[DancingAlone]

just a heads-up about seroquel for 2011

(note: this is for those of us who are on medicare and get our medicines through medicare part D)

i received my formulary list and tier costs today for my aarp medicare rx prescription plan.

seroquel has been moved from "tier 2" to "tier 3" which will raise it's copay by over $30 a month if you get your meds through medicare part d. **but check your plans to make sure that this may be only mine that did this**

however, in their infinite wisdom and ongoing stupidity, the pharmaceutical giants that make seroquel kept seroquel XR at tier 2, which only went up $2 for 2011 in my aarp drug plan.

i called my pharmacist about the difference and she said the only difference is that seroquel xr is spread out throughout the day instead of a heavy dose initially to the brain.

just another fly in the ointment...now instead of sleeping "only" 12 hours, it will be 24.

just don't have it in me at the moment to look for another med supplier, but may have to. please post any info you have if yours stayed tier 2 ? thanks.

[BNLsMOM]

I am not using the medicare part D, but my insurance company sent me a letter telling me that my seroquel was going to have to be pre-approved or else I would have to pay full price for the dose I am on. This is the med that has made the difference for me and honestly has saved my life, so hopefully the insurance company will see it that way as well.

[DancingAlone]

thank you BNLsMOM, evidently "something" is going on with the regular seroquel. ohhh if they only knew how important these meds are to our survival!

[kitty004567]

I have medicaid and blue cross. Blue cross demanded months ago that I go on a "generic equivalent" of seroquil or have my pdoc write a letter explaining why I couldn't. Um... there is no generic of seoquil, it's too new a drug so there is no "generic equivalent." Why do I put quotation marks, you ask? Because generic drugs only have to be within 10% of the name brand..in most cases this works just fine but I'm not willing to risk my emotional stability to completely change drugs. Fortunately, I have a pdoc who will back me up. He wrote the letter, problem solved...although I have a sneaking suspicion I'm gonna have to start paying copays on seroquil. I've got enough money that a copay's not a problem but I feel horrible for people who might have a less supportive doctor and have to choose between stability and sustainability.

[DancingAlone]

thank you kitty,
here are the correct facts about so-called "generic" seroquel:

[Generic Seroquel
A patent currently prohibits any generic Seroquel from being manufactured until 2012 at the earliest. Lawsuits or patents for specific uses for the drug could extend this date. While some companies may claim to sell a generic Seroquel, these drugs could be fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. You should not buy any so-called generic versions until an approved one is available.]

I also wrote Astro-Zenica (ms?) last night to find out what was going on. I think the pending lawsuits may be to blame but am waiting to hear back from them. This is just awful. I may have to switch to Seroquel XR, which still remains the same price (copay $44, only up $2 from 2010, still Tier 2) for some odd reason (and I asked them about THAT too!).

I miss the days when I could get free samples from a pdoc that now no longer takes medicare. Now am back in the state system and the pharm reps don't give them samples anymore at all. <sigh> Guess we'll just have to wait and see, and hopefully our pdoc's will help us with letters, etc.

Just a note FYI: I get mine in a bottle of 60 pills, 300 mg each. That way I can half them with a pill cutter (only take 150mg a day bcause of side effects) and getting 60, they last for 3 months. But you have to have a doc willing to write it this way: "take 1-2 300mg every day". It goes a long way to defray the cost. But of course if you take more, it won't work.

[youngm357]

Seroquel is ridiculously expensive AND effective. I guess if you are selling water in the desert you can ask just about anything. I do not know how I would survive without it and do not know how I will pay for it when my wife's military benefits end.

[DancingAlone]

youngm357 and all,

here is a excerpt from the email i received back from AstraZeneca about seroquel. i hope this might help you...i haven't called the number yet but will get back with any information i find out about further changes in seroquel (they're supposed to send more info, not gonna hold my breath)

[For products with money saving offers available use the following:]
If you or your physician would like additional information regarding SEROQUEL, or to find out if you would be eligible for money-saving offers, please call the Information Center at AstraZeneca at 1-800-236-9933, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, excluding holidays.

[lilred3382]

AstraZeneca is actually pretty helpful when coming to helping with medications. I take nexium which is made by them, I have no insurance, etc. They send me a 90 day supply of meds for no cost at all too me because I make under a certian amount yearly.

I know its not related to the seroquel but its worht a try to talk to them.

[Anneinside]

Each medicare Part D insurance company can decide what tier to put each drug on. Also they are not required to cover all drugs, but they do have to have at least one in each drug class. I see an insurance agent to find out changes in offerings by all the insurance companies in my state every November so that I can change if necessary. She makes sure all my medicines are covered under some tier. She also compares cost and coverage. For the last two years I have had the same vendor - HealthPartners - because I don't have a donut hole although my insurance cost is $300 a month and copays total $250... I have to keep remembering that if I didn't have insurance then I would have to pay out over $1300 per month on drugs, an impossible thing. If I had a lower cost supplemental plan with drug coverage then I would have to come up with $4000 over 3 months until I got to catastrophic coverage for medications. Medicare plans can be so confusing, especially if you are having other problems. That is why I let my insurance agent do the initial investigation into the plans each year.

[DancingAlone]

thank you Anneinside. the problem i have, after reviewing all the "new" plans for Georgia each year, is having to choose one that doesn't have a deductible, or a large monthly payment.

the phone call to my current med plan says it isn't there fault, (the change of seroquel to tier 3), but i think it is and will continue to pursue it until they 'fes up. forgot to call AstraZeneca today but will try that too for help.

i may have to go back to Humana if they kept it at Tier 2, but i like my AARP Medicare Rx Plan except for this one (critical!) med change. why don't they just leave everything alone and we don't have to go through this every year!!??