Hello everyone,

This is probably a stupid question, but I wanted some feedback so I know what to expect.  Tomorrow I should be starting hrt.  Now, I'm trying to figure out what the price range for the medication should be in case my insurance won't cover it (which I imagine will be the situation).  I'll be starting on pills and will get it filled at a cvs.  I don't know if that is enough information, but if anyone could give me a ball park price that would really be helpful.  I just want to know how hard I should expect to get hit.  Thanks in advance.

Not sure prices will be in any way comparable, but over here I pay about $31 for a package of Estrifam (3x28 pills with Estradiol, so $0.37 per pill), which I find quite okay. My anti-androgen is Androcur, so no idea how that compares with spiro, and that stuff is somewhat more expensive at $64 for 3x15 pills ($1.42 per pill), but that only came into play later for me.

Quote from: learningtolive on June 12, 2013, 03:56:51 PM
Hello everyone,

This is probably a stupid question, but I wanted some feedback so I know what to expect.  Tomorrow I should be starting hrt.  Now, I'm trying to figure out what the price range for the medication should be in case my insurance won't cover it (which I imagine will be the situation).  I'll be starting on pills and will get it filled at a cvs.  I don't know if that is enough information, but if anyone could give me a ball park price that would really be helpful.  I just want to know how hard I should expect to get hit.  Thanks in advance.

Call the CVS you're planning on having the prescription filled and ask them what the cash price is. You haven't told us what you are being prescribed, so we cannot give you even a ballpark figure. You should also check with your insurance too (actually the pharmacist at CVS can make that call for you and verify if the prescriptions will be covered and what your out of pocket cost would be).

As long as it's not over $40, I think I will be okay.  I'm just a little short on cash and have two doctors appointments to pay for in addition to the prescription.  I should be starting on a low dose of estrogen without an anti-androgen.  It probably won't be too much, but I have to be careful because of the other copays I have to afford.  Ahh... gotta love insurance.  They really no how to cover you when it's not need and reject you when you do need it.

I take Spiro- $40 every three months, Finasteride- $30 every three months, and Estradiol- $21 every three months. I go to Target pharmacy and have always paid out of pocket.

Check out the link for the CVS 90-day generics or ask the pharmacist for a list of 90day generics.

I found this on the last page

WOMEN'S HEALTH
................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .QTY
ESTRADIOL 0.5 MG, 1 MG, 2 MG TABLET. . . . . . .90
ESTROPIPATE 0.625(0.75 MG) TABLET. . . . . . . . .90
ESTROPIPATE 1.25(1.5 MG) TABLET*. . . . . . . . . . .90
MEDROXYPROGESTERONE 10 MG TABLET. . . . .30
MEDROXYPROGESTERONE 2.5 MG, 5 MG TABLET.90

On the first page it says $11.99 for a 90day supply as listed and on the last there is a $15 enrollment fee per year. Either way it's cheap. Oh Kroger, Walmart, Walgreens, and a few others do it also... the 90 day generics deals. I like my local walgreens because they are 24hr.

Congratulations on starting hrt.... I'm jealous. Only a little though, restarting soon. Oh BTW beware doors and other things you might bump into..........

Would any moderators be opposed to a list of several pharmacies with the 90 day prescription programs and their prices, along with a list of whats available. I tried searching and didn't get any results. Also I hope this is okay with the rules to post 

Quote from: Jamie Marie on June 12, 2013, 11:32:59 PM
Would any moderators be opposed to a list of several pharmacies with the 90 day prescription programs and their prices, along with a list of whats available. I tried searching and didn't get any results. Also I hope this is okay with the rules to post 

cough
http://www.goodrx.com/

There really should be a sticky on this kind of thread.

When I was on pills, I was paying roughly $16 a month for E from Walmart, $12 a month on Finasteride from Walmart, and $10 a month on Spiro from Rite Aid

Apparently, it's only $5 for a months supply of Estrodial.  Of course, my dosage is at the starting range, so it will be different for others.  I have to say that's not bad at all.   Then again, I may have gotten insurance coverage this time around.  They didn't say anything, so I'm not sure.  I will update if I learn the hard way about the evils of denial of coverage. 

E pill are actually really cheap compared to everything else. Even if insurance backed you up for the E, it probably isn't saving you much. Couple $$ maybe.

Funny, because for me E is more expensive than Spiro. Monthly dose of Spiro costs me roughly 14 USD, while that almost monthly package of Estrofem (28 pills) is at about 17 USD. And if I take Progynova instead of Estrofem, then it is about 30 USD for monthly dose. I still wonder which is better - Progynova or Estrofem.

Quote from: learningtolive on June 12, 2013, 03:56:51 PM
Hello everyone,

This is probably a stupid question, but I wanted some feedback so I know what to expect.  Tomorrow I should be starting hrt.  Now, I'm trying to figure out what the price range for the medication should be in case my insurance won't cover it (which I imagine will be the situation).  I'll be starting on pills and will get it filled at a cvs.  I don't know if that is enough information, but if anyone could give me a ball park price that would really be helpful.  I just want to know how hard I should expect to get hit.  Thanks in advance.

Spiro's the most expensive part. uninsured it's about 50 dollars a month, depending on dosage, but Walmart is cheaper than CVS there. And getting one of those free prescription cards can help. Estrodial is about $5 a month.

@Keaira

Do you have a local Walgreens? They have it in tier2 of their generics for $20 for 90 days which is a little less than the $8.50 I pay with insurance

Quote from: Jamie Marie on June 14, 2013, 12:40:59 PM
@Keaira

Do you have a local Walgreens? They have it in tier2 of their generics for $20 for 90 days which is a little less than the $8.50 I pay with insurance

Really? is that for Spiro? I'll have to take a look there then. We do have a Walgreens here. But, then, is it because I'm at the highest safe dosage that it's more expensive?

Quote from: Keaira on June 14, 2013, 05:20:08 PM
Really? is that for Spiro? I'll have to take a look there then. We do have a Walgreens here. But, then, is it because I'm at the highest safe dosage that it's more expensive?

I dunno which is the highest safe dosage for Spiro (I suspect I know which one it is), but even then with, lets say, that would equal 3 packs of generic Spirix, and be around 20 USD per month.