Mailing Medication

[thetreble 19]

Funny this came up. I had the same situation happen to me and I'm struggling here in the US because the doctor will not give me more than a one months supply at a time. I need BC for more than just the non-baby factor. I have a hormonal condition that makes me get really sick every month if I don't take the estrogen supplements.

Any way, I went to the doc here and she checked me out and she gave me a years supply...ONE MONTH AT A TIME. I can't seem to make it to the pharmacy every single month on time, and have already missed two months of pills this year. I asked her for 3 months at a time and she said they don't do that here. Not to mention, the pill I took in Canada they do not have in the US and I had to get some dodgy equivalent.

I'm just very frustrated with it all.

[Flames9_RN 358]

My wife gets her BC in 3 month batches. I know if she needs more than a 3 month supply (she travels) she has to phone up the insurance company and they have to grant some thing like a waiver!! Her overall prescription is good for 1 year,then she has to get another physical completed!

so with regards to 1 month at a time, it may because of ur insurance, ask ur dr, or phone ur insurance co. And again it may depend on the type of BC, or ur DR is juts crazy,lol

Edited September 9, 2008 by flames9

[thetreble 19]

Must be nice! I'd love to have that option since that was what I had in Canada. The doc. here refused to do that for me. I'm thinking about calling up my insurance company and asking them if they can mail me a 3 months supply. Most companies now have those mailing prescription options.

[Marilyn. 340]

Must be nice! I'd love to have that option since that was what I had in Canada. The doc. here refused to do that for me. I'm thinking about calling up my insurance company and asking them if they can mail me a 3 months supply. Most companies now have those mailing prescription options.

yeah I was just going to suggest that.. with our last insurance they had that option.. I just had to order it online and it came in the mail less then a week later....

[thetreble 19]

I've been meaning to do that for ages but my new health insurance kicks in on the 19th so I will have to wait until then. I'm so organized in my life in accordance with everything else besides this one darn thing I can't seem to remember every month!

[trailmix 77]

I just read this thread and there are so many backwards things mentioned here that it's just amazing.

They don't believe you have had your check up so they won't give you more than a months worth of pills? Is it just me or does this make no logical sense whatsoever??

Plus, when did it become the job of a Dr. to hold your pills ransom unless you jump through some hoop - they may well think in their addled brain that they are trying to protect you - however, what happened to freedom of choice, what if you didn't want a check up - does that mean you are not entitled to birth control pills.

And one month at a time? Is that so the insurance company won't overpay in case say you dropped them and went with another company and somehow managed to run off with a month that had already been paid for.

Edited September 9, 2008 by trailmix

[DeadPoolX 9]

Funny this came up. I had the same situation happen to me and I'm struggling here in the US because the doctor will not give me more than a one months supply at a time. I need BC for more than just the non-baby factor. I have a hormonal condition that makes me get really sick every month if I don't take the estrogen supplements.

Any way, I went to the doc here and she checked me out and she gave me a years supply...ONE MONTH AT A TIME. I can't seem to make it to the pharmacy every single month on time, and have already missed two months of pills this year. I asked her for 3 months at a time and she said they don't do that here. Not to mention, the pill I took in Canada they do not have in the US and I had to get some dodgy equivalent.

I'm just very frustrated with it all.

It may not be your doctor's fault. Health insurance providers will only pay for one month's supply of medication at a time, regardless of what you're looking to get. So while your doctor could "allow" you to get three months worth at once, your health insurance provider would only cover one-third of it.

When your doctor said, "we don't do that here," she was referring to the fact that most patients wouldn't be able to afford to pay for medication out-of-pocket. That's why only one month is given at a time.

If there was a way to prove to your health insurance provider that you require access to more than one month's dosage at a time, then perhaps your doctor would allow it in her prescription. If she still wouldn't at that point, it'd be time to find a different doctor.

As for "some dodgy equivalent," I'm sure whatever you're taking is just as good as what you had in Canada. Believe it or not, the U.S. actually does lead the world in pharmaceutical development. Sometimes names get changed between countries or even the "brand name" and "generic." As long as the active chemicals and the dosage are the same (or as close to it, since birth control pills can vary widely), you will be fine. Unless, of course, you're acquiring your medication from strange some man in a trench coat in a dark alleyway. Then all bets are off.

[trailmix 77]

Interesting point actually...with generics.

I was just reading an article in the Orlando Sentinel a couple of weeks ago, about that very thing.

In theory a generic with the same active ingredient should be just find, what they have found after testing many of them is that they do not all perform the same.

What happens with some generics is that the inactive ingredients do not disperse the drug, necessarily, at the same rate as it was intended. So the name brand might give a dose over, say, a 4 hour period, while the generic will give you 90 percent of the dose in the first hour.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Some drugs you CAN get for more than 1 month. Phone ur insurance company and see if they allow it.

Yes generic drugs are not 100% copies of the original

[thetreble 19]

It may not be your doctor's fault. Health insurance providers will only pay for one month's supply of medication at a time, regardless of what you're looking to get. So while your doctor could "allow" you to get three months worth at once, your health insurance provider would only cover one-third of it.

This may not be the case since it does appear others are getting it more than a one month's supply. To be more specific, the doctor told me that they would not issue me more than one month anywhere in the united states. She's a great doctor, by the way, so I wouldn't go to another. But then my health care provider gave me this thing in the mail which told me that I can sign up to have 3 month's mailed to me at once. Therefore, the information she gave me maybe wasn't true and that is what I was trying to get at.

As for "some dodgy equivalent," I'm sure whatever you're taking is just as good as what you had in Canada. Believe it or not, the U.S. actually does lead the world in pharmaceutical development.

It took doctors 5 years to put me on the right medication in Canada that actually helped me. It was a massive long period of trial and error. When you are putting hormones into your body they are not "all the same.." and the one I am on now is not the exact same as the one I was taking in Canada. It actually does make a difference and I do notice it. They simply do not have that medication here in the US. So, I will have to do with what I have. It's not an attack on the "world's great pharmaceutical power", it is just my little, tiny frustrating problem. That is all

[TheATeam 0]

thetreble- man that sucks! It's really different here isn't it? And a whole lot frustrating. ~sighs~ Hopefully you'll be able to find a way to fix it! I hope it works out for you.

[thetreble 19]

It will Those are tiny things in life not to be overly concerned about. Although, if I get pregnant....then that is not so tiny.

[TheATeam 0]

Yeah that's for sure! That's what hubby said...well, we'll just get you pregnant and then we don't have to worry about it! I said yeah...then we'll have a whole lot of other expenses and issues! ~giggles~

[AusCal 3]

OK, maybe this is simplistic - but, whu not have your mum bundle up a t-shirt, some other little trinketmaybe some candy, a foil package of birth control pills - and just mail it to you. On the custom forms, just skip listing the pills. Is this strictly by the book well, no - but, stong chance it will get there - and, well, worth the risk IMHO. Worst case scenario they will be confiscated.

[TheATeam 0]

Well, she's already sent them. The people at Canada Post told her to list them as toiletries. They should be here by Monday if they get through! My fingers are crossed! I'll let you know how it works out!