Our insurance company and Medicare have decided to no longer cover my asthma medication. My Dr. is furious but his hands are tied. They offered a few alternatives, one of which he says isn’t bad but this particular drug has made me symptom free for over 10 years. Fortunately, we’re in a position to pay for this out of pocket and it’s quite expensive. Every time I pick up my prescription they ask “don’t you have insurance?”” Yeah, I do but they won’t pay a penny of it. “ They’re shocked when i start handing them $100 dollar bills.
Sounds like Advair. My non-Medicare prescription drug plan made the same decision this year. They’re going to Dulera and Symbicort, both similar combinations of inhaled steroid and long term bronchodilator. Part of the rationale for the move is some problems that have been observed with long term use of salmeterol. My Doc won’t start anyone on Advair now, but also doesn’t believe in discontinuing it just because of the salmeterol issue, probably because the other drugs have warnings too.