My Insurance Dropped Me, Can I Pay Cash For My Pain Meds?

Hi all! I had Florida blue health insurance and they inadvertently dropped me yesterday. I turned 26 in June but my mom was able to add me to her employer plan in July. They gave me no notice in December and as I mentioned spontaneously cut me off. My first question is: If I decide against buying health insurance, can I still pay out of pocket to see my pain management doctor? From what I'm seeing on the website I think I can; and can I pay my prescriptions (narcotics included) in cash at any pharmacy of my choice without discrimination for not having insurance? Also, my second question is like I said I have been seeing my pain doctor and this whole thing couldn't have happened at a worse time as two weeks before Christmas I slipped and fell down the stairs. My doctor increased my dosage of the Norco I already take from 5mg to 7.5 mg. I also told him due to the acute injury I would likely run out of my 5mg Norco. He told me to wait to fill my 7.5 Norco until it is due on 1/10. He gave me 2mg of dilaudid for a couple days to hold me over as an acute prescription. He told me to fill it on 1/2 or 1/3. I am a responsible patient and wouldn't mix the two.

I am happy to pay out of pocket for both of the medications and there is a prescription database to ensure the pharmacy staff that I am filling from the same doctor and on time. Do people in pain management get acute prescriptions like that? Is it okay to fill both of those on the dates he gave me from a pharmacists standpoint? Will no pharmacy fill for me bc of the cash thing? If they won't fill for me, will there be other places that will fill for me if I pay cash until I can get my insurance nonsense sorted out? Also please note, I may be young but I am no abuser, these are all drugs from the same doctor and the same pharmacy which is a CVS. I want to make sure I follow the rules and the pharmacy doesn't try to screw me over for some reason. I plan on talking with my doctor to keep him in the loop and let him know what happened with my insurance dropping me and then talking with CVS on the 3rd and letting them know everything as well. With everything opiate-related in the news I've been so worried. Does anyone know how to help? Thanks!

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As long as you have a RX a pharmacy could not care less about insurance as long as they get paid! Hope you can get in generic or it could be pretty expensive out of pocket. Same deal with a Dr. As long as they get paid no matter what method, you are in. You may have to prove funds and write a check for the entire visit while there though.

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Hello everyone I prefer individually owned pharmacies that still do compounding. I hear awhile back that Walgreens will not fill more than 2 narcotic scripts. Also individual pharmacies I have found are less expensive. The one o use treats me like family my insurance card expired didn’t realize it had to pay cash they gave me employees discount. Before my pain & anxiety was brought under control I had episodes of suicidal ideations. I was blinded by both of them. I’m terrified that I will be back there. These uninformed non MD’s are going to kill people with these cutbacks!
I felt I neede to add this
Yes you can pay cash for any medication prescribe by a Dr.

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Re: Kosey (# 2)

Would you mind telling me what you are using to control your pain and anxiety?

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Re: Jim (# 3)

I am now taking Roxicodone 30mg 4 times a day + Xanax 2 mg 4 times a day. I would like to add I have been on different pain meds from immediate release to extended release and the Roxicodone to my surprise works. I also use a fascia blaster for my pain and it really works as well!

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Re: Kosey (# 4)

What is the source of your pain? Is it safe to be on your meds long term? Do you go to a special pain clinic or does your regular dr. prescribe these? Thanks.

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Yes, you can pay cash for these meds. I would suggest looking into an Rx savings card if your pharmacy takes it cuz it could save you some money.

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U don't have to have insurance to fill meds. You can pay out of pocket on both your meds and your doctor. I do anyway and most pharmacies will take cash or card, and yes it is fine to fill all your meds at once if u can afford it. That's what I do. Also it's a high cost that way and if u can't afford it all they will block it out for u as needed. Hope this helps answer your question.

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Re: Matthew (# 7)

Thank you Matthew and everyone for your kind responses! I'm ignoring the rude ones. If someone in admin could please mark this question answered, that would be great! I got all the info I needed, thanks!

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IM 61 YRS OLD. 27 YRS AGO I FELL ON CONCRETE AND SHATTERED MY KNEECAP, TORE THE LIGMENTS AND I SUFFER BAD. HAD A PAIN MANGEMENT DR FOR 6YRS, TAKING PAIN MEDS. HE STARTED ME ON LORTAB THEN AFTER 2 YRS NORCO. JUST BOUT A YR AGO HE GAVE ME PERCOET 10 PLUS KNEE INJ'S EVERY 3 MONTHS. I NEVER HAD SURGERY OR NOTHING. NO DR KNEW WHAT TO DO WITH ME AND ALL OF SUDDEN NO MANGEMENT TAKES MY INS. NOW IM IN BED & CANT SLEEP IN SO MUCH PAIN AND CANT GET NO HELP. I LIVE IN NEW ORLEANS LA. I CANT GO OUT, CANT BARELY WALK. IM TO OLD FOR THIS. IM SUFFERING. I NEED HELP. NO ONE WONT ACCEPT MY PAYMENT. ANYBODY, ANSWERS PLEASE. THANK U.

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Re: NIKII (# 9)

Have you tried public health clinic. Get your records from you dr. to show your history and they should be able to find someone to keep your RXs going. Also go on line or have someone help you contact the drug companies directly because they have programs for people that can't afford there meds! Are you going on social security at 62? If so you can get medicare too. 61 is not old honey!

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Re: Jim (# 10)


THANKS. WHO DO U CONTACT IN THE DRUG COMPANIES?

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Don't forget to keep up with your contract with the pain center you go to. Just recently I just paid out of pocket due to my insurance had to approve the call in of my opioid meds. I could not wait for days so I paid for it no problem. I believe if you continue to go to the same pharmacy and follow your Dr.s advice then you will be fine.

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Re: Dude (# 12)

How do you find a pain management clinic in your area that will actually prescribe opioids to people they know need them and won't abuse them? My dr. just kind of shrugged her head. Family practices avoid those RXs like crazy for litigation purposes these days.

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