings card in which case, they tell you to come back the next day. This used to happen all the time at the store I worked at since only one other girl and I knew how to do these. That's just my opinion from my experience.

For other savings cards on your other rx's, see:
optimizerx.com
internetdrugcoupons.com

If you have no insurance, get a discount card at:
freedrugcard.org

Rep me if I helped!

At Albertsons it goes through automatically.

[sdasilva27]

Originally Posted by Stefanie

I thought 30-day would make more sense, but the pharmacist told me 30-pill. I went back the next month with a new RX for 15mg, once a day (I just get it filled every 2 months now) and it went through no problems... I go to CVS though, maybe Walgreens does it differently, or worked it through? I have no idea!!!

I just want to caution you with doing this....that is technically insurance fraud to have the doctor write the rx different than it's actually taken to get around extra copays/or amount of copay so you can use the card. I just wanted to let you know because pharmacies and insurance companies do take notice that you previously had an rx with different directions and then brought in a new one for more qty with different directions and now only fill it every other month instead of if it were an actual increase in dose and you refill it every month. So if you're going to do it, be careful and be prepared that you MIGHT get into trouble. You and the doctor can be fined and if the medication was for a controlled substance rather than prevacid, he could actually get his license taken away...so now that you know, it's up to you what you do.

[crownline266]

[quote=sdasilva27;708920]I just wanted to let you know because pharmacies and insurance companies do take notice that you previously had an rx with different directions and then brought in a new one for more qty [quote]

Just wanted to say that the quantity that she's going up is the actual dose my son went through, so that wouldn't raise any red flags. I don't know how it's written for the directions and all the other stuff that you mentioned. But just wanted to comment on the dosage.

[Stefanie]

Thanks for the input.

Beyond the burn is not my only reason for going back to my original dosage. It's just the only reason I mentioned on here b/c it was the only financial reason.

My son is in the process of weaning off the Prevacid, his dose was cut in half. I needed a new prescription, told my GI I was giving the lower dose. When I tried to use BTB, it didn't work. I then went to my pedi and she asked if my Rxs were working for me. I told her I was in the process of weaning, etc. I was concerned b/c there are days when DS refuses to take his medicine, or immediately throws it up. And there are days when he has flare ups and needs to go back to the full dose. I told her I thought I might have jumped the gun on decreasing the dose. she agreed. I'm not sure if you've ever had a baby or toddler with reflux who takes Prevacid solutab, but it's not always the easiest thing to handle and it's very difficult to get all medicine in without a wasted drop/granule. She's always been very perceptive to our struggles, so SHE suggested a new RX for the full dosage and I could just wean him as I saw appropriate. That meant filling it, roughly every 55-58 days.

So, while my post here was not nearly as descriptive as the actual situation, it is nothing I have any concerns over getting in trouble over, and it is not by any means insurance fraud as you implied. I just didn't think it was relevant to any HCW members about my son's medical history/care.

[bigsweetie]

Originally Posted by Stefanie

I'm not sure if you've ever had a baby or toddler with reflux who takes Prevacid solutab, but it's not always the easiest thing to handle and it's very difficult to get all medicine in without a wasted drop/granule.

I'm not sure how old your DS is, but my 8 week old is on Prevacid and I found a little trick to get all the meds in her. The syringe thing they gave me didn't work because the granules would just get stuck at the end of it so she was basically getting "Prevacid flavored water" LOL! What I do (because it says you can't crush them) is take the tablet and put just a TINY bit of water on it. Just enough to moisten it (not dilute it). It dissolves very easily into a paste. Then I scoop it up with my finger and put my finger in my DD's mouth. I'm able to get all the granules that way. The key is to not add too much water to it.

Just a tip! Hope it was helpful... : )

[sdasilva27]

And that's exactly what doctors and a lot of patients don't know. By giving you more medicine than you need on one prescription, it is insurance fraud. If you have a prescription for 30 pills with directions of take one a day and you give 1/2 to 1 a day, and refill it every 45 days for example, rather than every 30 days, it is in fact, insurance fraud. Call your pharmacy and/or insurance and ask. If your son can't always keep his medicine down or whatever, your doctor by law should be writing #30, take 1/2 to 1 tab per day. The pharmacist I worked for, flat out refused to fill prescriptions for people doing what you're doing because he WAS sued for filling a prescription in which the doctor and patient did this. So if you want to take the chance of being caught and getting not only you, your doctor and your pharmacist in trouble, that's your thing. I was just trying to warn you because on HCW I thought we did things the honest way. I honestly don't see what the big deal is with doctors and patients getting their prescriptions written the exact way they're taken, which again, is a law. Call the FDA and ask if you don't believe me. If your doctor had written #30 take 1/2 to 1 per day, you would have paid the same copay, been able to use the card, etc and wouldn't have to worry about a thing. I don't know about you, but I like putting my head down every night not having to worry about things I've done throughout the day. Like I said, do as you wish, I'm done talking about this. I just hope I never have to see anything about fraud again on these boards when I come here to get info about using assistance cards correctly.

[kykidzmom]

I have been using this for a year (and mail in before that). My small pharmacy tried to pull that on me too and every time it was a huge headache to get the $$ taken off. I switched to Target pharmacy (with a $10 card offer too!) and have not had any trouble since. They just sent me a new card as my old one was expired, but I end up paying zero each month for this drug for my son.

[Carrie578]

I haven't had a chance to read all the responses I must admit.

I used to work for a GI doctor. We gave out samples of Zegerid, Aciphex, Prevacid, Nexium, Protonix and Prilosec daily.

A few things you might consider:

Ask your doctor about Omeprazole. It's the same thing as Prilosec OTC but generic and an RX it MAY save you some $$ depending on your co-pay.

Most doctors understand the need to afford the RX they are prescribing. Afterall, what's the use of prescribing it if the patient can't afford it?

Each insurance has a different Formulary Chart as to what they choose as the "Drug of Choice". This drug is usually the cheapest for them. Your doctor's office (especially a Specialist) should know what drug is your insurance's drug of choice. If not, call your insurance company yourself.

Don't be afraid to ask for samples or savings cards. I know Prilosec and Nexium has them. It never hurts to ask.

As someone who worked in the office, I can say that we don't mind giving out samples to help people out. It's he ones that we knew had the $$ for the RX that want 100 samples every month that we frowned upon. Giving people those samples made it hard to have enough of our allottment to give to those who the samples were intended for new RX's. It also made it very difficult at the end of the year when the elderly ran out of RX coverage and had to pay for most of their prescriptions out of pocket.

Another thing to consider. Many drug makers have programs for those who can't afford their medications. Most are income and insurance based.

Hope this helps.

~Carrie~

[Stefanie]

Originally Posted by sdasilva27

I just hope I never have to see anything about fraud again on these boards when I come here to get info about using assistance cards correctly.

I apologize. I am not trying to cause issues here. I was simply stating my situation. And while you still feel that I am intentionally committing insurance fraud and advising others to do so, that is simply not the case. I will not discuss my personal situation anymore except to say that there are always situations where you do what is best for your child and you follow your doctors advice. I have been verbally told several times to wean my DS, and have never been offered a new prescription.

[Stefanie]

Originally Posted by bigsweetie

I'm not sure how old your DS is, but my 8 week old is on Prevacid and I found a little trick to get all the meds in her. The syringe thing they gave me didn't work because the granules would just get stuck at the end of it so she was basically getting "Prevacid flavored water" LOL! What I do (because it says you can't crush them) is take the tablet and put just a TINY bit of water on it. Just enough to moisten it (not dilute it). It dissolves very easily into a paste. Then I scoop it up with my finger and put my finger in my DD's mouth. I'm able to get all the granules that way. The key is to not add too much water to it.

Just a tip! Hope it was helpful... : )

Thanks for the advice! My son is actually almost 3, and he started Prevacid when he was 8wks old. We used the method you described until he developed texture aversions and started refuse the granules. It has not been fun. We have tried other medications, but Prevacid seems to be the only one to do the trick. We were on the compounded liquid for a while, but that's costly... insurance doesn't cover it and you have to fill it twice a month! But now, as a 3 year old, he mostly eats the solutab like candy. But with his severe texture aversions, you never know if he's going to puke it all back up again.... Thanks again!