Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: democration on May 03, 2013, 05:12:29 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Cream/Gel
Post by: democration on May 03, 2013, 05:12:29 PM
Post by: democration on May 03, 2013, 05:12:29 PM
I managed to get a prescription for cream, or maybe gel. I'm not 100% sure which--I just asked my doctor over e-mail if she would prescribe one or the other, and she said yes. Anyway, she sent the prescription to my pharmacy. I was prepared for it to be more expensive than injections, but when I called they said it was $400 for a 30 days supply.
Um. Youch.
No way in heck I'll be able to afford that. I don't have insurance down at that pharmacy, but I don't think it would make a difference. Does anyone here use cream or gel, and if so, is it really supposed to be that expensive? Or did they maybe just misread the amount, and that's like... at least a four month supply or something?
Um. Youch.
No way in heck I'll be able to afford that. I don't have insurance down at that pharmacy, but I don't think it would make a difference. Does anyone here use cream or gel, and if so, is it really supposed to be that expensive? Or did they maybe just misread the amount, and that's like... at least a four month supply or something?
Title: Re: Cream/Gel
Post by: Nygeel on May 03, 2013, 05:18:05 PM
Post by: Nygeel on May 03, 2013, 05:18:05 PM
Yep, that's the cost for cream, gel or patches. $300-$400 a month is about right without insurance.
Title: Re: Cream/Gel
Post by: democration on May 03, 2013, 05:23:20 PM
Post by: democration on May 03, 2013, 05:23:20 PM
My god. :-/
Needles it is.
Needles it is.
Title: Re: Cream/Gel
Post by: Nygeel on May 03, 2013, 05:32:49 PM
Post by: Nygeel on May 03, 2013, 05:32:49 PM
Quote from: democration on May 03, 2013, 05:23:20 PMYeah. Testosterone is least expensive in inject-able form which is $40-$100 without insurance (depending on where you buy it) that can last anywhere between 5 months to a year depending on dosage. You might be able to find a compounding company that will make T gel or cream but it's still pretty pricey.
My god. :-/
Needles it is.
Title: Re: Cream/Gel
Post by: Simon on May 03, 2013, 05:38:57 PM
Post by: Simon on May 03, 2013, 05:38:57 PM
Yep, sorry to say but without insurance to cover it that is the normal price. My endo wants me on a form other than injections so I can maintain a constant level dose but it's outrageous. Maybe one day after I've completed SRS but now...no way.
Title: Re: Cream/Gel
Post by: democration on May 03, 2013, 06:09:06 PM
Post by: democration on May 03, 2013, 06:09:06 PM
That doesn't seem very fair. Only rich people are allowed to be afraid of needles. Haha. Anyway, thanks for the responses. I'm fairly positive that this is the kind of thing that insurance doesn't generally cover. I don't have any special kind of insurance, just BCBS. I don't think I've found anything regarding transgender-ness in the policy, but then I'm still a kid and I don't know how the heck insurance is supposed to work. Lol.
Title: Re: Cream/Gel
Post by: Nygeel on May 03, 2013, 06:50:40 PM
Post by: Nygeel on May 03, 2013, 06:50:40 PM
Quote from: democration on May 03, 2013, 06:09:06 PM
That doesn't seem very fair. Only rich people are allowed to be afraid of needles. Haha. Anyway, thanks for the responses. I'm fairly positive that this is the kind of thing that insurance doesn't generally cover. I don't have any special kind of insurance, just BCBS. I don't think I've found anything regarding transgender-ness in the policy, but then I'm still a kid and I don't know how the heck insurance is supposed to work. Lol.
Insurance might cover it if your doctor codes it as a hormonal disorder. All depends on coding.
Title: Re: Cream/Gel
Post by: tqar on May 03, 2013, 10:16:48 PM
Post by: tqar on May 03, 2013, 10:16:48 PM
I was just prescribed cream less than a week ago, and it only is about $35 for a 30 day supply. That includes shipping. The clinic I went to had me get it through a pharmacy called Women's International. (I know, I know.) That's without insurance touching it, by the way.
Title: Re: Cream/Gel
Post by: DreadLOX on May 03, 2013, 10:46:44 PM
Post by: DreadLOX on May 03, 2013, 10:46:44 PM
Quote from: tqar on May 03, 2013, 10:16:48 PM
I was just prescribed cream less than a week ago, and it only is about $35 for a 30 day supply. That includes shipping. The clinic I went to had me get it through a pharmacy called Women's International. (I know, I know.) That's without insurance touching it, by the way.
Same here I have compounded cream and it cost me $40 bucks for a month and a half supply and that's without insurance
Title: Re: Cream/Gel
Post by: democration on May 03, 2013, 11:31:08 PM
Post by: democration on May 03, 2013, 11:31:08 PM
Really??? Because I thought that I'd heard something like that somewhere, which was why I was so surprised by a price tag of $400. I think that $35 a month is way more reasonable...
Title: Re: Cream/Gel
Post by: aleon515 on May 04, 2013, 12:23:38 AM
Post by: aleon515 on May 04, 2013, 12:23:38 AM
This actually sounds like the price of the gel (i.e. Androgel).
The compounded cream is less (though still more than the injectable). I pay $85 which lasts a bit more than two months (I feel like there is another local pharmacy that would do this less expensively)-- might be a range of price. Insurance does not usually cover compounding pharmacies at all. I have heard of good insurance policies covering Androgel. I have also heard that compounding creams are stronger. Androgel is between 1-2% and the compounding creams are between 2-10%, actually they can do any strength.
--Jay
The compounded cream is less (though still more than the injectable). I pay $85 which lasts a bit more than two months (I feel like there is another local pharmacy that would do this less expensively)-- might be a range of price. Insurance does not usually cover compounding pharmacies at all. I have heard of good insurance policies covering Androgel. I have also heard that compounding creams are stronger. Androgel is between 1-2% and the compounding creams are between 2-10%, actually they can do any strength.
--Jay
Title: Re: Cream/Gel
Post by: driven on May 04, 2013, 10:14:20 AM
Post by: driven on May 04, 2013, 10:14:20 AM
Yeah, that sounds like you got Androgel, not the cream. I just ordered a refill of the compounded cream from Strohecker's yesterday, so I have their price right here. It was $127.95 for 3 months (including shipping charges).