What To Do If Your Insurance Won't Cover Chantix (Top voted first)

I had a prescription for Chantix in August unfortunately I couldn't fill it the cost was $175 for a month supply. ouch. Yes I know I spend that in cigarettes a month but unlike the medicine I can spread it out over a month seems cheaper right. Well after dismissing quitting because of cost of Chantix I started to think about it again in November, there has to be some way to get the meds cheaper, I did some research and if you go on the Chantix website it has an area where you can apply for assistance thru Pfizer to have them supply it based on income. If approved they send the meds a 3 month supply to your doctors office where you will pick it up. It requires completion of paperwork from you and your doctor but well worth it process takes about 3 weeks. I am on day 9 of it and have been almost smoke free for 2 days. This is an accomplishment. Good luck.

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I found that price shopping was a major help. I sat on my computer, called over 12 drug stores and got prices ranging from 234.00 for starter pack to 160.00! I had no insurance. Also your doctor can give you a 30.00 coupon, which would make it 130.00. I know that even that may be too high, but call every drug store from the big ones to the little neighborhood ones and ask their price. Another tip. If you ask your doctor to give you the continuation kit instead of the starter pack, you can break them in half and get twice the amount for the same price. i did that. broked them i half for the first 3 days taking 1/2 mg, then went slowly, VERY slowly up to 1 1/2 per day. Havent been able to tolorate 2mgs a day yet. Just some thoughts...............

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If you have Medicaid they will pay for Chantix only once so if it works for you try your best not to start smoking again. I did it once & it worked very well with no side effects, but after 6 mos. I got mad and started back. Trying it again & this time I'm not starting back & it's working well with the starting pack 2 weeks in & I'm not smoking and don't have the taste for one or think about buying any.

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i have copd and need to quit smoking. i have to have a second neck surgery but need to quit. i have no insurance but wat to quit badly .need help to get chantix. Please help

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Thank you for providing this very helpful information.

We always have people looking for assistance with the expense of various medications, so it's great when someone posts details to help someone in need.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Chantix/­

Best of luck with quitting, how is it going, now?

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You are welcome for the info... Still smoke free, thank goodness, not only can I tell a difference physically but my pocketbook thanks me.

Honestly I was a little scared as I didn't want to gain extra weight. However I have stayed active and used walking in place of cigarettes in the beginning.

No side effects, thank you Chantix.

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Thanks for all the helpful info... I finely got insurance and one of my top priorities was to get chantix and quit smoking finally...well, NOT!! insurance won't cover it and it's $463..I would have even paid $100-$200 but seriously $463.. that's insane..I guess they'll be real happy to pay for the medications I'll need from having copd, emphysema, and lung cancer..believe me I pay enough monthly for this insurance..I know I did this to myself and am not looking for a hand out..

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Your lucky it was that cheap I got an extra today 8/4/2017 my cost was going to be over $400 that stupid that it costs that much

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Re: Charles (# 4)

Hi! I'm on Wv Medicaid and I thought that it was covered. I got the script filled and they said it was not covered under my insurance and the cost was a little over $400.00. I was floored...and of course, couldn't get the meds. Now I don't know where to turn. I can't wear the patch because I have high PB and am on meds for it. And nothing else (gum, losengers, etc.) works. Idk...stuck and desperate is how I'm feeling. Thanks for letting me tell my story. Have a great day!

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As usual the insurance company has no problem accepting my premium. After the Chantix battle I have decided that turn about is fair play. They have paid out ZERO $ for my diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol meds that I receive through the VA for 15 years. I will cancel these maintenance meds from the VA and have them prescribed by my civilian Dr..
Instead of paying for 3 months worth of Chantix they can pick up the tab for these meds for the rest of my life!

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Re: Amy (# 9)

I'm in a similar situation! I'm an IN resident carried on my husbands union health insurance but our RX company doesn't cover ANY smoking cessation medications either!!! This doesn't make ANY sense! Why doesn't every insurance company cover these meds for smokers who want to quit??? It's not like it's cheaper for them in the long run if we keep smoking!

Trust me... My dad is on Hospice now & he's dying from lung cancer! My dad spent most his childhood on his Great Grandfather's tobacco farm! Back then, cigarettes were marketed as safe & packaged with labels saying they increased health benefits, Lol! My dad started smoking around age 10 (which wasn't uncommon in those days) & he smoked a pack & a 1/2 a day for 30 years. He had quit smoking for 26 years prior to his lung cancer diagnosis @ age 66.

Sadly, my dad has also suffered the terrible fate of believing & trusting an incompetent PCP who ignored SO MANY Warning Signs! Like family history; My dad's sister had lung cancer when she died! He was a former 30 year smoker, Lung Nodules were found on my dad's CT Scan but the doctor told him he wasn't concerned, he had Chronic Bronchitis the past 3 years & more!
I wonder how much all those chronic bronchitis diagnoses & treatments alone cost his insurance company???

Basically, my dad's PCP handed my dad a death sentence when he decided to ignore all these Red Flags! The lung cancer was stage 4 before it was diagnosed AND it had metastasized to his spine resulting in a diagnosis of Osteomyeloma too!

And even so, his Oncologist recommended chemo for the lung cancer & my dad agreed, he was hoping to live @ least a few more years & we were too! We were all hoping for a miracle!

And my dad did very well with the chemo treatments & @ the halfway point the lung tumors had shrunk by 50% (A few had shrunk even more than 50%!) Unfortunately, when he finished chemo; Painful, debilitating neuropathy set in with devastating effects on my dad's hands & feet.

That started a downward spiral & resulted in my dad having to stop the Immunotherapy drug he needed to take for two years after chemo. These Immunotherapy drugs are amazing & help prevent cancer from recurring. My dad's in bad shape now & I'm watching him die slowly a little more everyday. His prognosis... Statistically 8 weeks after his last chemo treatment!

My dad's on all kinds of medications & oxygen. Hospice nurses visit & monitor him several times a week & meds are fed ex'd bi-weekly. I have no idea what all of this costs @ this time; But his deductible started over in January so I'm going to find out very soon! What I am certain of is that his insurance company paid over $250k for chemo treatments, EOB's for PET scans showed those test cost $120k and up & he had a few! He also got labs & fluids & weekly infusions to replenish his body with all the things the Chemo drained. So what I know for a fact is lung cancer is VERY EXPENSIVE!!!

In my area, the Chantix starter pk is $566 & the continuing monthly pk is $544 per month & that's with a Good RX Coupon!!! My doctor recommends staying on the medication 4-6 months to ensure success. I always heard people say; I can't afford to quit smoking & I hated that bc even though I'm a smoker I felt like that was nothing more than an excuse & a cop-out.

However, because I haven't worked in almost a year due to taking care of my dad; I'm going to say what all smokers say... I cannot afford this medicine!!! Cigarettes cost me $67 a carton & I smoke about a pack a day so that's about $210 a month. The out of pocket cost for Chantix is TRIPLE that!!! I'm not sure how anyone can afford it!?!? And WHY has this medication had such a rise in price??? In 2011 the starter pack cost less than $200 out of pocket! How nice of Pfizer to triple the cost of such an effective medication!!!

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