Problems Paying For Savella (Top voted first)

My insurance company is giving me grief about paying for my savella prescription for my fibrolmayalgia. I finally find a medicine that works...I take 50 mgs in the morning and 100 mgs at night and am able to finally get through a day of work. I still suffer, but after 25 years of living with fibromyalgia and trying all kinds of meds, savella works. Now I can't pay for it. My insurance company only covers 62 pills a month - that doesn't even give me 3 weeks of coverage. They told me it wouldn't be a problem when I first questioned that I wasn't given the right amount of pills...just said to come back for a refill when I needed it. Right...when I went to refill the prescription, I was told I had to pay for it in full - no coverage. So I either suffer, or I have to pay for the medicine myself. Somehow this makes no sense! United Health says it's because Savella is not a preferred medicine. Anyone ever hear of such a thing?? Anyone have any ideas of what I can do??

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REPORT

Savella contains the active ingredient Milnaciprin, it is used to treat depression and fibromyalgia.

And unfortunately, yes, many insurance companies do this. Sometimes it is because there is no generic available the name brand is far too expensive and other times it may be because a medication is not actually approved or proven to treat the condition it has been prescribed for.

I don't know if your insurance company has a special program where you and your doctor can make a special request for coverage, some do, because no other medications have worked for a person's condition, but this would really be your only recourse.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Savella/­

Have you tried other similar medications that they might cover?

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Thanks for responding to my insurance questions about savella.
over the years, my pain management doctors and my rheumatologists have tried me on a variety of drugs for my fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. I also have spinal stenosis, facet joint syndrome, trigger point and myofascial pain syndrome. I've had 3 spinal sugeries, a total knee replacement, and am looking at ankle fusion surgery and another back surgery this summer. I have a spinal neurostimulator implant as well - which was suppose to help with the pain. Unfortunately the electrodes have shifted and I need to have surgery to have this repaired. Over the years, I have been on a variety of meds for pain management - effexor, cymbalta, neurontin, lyrica, oxycontin, hydrocodone, methadone, morphine sulphate, etc.
Some med combinations have made me like a walking zombie and I've hated it. Some have allowed me to have a halfway decent life. None have ever taken away all the pain. But each time the doctors come up with a new plan, I have to go through the withdrawal process and then the titration of building up the new drugs in my system. It's really hard on me physically, mentally, and emotionally. But I want to have as normal a life as I possibly can in spite of all these health problems - so I'm willing to try what the doctors suggest, Getting off lyrica last summer was like being in hell. But it was worth it because the savella is by far the best pain management med I've used. No real serious side effects compared to the other drugs - and I have dealt with some horrid side effects! My pain management specialist and rheumatologist are going to try to get the insurance company to agree to cover the savella because we've tried so many other drugs and had so many bad side effects with fewer positive results - but I hate that some faceless organization that only cares about money has control over my health. I pay for health insurance so that I can be well taken care of - and the very organization that I am paying to take care of my health is denying me what I need to be healthy! That is just not morally right!

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Your insurance may not cover it because it's a relatively new drug on the market and there's quite a bit of controversy surrounding it. A petition of over 65,000 people has been sent to the FDA asking for this drug to be recalled. My doctor prescribed this for me and I wouldn't even get it filled because of the research I did on it first. The problems with this drug might have something to do with your insurance company's reluctance to cover it.

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I was started on Savlella and it worked for helping with my fibromyaliga. I got samlples from my Dr. and now the persciption is so high priced I cant afford them and they really helped. My insurence says its not covered under my medical plan so whats a person to do when they find something that helps but cant afford to get that medication? It makes me feel like they are saying my Dr. don't know what I need for my health. How do they know they are not Dr's and have never even spoke to me let alone know my medical problem let alone know how to treat me?I would like to know how to get the savella that helps me without having to spend my hole pay check on it??

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