r/ADHD • u/Space-Useful • 21h ago
Seeking Empathy My medication went from $31 to $130.
I'm really frustrated right now and I would like to know if anybody has experienced sonthing similar. So I'm on Methylphenidate and I would pick it up from my local walmart for $31 dollars. Starting this month, it randomly shot up to $130. I called my insurance, they said it was somthing up with walmart. Talked to my walmart pharmacist and she said that nothing has changed with walmart in terms of a manufacturing change and no changes to my prescription has been made.
I had to bite the bullet and pay to get the medication (I'm afraid of abruptly stopping it). I plan in calling my insurance again but this is just very upsetting.
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u/Thebakers_wife 20h ago
Walmart may have stopped accepting your insurance
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u/Jasona1121 ADHD 18h ago
This might be it since they randomly stop without notice. My pharmacy randomly stopped taking my insurance last year and nobody bothered to tell me until I showed up to pick up my meds
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u/the_noise_we_made 17h ago
Then why didn't they just tell them that?
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u/frsh2fourty 16h ago
It may not give them that info on the computer or maybe ops specific policy doesn't cover that pharmacy while they still accept other policies from that insurance carrier.
Work changed my insurance this year but I verified the pharmacy accepted that carrier before having the doc call my script in. I went to pick it up and they charged me full price saying their computer was telling them my insurance was invalid. When I asked what they meant by invalid they said that's all it shows, just status: invalid. After a phone call I found out that while my insurance is accepted at that pharmacy, it's not for 90 day fills which is what I normally get and they only have 2 pharmacies that they approve for 90 day fills.
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u/bookchaser Parent 16h ago
This is where using a locally owned pharmacy pays dividends. With any sort of billing irregularity my local pharmacy looks into it while I stand there. One time they got me a better price on a medication because of the medical provider I use, and didn't run my medication through my insurance. I didn't even know the opportunity existed.
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u/invisible-bug 11h ago
I go to CVS next to me and this is the stuff they do for us. They pushed through a refill on a controlled medication for my SO a few weeks ago even though it wasn't time yet. Just the most recent example
I think it's more about good peeps.
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u/bookchaser Parent 8h ago
My experience with CVS is of them not being able to maintain staffing levels, being closed during the weekday lunch hour, and being closed on weekends. The pharmacy, not the overall store. Any time of day I'd go there, I'd be faced with a long line.
When the ADHD med scarcity started, they couldn't get any. I checked in about once a month. In the third month I was told face-to-face they got the meds in, but I didn't pick them up. I was not texted/called/e-mailed like they normally do, and when I didn't respond, they put the meds back and some other customer got 'em.
That's when I called around and discovered my locally owned pharmacy could obtain the meds. They even do home delivery, which CVS does not do in my area. Even today, that CVS hasn't changed.
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u/Hafford55 20h ago
Try good rx and see if the cost is better! Usually is if your rx is that price 😬
Trying to figure out what changed though is still a good idea though!
Did your insurance plan renew? Mine renewed April 1st, so I am back to square one on meeting my deductible and expect that to mess with my bills/rx prices as well, but it would depend on your plan. Sometimes plans change year to year as well, even if your insurance provider is the same.
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u/Abject_Replacement94 19h ago
Walmart no longer accepts GoodRX on controlled substances, including controlled ADHD medication. This policy only started a few months back.
I was thinking maybe they were using GoodRX to begin with, that would explain the price jump. Do you think the pharmacy was using GoodRX this entire time because it was cheaper than using your insurance, but now that GoodRX no longer is accepted, they have to put it on your insurance? Do you have a large deductible?
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u/Suitable-Care-2743 19h ago
This is exactly what happened with me.
It is more cost-effective for us to be on a high-deductible plan for our family, since we get a large HSA contribution from my husband’s employer for choosing the high deductible plan. While it’s nice that we have no monthly premium to pay, we essentially pay for everything out of pocket until we reach our deductible - including prescriptions.
With Walmart’s GoodRX price I paid $28/month for my ADHD meds for the last 3 years. With the recent change I pay $90/month for the same meds. Sucks real bad.
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u/Hafford55 18h ago
What! Lame. My insurance is great, but two years ago GoodRX was a lifesaver. I went to my local grocery store pharmacy and then switched to CVS (when that pharmacy wasn’t getting my meds anymore during the shortage) though so never had to deal with Walmart policies…
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u/Jargon_Hunter 14h ago
That’s so ridiculous, what’s their reasoning??? Do you know if that’s the case for all prescription discount cards or just GoodRx? If it’s just GoodRx, maybe SingleCare would work?
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u/Space-Useful 9h ago
I have BCBS and I do have a large deductible (about 3000). Since my insurance is already on file walmart usually submits a claim before I pick it up. Up until this month, my claim would reflect that I had to pay $31. Unfortunately, GoodRx doesn't have any coupons for the walmart (s) in my area. The cheapest I could find is Walgreens, but I'd have to get my doctor to resubmit the prescription since it's controlled. I do plan on contacting my Insurance again to get to the bottom of this today.
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u/dca_user 20h ago
The president signed something to undo low pharma prices for some citizens - maybe that impacted you?
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u/Accomplished-Act9721 20h ago
Of course he did.
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u/Dexterdacerealkilla 19h ago
I really struggle to understand how anyone still thinks he’s doing the American people a solid. I guess unless your main priority is bigotry.
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u/pricklycactass 18h ago edited 4h ago
The last time a republican president did what trump is doing to the economy, the next 60 years were only democratic presidents. They are shooting them selves in the foot right now.
*edit: omg I meant congresses not presidents!!!
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u/Dexterdacerealkilla 18h ago
I’m just concerned about all the irreversible things they’re doing. Like all the people they’ve been snatching off the streets and sending to another country that we don’t have jurisdiction over, in conditions that our constitution doesn’t allow for.
Or the fact that we’ve done this twice now and that the international community no longer can trust our word.
God forbid he gets another Supreme Court appointment. The effects will probably be seen still after most of us are dead.
I genuinely hope you’re right, but even the best case scenario at this point means a lot of lives lost and irreparably ruined.
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u/wintermute-- 17h ago
Sorry, maybe I'm an idiot, but who/when is this a reference to? There's never been a time when a single party controlled the presidency for 60 years: https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2021/02/FT_21.02.01_UnifiedGovernment_1.png?resize=1024,667
The closest thing I can find is when the Great Depression kicked off under Hoover. Democrats took back the house in the 30s and mostly held it (apart from interruptions under Truman and Eisenhower) up until Clinton's presidency in the 90s.
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u/Reiver_Neriah 16h ago
What you stated is what the original comment meant
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u/jimothee 16h ago
Kind of funny they didn't notice "30's to the 90's" was said 60 years unless that was them guessing
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u/Nyantastic93 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 16h ago
You'd be surprised how many of his crowd don't care how bad they get screwed over themselves as long as the brown people get screwed over too and the liberals keep crying
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u/demoliahedd 18h ago
Yup, can't afford my meds now so I'm off my meds for the first time in years. God please the USA
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u/bookchaser Parent 15h ago
Trump ended medication price regulations for senior citizens. He's also gutting Medicaid and has devastated nonprofits that provide services to homebound seniors. That's really just a tiny part of the damage being done to everyday Americans.
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u/dca_user 15h ago
And sadly, these are the same folks who voted for this.... It's horriible. My friends and I just don't know what to say
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u/Lostbronte 3h ago
You’re not correct. I’m not a Trumper but I need to know for my job helping people with disabilities: https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/03/fact-check-president-trump-will-always-protect-social-security-medicare/
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u/BirdsArentReal22 15h ago
I don’t think methylphenidate was one of those lowered prices but certainly a lot of generics are imported. So we’re fucked thanks to Dear Leader.
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u/ghostmonkey2018 20h ago
Go to a Costco if there’s one nearby. Their non-insured rate is cheaper than my insurance rate at other pharmacies. I believe they fill for non-members, but call and ask.
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u/psyki 16h ago
60 20mg IR adderall is like $15 without insurance at Costco, and medicaid makes it $0 for me. I believe you have to be a member for the "costco discount".
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u/ghostmonkey2018 12h ago
Thanks for clarifying. I think I’ve occasionally heard them say “Costco member price” when ringing me up
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u/p00pb00b222 16h ago
This. I don’t have a Costco membership and I use their pharmacy. No issues getting in or out of the store when picking up.
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u/Pheighthe 19h ago
They are required to serve everyone at the pharmacy.
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u/prairiepanda ADHD-C 17h ago
I have heard this, but sometimes the staff checking cards at the door will give you trouble for not having a membership.
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u/psyki 16h ago
Not if you say you're just going to the pharmacy. I usually go in through the exit side because it's more of a direct shot.
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u/Appropriate-Luck1181 20h ago
My insurance changed to only cover the osmotic release methylphenidate—maybe yours implemented something like that?
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u/Space-Useful 9h ago
That's the kind I'm on and it covered it for a while. Legit have no idea nor any warning as to the price hike and why.
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u/Rarak 20h ago edited 20h ago
In Australia adhd meds cost 10-30 aud a month without insurance.
American healthcare sucks
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u/Emotional_Warthog658 20h ago
Yes, it does. Please keep reminding us so we fight harder for better things. Like folks here seriously don’t know
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u/The-Wandering-Kiwi 20h ago
My son’s ADHD meds cost me 10.00 every 3 months. I think it friggin Outrageous what you guys have to pay in the States
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u/morbidscreams 18h ago
Every 3 months? I’m so jealous. I can’t even request a refill if it’s not less than a week before it’s time for a refill. They are really strict on ADHD meds that you can’t get more than 30 days at a time.
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u/The-Wandering-Kiwi 18h ago
They used to be like that here in NZ as well. U could only get 30 days at a time. They changed it a couple of years ago so u can get 30 days and then 2 repeats. It costs $10.00 for the first script then the other 2 are free ( if that makes sense)
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u/nomorecrackerss 16h ago
mine is typically 10-20 in the US. But I have to play pharmacist roulette hoping that the person at counter knows what they are doing
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u/raininherpaderps 18h ago
My adhd med with insurance is 10 every 3 months in the state it's really a roulette
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u/bookluvr83 19h ago
That's cuz American politics only cares about rich people. The rest if us poor people can die
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u/kafka_quixote ADHD 16h ago
When I lived in Spain concerta was like 10€ a month and I was on private insurance associated with my job/visa status
I hate American healthcare so much
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u/dandy-in-the-ghetto 12h ago
My country (Poland) isn’t bad in terms of medication prices in general, but pretty backwards in dealing with adult ADHD - meds are only subsidized for kids, so my Elvanse costs around 350 PLN (90 USD) per month…
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u/Edward_TH 5h ago
Italian here, methylphenidate is 2€/month for everyone. Except very poor people and those whom have other kind of exception to payment, they pay nothing.
So at most is 24€/year.
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u/KarmaPharmacy 20h ago
Wow so helpful to tell us this. We had no clue.
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u/Rarak 20h ago
Well a lot of Americans support it…pointing it out for them. Sorry, I probably came across like an ass. I wish everyone could have affordable access.
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u/KarmaPharmacy 20h ago
Appreciate the apology. Being an American sucks so much right now. A lot of people are in serious denial about how bad it’s going to get.
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u/LetsGoGators23 20h ago
My small pharmacy told me in the last few months the insurance negotiated rate was less than he paid for it, so I stopped running my insurance and pay about $75 out of pocket. Same meds. I wonder if this is what is happening to others but in friendly with the guy so I get the behind the scenes info
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u/LateNiteMeteorite ADHD-C (Combined type) 13h ago
Yes, it absolutely is. The pharmacy I work at loses hundreds of dollars per script depending on the insurance/medication. PBMs are ruining the pharmacy business with corporate greed.
I ran a test claim for a patient’s medication that was on back order, with a different manufacturer, for the same drug. The new manufacturer would have made me lose over 500 dollars, where the original manufacturer would have made me around 130. The insurance said it was “not a preferred manufacturer” and to use the other one or have the patient use the PBM’s mail order pharmacy (owned by the insurance company).
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u/Careless_Lion_3817 20h ago
This is nuts…people saying it’s cheaper without insurance…I believe it but JFC our healthcare system is so broken (and I just see it getting worse and worse with no end in sight). Like what is even the point of insurance??? I ended up switching to the no premium option at work bc I refuse to pay for shit.
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u/Dexterdacerealkilla 18h ago
Even worse: if I use the mail order pharmacy that my drug benefits provider actually owns, it costs even more than getting it locally! And unlike my independent pharmacy, they can’t guarantee that they won’t ship me the one brand that I’ve had a bad reaction to.
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u/TlMEGH0ST 20h ago
My Concerta went from $3 to $45 last month!! Not sure what’s going on, but it’s not just you
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u/Ethos_Logos 6h ago
What chain pharmacy do you use?
I picked mine up a couple weeks ago, no change in price at CVS.
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u/TlMEGH0ST 6h ago
Interesting. I use Rite Aid. But I just switched to a med my insurance doesn’t cover at all lol so now I’m using a manufacturer’s coupon
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u/Ethos_Logos 6h ago
Ah, yeah, insurance differences will make a difference. I’ve been paying $10 for the generic concerta for years now.
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u/jkvf1026 ADHD-C (Combined type) 19h ago
Something happened recently with the government. I don't remember off the top of my head, but my partner & I were talking about it earlier after he got his inhalers from Walgreens.. There was some retired soul at Walgreens today trying to get his meds... They went from $13 to $125...
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u/SweetSweetCookies 19h ago
Most of the countries that make generic medications just had huge tariffs placed on imports to the US. Trump also removed all protections on elevated medication costs, so big pharmaceutical companies are doubling down on name brand meds as well. This is all going to keep being the new normal in the US for this term sadly.
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u/jkvf1026 ADHD-C (Combined type) 18h ago
Yea, it's really scary. If I can't get my meds, I can't function. Adderall works for 2 different conditions of mine, ADHD & Hypersomnia.
I'm fortunate to live in Oregon, where there's a lot of community organizations to help people & the state has been trying to find other ways to fund their Medicaid program for a few years but it's still in jeopardy. Regardless, the West Coast will only be able to hold out for so long under the current administration, unfortunately more than half of Oregons children are covered by the Oregon medicaid program, so it's only a matter of time until everything crashes.
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u/SweetSweetCookies 18h ago
I completely understand, I have bipolar disorder comorbid with ADHD and I have to have my medication or I can suffer serious effects. All we can hope for is something or someone to start standing up to these changes or we can just read all of Project 2025 to see what will happen next 😞
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u/Mobile-Hornet-2864 20h ago
Try not using your insurance and ask if they have a cash price. It's cheaper for me to do it this way. $47 cash or $79 with insurance lol. Insurance is kind of scam imo, and only helps with hospital stays and ER visits.
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u/OOBERRAMPAGE 20h ago
Walmarts system is set up so that if a medications cash price is $47 and your co-pay would normally be higher, then they only charge you the $47. Now i have definitely heard of this kind of thing happening in hospitals however. " No way am I paying $900 for this! I have insurance! You didn't even do anything". Oh I see we don't have your insurance on file. here let me input that for you. Thank you for holding, that will now be $1300 please". Lmao.
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u/tidyshark12 20h ago
This was the case with goodrx, a universal insurance of sorts for prescriptions. It still exists, however, my generic Adderall went from $50/mo without insurance to 150/mo now
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u/Wicked-elixir 14h ago
What pharmacy? I picked mine up today and it was $26.
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u/tidyshark12 14h ago
Every Walmart i went to while i didn't have insurance at my new job
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u/Bitter-Breath-9743 20h ago
That seems very off for generic medication.
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u/Meggles_Doodles 19h ago
Without insurance, generic 36mg methylphenidate for 30 tablets is $300.
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u/Bitter-Breath-9743 19h ago
I always check GoodRx. That was my line of thought.
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u/Dexterdacerealkilla 18h ago
GoodRX is not very reliable with controlled substance prescriptions. In my experience over the years it’s become rarely accepted for them.
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u/vindman 18h ago
It was just accepted for mine for like the 10th time
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u/Dexterdacerealkilla 18h ago
What kind of pharmacy do you go to? It might be helpful for others if you can share.
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u/FreeSammiches ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 17h ago
CVS takes GoodRx.
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u/chesterfieldkingz 11h ago
Not mine for controlled substances
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u/FreeSammiches ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 7h ago
Do you have more than one in your area? I was able to use it at both of the CVSs near my house. The last time I had to use it was about 9 months to a year ago though, because my on-insurance price dropped.
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u/Dexterdacerealkilla 18h ago
Oh man. I pay over $80/month with insurance for my adhd meds these days. This is for dextroamphetamine, which has been around over 100 years at this point. It doesn’t seem that off to me, even though it’s absurd.
It used to be around $60, but since the 10 mg spansules have become harder and harder to stock I end up eating the extra cost for both a 5 + and a 15 mg prescription instead.
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u/thats_a_money_shot 18h ago
I was paying like 90/mo for the brand name ones last year. Switched to Kaiser and now I get a generic through them… 120 x10s for $15 … they seem to be working so far 😬
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u/ScreenFantastic4009 19h ago
Not for the generic Vyvanse. At least in the USA, in my own personal experience. Do your own research on this of course, but to keep the rant short, supply and demand. I did hear word that pharmaceutical companies (dyslexia is getting me on the L word that spell check can't fix, this is why you double check people on the Internet) are pushing for tariffs on prescriptions.
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u/Bitter-Breath-9743 19h ago
Because generic vyvanse is still fairly new. It’s all a crock
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u/Dexterdacerealkilla 18h ago
That’s not the only reason why. Dextroamphetamine, a 100 year old drug can also be very expensive for generic medicine.
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u/caffeineky 20h ago
It’s possible your health insurance changed their formulary mid year too. I know a couple years ago when I was on Concerta mine changed from brand name being formulary to generic in the middle of October 🫠
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u/Cold_Estimate_4560 19h ago
I recently refilled a 30-day supply of generic Adderall XR at Costco, and it was over $100. When I brought up that my insurance was terrible and I'd like to try GoodRX, they said they would re-bill through my Costco Membership Discount instead of my insurance. It went down to around $40.
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u/geminibaby0617 19h ago
I heard that a lot of the generic medication prices may raise due to tariffs. India is one of the largest manufacturers of generic meds for the U.S. Maybe that could be why
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u/Training-Profit7377 20h ago
Look for something you can get a manufacturer coupon - Zenzedi I’ve been getting brand for $30 w coupon and insurance.
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u/Dexterdacerealkilla 18h ago
Is zenzedi still only immediate release? I wish they’d do an ER.
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u/Training-Profit7377 3h ago
Zenzedi brand is IR but I find it lasts longer than for instance adderall IR and it’s a smooth drop off. The problem I have with it is I can get by on much less sleep which is not good and I don’t get the mental sharpness that comes with adderall. Dexedrine Spansule is ER.
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u/Dexterdacerealkilla 54m ago
I hate how Adderall makes me feel. Can’t do it. I take both IR & ER Dexedrine. How many times a day do you have to take the IR? I can barely remember 2x/day, I can’t imagine 3 or more.
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u/OOBERRAMPAGE 20h ago
I recommend calling them again and getting a different rep and asking what the reason is for the change in price. Don't accept "it's the pharmacy" right away. Ask what's different in the claim from the pharmacy causing the discrepancy. If they say they show everything is the same, and that their system shows them charging you $130 then it's not the pharmacy. But if they show $31 on their end and the pharmacy says $130 that's totally different and they may have to call their internal help desk.
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u/BurntRussian ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 20h ago
When I started on Concerta, I was paying $400/mo. Moved and the Walmart near me had mine for $4/mo.
Not helpful info, but I can kinda relate.
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u/Alex829_ 15h ago
What the fuck is wrong with american healthcare. I pay 27pln which is around 7USD for 10mg instant release at full price because public insurance doesn't cover it for people over 18. Also it costs the same everywhere cause price for some medications including methylphenidate is set by government.
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u/Rachael330 20h ago
You should be able to log into your insurance and see the claims. It will show what Walmart charged, what your insurance covered, and the amount your insurance said you should pay. Look at the last few months and see if the change was what walmart was charging or if the change was what your insurance covered.
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u/Rachael330 20h ago
btw, the pharmacy tech should have been able to look up your history and tell you what changed. Also sometimes its worth asking them if they have any discounts that could apply.
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u/NUMBerONEisFIRST 19h ago
I was going to Walgreens for a long time, and paying a shitload for my meds.
One time the pharmacist randomly said, you know we don't take your insurance right? Uh....no.
So I went to CVS, and they were like $15 each. I always figured CVS and Walgreens were basically the same place.
My partner had the exact opposite problem with his insurance.
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u/potatoloaves 19h ago
Def not. CVS is weird about its contracts with distributors. So they’re always on backorder and shit out of pocket is way more expensive. They are terribly greedy.
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u/Ohyaknowjustathought 16h ago
My generic vyvanse went from $20 to $210 because “it changed tiers” for BCBS. No notice. Coooooool
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u/Space-Useful 10h ago
Apparently that's what's happening to me too. I also have BCBS. Although strangely, on my end it says it's a tier 1, on the reps end it's a tier 2.
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u/designermama 18h ago
Methylphenidate isn't a drug that needs to be weaned off of - it clears your body daily. Talk to your doctor about switching to a med that is covered or find out if youd have different pricing at another pharmacy.
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u/MrMynor 20h ago
It’s totally counterintuitive to think that a free app is going to get you a better deal on a medication that you regard as being critical to your well being than the health insurance coverage that you or someone close to you pays a hefty premium to secure benefits from, but its absolutely the case. that is just how backward our healthcare system has become at this point
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u/prairiepanda ADHD-C 17h ago
How do those free apps sustain themselves? Where does the money come from?
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u/LateNiteMeteorite ADHD-C (Combined type) 13h ago
There are fees for running claims through GoodRX (and other discount card programs) as well as kickbacks from PBMs and drug manufacturers they are contracted with.
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u/Hair-Help-Plea 5h ago
In addition to what the other reply said: from Selling our data. It’s in their terms of service
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u/ducking_ham 20h ago
And the tariffs are increasing medication prices
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u/sfdsquid 19h ago
Not sure why you got downvoted. We get a lot of pharmaceuticals from Canada. I doubt it's the reason that OP's cost went up though, considering the tariffs just went into effect.
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u/Professional-Fox3722 20h ago
I would call around at some other pharmacies and see what they would charge.
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u/braindropping ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 20h ago
At the beginning of the new insurance year, your deductible resets, so you start with higher copays again.
Sometimes pharmacies do pull weird shit.
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u/Fartypoopoopants 19h ago
Have you tried GoodRX?
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u/Wwwwwwhhhhhhhj 17h ago
First they would need to change pharmacies recently Walmart stopped accepting GoodRx for controlled substances.
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u/Key-Specific-4368 19h ago
Try goodRx, I don't have insurance right now, I got a medication for $8 recently using it
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u/morbidscreams 19h ago
Methylphenidate? That’s what I get, my insurance makes it like less than $20. I haven’t gotten my new prescription yet but now it makes me worried. I would either get it from CVS or my hospital network so now I’m afraid to get my refill. When I get my refill (if I remember) I’ll come back let you know if there’s been any changes to the price.
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u/stop_napkins 18h ago
I know my deductible just started over could that be what happened?
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u/Space-Useful 33m ago
No, which is why it confuses me even more. When my deductible renewed in January the price was still $31.
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u/plasticwrapbaby 18h ago
I had an issue like this a month ago and was told that it’s a rolling deductible and after it was paid the medication would go back to its usual price. Call your insurance and ask if that’s the case.
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u/natchinatchi 15h ago
Oof. I’m in New Zealand and though a lot of things are shit for people here, at least my Ritalin is free.
I don’t say that to make anyone feel bad, but to remind you guys how things could be and to keep fighting back against politicians who are devoid of empathy and in the pocket of corporations.
I feel so bad for you OP, that’s so much money.
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u/Dfeeds 20h ago
You can try goodrx in a pinch. Also check the bottle, it'll show the manufacturer. If it's the same manufacturer I'd likely think it's the insurance. I've run into issues where my insurance decided to stop covering certain meds or even just particular dosages on a month to month basis. The insurance reps I've spoken to are about as clueless and useless as it gets. One tried to tell me it was because my deductible wasn't met, when the meds were covered the previous month of the same year and my meds are covered regardless. I only found out by digging through the covered medications documentation and saw a difference from the prior one. I switched meds and, surprise, covered. Deductible my left foot... at least in that particular example.
I've mostly used BCBS for the last decade, of whatever state my employer has a plan with at the time.
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u/No_Line1830 18h ago
Yeah, I just paid 90 dollars for my Adderall and two other medications, and it's normally half that. Also I'm getting a different manufacturer too so it's all fucked up lol
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u/SimilarPay7757 7h ago
I haven't read the MANY responses, but the same thing happened to me. I realized it's because I haven't reached my deductible, yet.
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u/ImportantRoutine1 ADHD 20h ago
I pay over $400 because I can't tolerate any of the generic.
This is usually an insurance thing though.
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u/dbeat80 20h ago edited 20h ago
I pay $5 for whatever they got. Never noticed a difference.
20mg Vyvanse
Edit: hating because I got decent insurance?
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u/bromanski 16h ago
I think it’s more the implication that if you DON’T have good coverage, or can’t tolerate the generics, it’s some kind of personal failing. Why else would you respond like that except to invalidate? I had the same experience back in 2019 in CA, multiple pharmacies stopped accepting goodRx, can’t transfer controlled prescription, pharmacies treat you with suspicion for “shopping around,” the generic made me feel too sedated to function, and the formulation that worked cost $450 without insurance. So I went without and have been struggling since. But good for you that you don’t have that experience.
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u/PeteZaDestroyer 20h ago
If theres a walgreen near you switch to them. My meds were $280 i believe but they have online coupons on there app so it was only $38 without insurance.
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u/TheBitchenRav ADHD 20h ago
Yeah, that’s incredibly frustrating and sadly, you’re not alone. A lot of people on Methylphenidate or similar meds have reported sudden price hikes lately, even with no changes in insurance or prescription. Sometimes it's due to supply chain issues, shifts in pharmacy contracts, or how your insurance classifies the drug each month.
You might want to check GoodRx or other discount cards in the meantime. Some people have found better prices at different pharmacies, even Costco or local independents. Also, ask your doctor if they can write it a bit differently (like different dose or quantity) to help navigate insurance tiers.
Hope it gets sorted out fas, that price jump is ridiculous.
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u/NotMyAltAccountToday 20h ago
I just looked it up on thegoodrx website. The variations in price by pharmacy is insane $33 - $299!
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u/JaneWeaver71 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 20h ago
Do they accept GoodRX? I just looked it up on the app and it’s $29
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u/AtSoup24 19h ago
Please check out goodrx if you haven't already. I'm pretty sure Adderall and Dex are like $30/mo with that.
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u/DifficultPeanut9650 19h ago
Try calling the manufacturer to see if they offer financial assistance or a manufacturer coupon.
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u/Suitable-Care-2743 19h ago
I’m sorry! For years my prescription has cost less through GoodRX than my insurance. So through GoodRX at Walmart mine was $28/month. Recently Walmart stopped accepting GoodRX (at least for my prescription) so now my ADHD meds costs $90/month.
I went from spending $325/year on my prescription to $1080/year. Sucks real bad.
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u/uncookedzebra 18h ago
Use good Rx or something similar it will save you a ton. It works in conjunction with your insurance.
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u/mytzylplyk82 17h ago
Have to disagree with you there… it works instead of your insurance- it’s either one or the other. GoodRx is cheaper sometimes because Pharmacy Benefit Managers jack the price up so much on specific meds, which is reflected in the price through insurance, that GoodRX can undercut them and still make a decent profit. Ex Ritalin wholesale cost is $1/20 mg pill ($30/month) , insurance “negotiated price” is $5/pill ($150/month) ‘cause the PBM takes $4/pill profit, while goodRx plan gets you $3/pill ($90/month) and still makes $2/pill profit
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u/Spirited_Concept4972 11h ago
Walmart stopped taking good RX for controlled substances.
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u/uncookedzebra 8h ago
Sad day. Op should explore other pharmacies
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u/Spirited_Concept4972 8h ago
Yeah trying other pharmacies would probably be better. And it is a very sad day when they do that bullshit.
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u/Tyler_Coyote 18h ago
Walmart raised prices yes. Kroger brand pharmacies however kept it low. I had the same issue.
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u/evanl 17h ago edited 8h ago
If you have your old perception bottle see if it's name is listed the same. I had to have my doctor actually prescribe concerta and then i get the generic for $29. When I first started seeing him one month he didn't do that when I had a dosage change and it was $150. At least with my insurance Methylphenidate ER is $150, but Methylphenid OSM ER is $29
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u/-_FAD3D_- 17h ago
Have you tried finding a coupon from a place like good rx or something? I was about to have to pay 350 today for a sleep medication and I found a coupon that dropped it down to 19 bucks. Luckily my insurance ended up approving it hours later but still if they didn't I was lucky that I found that coupon.
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u/nomorecrackerss 16h ago edited 16h ago
Call and bitch with insurance or go back later. 1/3 times I got to the pharmacy I get some outrageous charge, so I leave and go back later with a different person at the drive thru and my rate is back to normal.
The last time I went to the pharmacy the priced jumped up by 100+ because they said insurance didn't cover my prescription despite them covering it the previous month, I called insurance and they said they didn't cover it for X unrelated reason, I go back to the drive thru still on the phone and it's magically covered because the new person at the counter actually knew what they were doing.
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u/Logical_Holiday_2457 16h ago
Did your insurance change? It's responsibility to know what prescription co-pays are. Call the number on the back of your insurance card.
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u/SyntaxDissonance4 14h ago
Yeh I switched to Wellbutrin years ago. Not as effective but so much less bullshit to deal with. Now my PCP just refills it vs semi monthly "check ins" with a psych provider when I'm stable on whatever dose of a stimulant after four weeks.
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u/KickFancy ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 11h ago
My insurance covered mine but no one told me that I needed a prior authorization form to be filed out every year. It wasn't until I called the insurance that covers prescriptions (which is separate from my regular insurance) that I found this out.
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u/MindyMichelle ADHD-C (Combined type) 11h ago
Call your insurance and ask what pharmacies accept your insurance and talk about why it was $130.
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u/ILoveSpankingDwarves 10h ago
In situations like this, do everything in writing, email is fine. Then keep all receipts.
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u/iAmSpAKkaHearMeROAR 8h ago edited 7h ago
I have experienced this with other prescription meds. The most recent was a steroid ointment that I have to use for an autoimmune condition that relates to my skin. In three months, the price went up from $8 to $117! This has happened in the past on the odd occasion also with other meds, such as birth control pills.
For the longest time, I was uninsured. I only just got insurance in January of this year. So for decades, I paid for my (minimal, thank God!) meds out-of-pocket. Because of that, I’ve always make sure to take the time to pharmacy shop and figure out who has the lowest price. Because they won’t be the same from the pharmacy to pharmacy in most cases
The other issue that I used to contend with, was making sure to find a pharmacy that I selected would always have my prescription in stock every month because I ran into an issue with that to at one point too… specifically with my birth control. I would pick it up every month. But, many months they didn’t have it in stock so I had to start getting it directly from Planned Parenthood so that I had a six month supply on hand. I thought it was insane that a pharmacy couldn’t keep something as simple as birth control in stock when they knew in advance that I had a 12 month prescription. Always blew my mind.
Anyway, I digress, lol… call around to your local pharmacies and find out what they charge cash for your medication at your dosage for your monthly count or supply. It will vary from pharmacy to pharmacy believe it or not. If you have insurance and they cover your prescriptions, you may not need to go down this route. Or, you may choose to if you have insurance and they don’t cover 100% of your medication and you have to pay some out-of-pocket.
In the past, I most often used Costco pharmacy because they were the cheapest out of my other options, which were the local pharmacy, Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens. Some pharmacies have discount programs that help you cover the cost if you pay out-of-pocket. Otherwise, you can usually get or use a (free) “Good RX” card or coupon for discounted meds also.
If you find a pharmacy that has your meds in stock and can dispense for you regularly at a cheaper price. You can ask your doctor to switch pharmacies and just have them send over a brand new script to the new place after you explain to them that the cost is prohibitive for you to continue taking it.
Also check that your insurance has not stopped covering your medication or if they have lowered the threshold for the amount of cost that they will cover on your meds. It’s also possible that your pharmacy no longer deals with your insurance carrier or that the pharmacy has put a crack down on dispensing controlled substances.
The other thing to check is that, if you take a name brand drug and can’t take the generic form, that they will cover the namebrand and not just the generic because that has happened to me in the past too with my birth control and created a big problem for me.
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u/itsgonnamove 7h ago
Last June my two strengths of Adderall XR went from being $25/each (for 2 years) to anywhere between $75-100/each. I have insurance through my work, but it doesn’t cover brand name, and I’ve had so many bad reactions to the generics that I’ve been on “brand name only” for about 15 years. So I go to a different pharmacy for that prescription, which does discounted prices on meds not covered by insurance. But the sudden price jump last year was alarming and literally never explained to me. I would ask, but the pharmacists don’t like to be questioned about anything without labeling you as a “difficult” patient (understandable I guess, considering the shit they put up with on a daily basis), so I just don’t bother lol
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u/frontallobelove 7h ago
In addition to the great suggestions here re: coupons and Costco, whenever there is an issue between any healthcare provider like a pharmacy or doctor's office and my insurance, I do a three way call with both of them. Easiest way to sort it out-- most of the time no one's intentionally being an asshole but mistakes happen and it's incredibly frustrating
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u/Onendone2u 7h ago
Go somewhere else and shop around for your meds you don’t have to pay for it there or get it there. I would have said no thanks, I’ll go somewhere else and get on my phone to find a lower cost alternative.
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u/NeedleworkerChoice89 5h ago
You need to check your insurance for the cost based on tier. Tier 1 is your basic stuff like doctor prescribed ibuprofen, while Tier 4 is your expensive, usually brand preferred stuff.
Login to your insurance and there will be an rX lookup function that should give you pricing by pharmacy near you.
If that still gets you $130, you need to look at changing plans when you have a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) or do as others have said and check out GoodRx.
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u/Anxietoro 2h ago
I would look on the goodrx app to see if you can get a better price at another pharmacy, or call your insurance and ask if they have a preferred pharmacy. I feel you, my vyvanse went from $25 to $82 but mine was due to the generic being released, which i cannot take.
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