![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Blue Cheer1 on May 10, 2002, at 9:46:23
Has anyone had a problem with your insurance approving Provigil for a psychiatric disorder? If so, what did you or your doctor do?
Thanks.
Blue
Posted by JohnX2 on May 10, 2002, at 15:30:17
In reply to Provigil insurance approval?, posted by Blue Cheer1 on May 10, 2002, at 9:46:23
> Has anyone had a problem with your insurance approving Provigil for a psychiatric disorder? If so, what did you or your doctor do?
>
> Thanks.
>
> BlueBlue,
A previous insurance provider would not cover Provigil.
The medicine is expensive. I just got a few pills to see if
I would like it before shelling out the bucks (it wasn't my
medicine).Over 75% of Provigil prescriptions are off-label,
i.e. not being used to treat the FDA indication of Narcolepsy.Good luck with working with the insurance people.
John
Posted by manowar on May 10, 2002, at 16:39:03
In reply to Provigil insurance approval?, posted by Blue Cheer1 on May 10, 2002, at 9:46:23
> Has anyone had a problem with your insurance approving Provigil for a psychiatric disorder? If so, what did you or your doctor do?
>
> Thanks.
>
> BlueHi Blue,
Yes, I had the same problem. Provigil is only indicated for Narcolepsy (I have ADD), therefore because of its high price (retail- about $150 per month), most insurance companies will not cover the drug.I did two things:
First, I called my doctors office and asked the nurse to call the insurance company and explain why I need the med.Second, I called Cephalon, the company that manufactures the drug, and the lady told me that she would contact my insurance company. I think she told me that sometimes they could make certain arrangements with the insurance companies to bring the price down. Anyway, my insurance company still balked, so I take its sister drug-Adrafinil that I get from overseas. I figured that the Adrafinil costs about $3 a day, and the Modafinil (Provigil) would cost about $15 a day. I've taken both drugs, and they seem to work about the same.
From the www.provigil.com website:
"For Additional Information Regarding Provigil,
Please Contact Cephalon Professional Services.
1-800-896-5855"
Good Luck,
Tim
Posted by Blue Cheer1 on May 11, 2002, at 0:12:49
In reply to Re: Provigil insurance approval?, posted by manowar on May 10, 2002, at 16:39:03
> > Has anyone had a problem with your insurance approving Provigil for a psychiatric disorder? If so, what did you or your doctor do?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Blue
>
> Hi Blue,
> Yes, I had the same problem. Provigil is only indicated for Narcolepsy (I have ADD), therefore because of its high price (retail- about $150 per month), most insurance companies will not cover the drug.
>
> I did two things:
> First, I called my doctors office and asked the nurse to call the insurance company and explain why I need the med.
>
> Second, I called Cephalon, the company that manufactures the drug, and the lady told me that she would contact my insurance company. I think she told me that sometimes they could make certain arrangements with the insurance companies to bring the price down. Anyway, my insurance company still balked, so I take its sister drug-Adrafinil that I get from overseas. I figured that the Adrafinil costs about $3 a day, and the Modafinil (Provigil) would cost about $15 a day. I've taken both drugs, and they seem to work about the same.
>
> From the www.provigil.com website:
> "For Additional Information Regarding Provigil,
> Please Contact Cephalon Professional Services.
>
>
> 1-800-896-5855"
> Good Luck,
> TimThanks for the information, Tim. I appreciate it.
Blue
Posted by Blue Cheer1 on May 11, 2002, at 0:25:06
In reply to Re: Provigil insurance approval? » Blue Cheer1, posted by JohnX2 on May 10, 2002, at 15:30:17
> > Has anyone had a problem with your insurance approving Provigil for a psychiatric disorder? If so, what did you or your doctor do?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Blue
>
> Blue,
>
> A previous insurance provider would not cover Provigil.
> The medicine is expensive. I just got a few pills to see if
> I would like it before shelling out the bucks (it wasn't my
> medicine).
>
> Over 75% of Provigil prescriptions are off-label,
> i.e. not being used to treat the FDA indication of Narcolepsy.
>
> Good luck with working with the insurance people.
>
> JohnHi John,
I think that's what I'll do, too - buy a few first. That's a surprising percentage of people getting it for off-label indications, but I can understand why. The pharmacist said the disapproval was probably due to the cost. I'm hoping my psychiatrist can persuade them to approve it since it's unaffordable unless insurance covers it. I'll try for Adrafinil, as Tim said, if it's denied.
Thanks.
Blue
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.