POLL: How Much Do You Pay for a Monthly Supply of Your Thyroid Medication?
Thursday May 15, 2008
Last week, we found out that some people are paying $80 to $100 or more for a three-month supply of Levoxyl. Some people pay a lot less, others far more. If you are taking medication for your thyroid condition, how much are you paying each month? Take our poll, and see what others are paying, and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Comments
I pay about $10 a month (Armour Thyroid).
I pay $10 for my levoxyl, and $40 (after deductible is met) for my cytomel
I pay $19.50 a month for Armour co-pay Brand.
I used to buy a Six Month Supply for $15 before this 30-day, 90-day prescription. Back then, quantities were cheaper.
I live in the United Kingdom and I take Levothyroxine daily. Here in the UK, Hypothyroidism is exempt from prescription charges, so mine are free. It would normally cost me the equivalent of $15 per 2 months supply. However, medication for Hyperthyroidism (overactive) is not and any medication has to be paid for per prescription.
I am in Australia and I take Oroxine (thyroxine sodium). I pay $23 for 200 tablets (200 days supply)or double if my TSH is up and my dose is increased.
I live in India. 100 tabs of Thyroxine sodium (Eltroxin 100 mcg) costs $2.00 USD. Lasts 3 months. Can’t beat that can you?
I paid $7.50 for a 4 month supply of Armour Thyroid.
Used to use a Pharmacy that charged more than that a month. Pays to shop around.
I pay $4 at WalMart (in the USA) for a 30-day supply of Levothyroxine. They just added a plan for a 90-day supply for $9 though. Can’t wait to get Dr approval for that one.
I pay only $3.00 for 30 days. That will change when I turn 21 because I won’t have any insurance anymore. Eek!
I currently pay $8.91 for Levoxyl (they substituted with levothyroxine last time) using my AAA card. If I used my insurance, it would be $15. The last time I purchased without using anything, it was $19.98.
I pay $7 for Levoxyl and $20 for Cytomel with co-pay.
I paid $13.00 for Armour Thyroid.
Sealed bottle of 100 Armour Thyroid tablets — approx. $14.50 at Wal-Mart.
(That’s more than a three month supply
at a cost of LESS THAN $5.00 per month.)
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NOTE: IF I used our so-called insurance
prescription benefit, the cost is $1.00 per pill. Bums!
I use synthroid’s $10 off a 3 month supply coupon. I therefore have to pay the cash price of $46-$10coupon=$36 at target (for 25 mcg).
When I used my health insurance, I was paying $18 month (so $54 for a 3 month supply)……
What was wrong with that picture?!?!
I pay the 4$/mo for Levothyroxine at WalMart too
I have United as insurance, but I since my prescription is for 225mcg of Synthroid and the doc told me not to use the generic - I have to pay $20 for the 25mcg tablet and an additional $25 for the 200mcg tablet, for a total of $45 a month, because they don’t make a 225mcg tablet - I think this is absurd!!
Family members pay $30 for a 90 day supply of Unithroid Direct. The company Provell quarantees to never substitute their Unithroid Direct.
Walmart 1 mo $4. I think 3 mo $9
I pay $30 a month for Thyrolar. It’s not on the ‘preferred drug list’ of my insurance company.
When I asked about the out of pocket price of Unithroid in case I needed to purchase, it was quoted at $13.00/month for the .88MG dosage. Currently I am paying a $5.00 co-pay. This is a Walgreen’s pharmacy.
I pay $4 also for a month’s supply of Levothyroxine at Walmart. I hadn’t heard about the $9 90-day supply yet! Thanks for the tip. The generic works great for me.
I live in Canada and pay $16.00 for one month. That includes the pharmacy dispensing fee. I am 43 yrs old and have been hypo for 12 years. Recently throughout our long winter I started to feel awful. I have gained weight, feel depressed pms-y weepy, irritable, dry skin, hair falling out at an alarming pace…you know the drill. We tested my thyroid (TSH) and it was 69.9! I was taking .150 of Levothyroxine and my physician upped it to .175. In 5 weeks it is now at .04. Anyone have any ideas why this crazy number and why the rapid correction? Also I am seeing an endocrinologist in Toronto but not till July 23 (Canada!) and am seriously confused about what to ask for …Armour …Cytomel??? …. how can we figure out what is wrong..I only know I feel worse than before tired …my hair has half fallen out and my muscles are achy (I feel arthritic) but the Dr. thinks everything is ok because my TSH was .04…in fact she thinks it’s too low. Can anyone advise about what I should asking the endocrinologist to explore/try? I feel so intimidated because it seems everyone I talk to has a different opinion. A nurse practioner actually told me that “controversy” around lab ranges only pertained to hyperactive people! You can email me direct at rosemaryrich444@gmail.com. Thanks for any help. Also feel free to share your own similar experiences. I will respond to everyone. I feel so desperate.
I have insurence and get a 3 month supply at a time of Levothyroxine (generic ).I pay $10 every three months.
I pay 22.00 copay for Armour and then $48 for Liotrix which insurance does not pay for.
Walmart has expanded their $4 copay program to a 90 day supply for $10. Levoxyl is included in their list of drugs. Walmart is a love ‘em or hate ‘em company, I know, but for me, it’s now cheaper to get it thru Walmart than it is thru my insurance company’s mail-in program.
I pay $40.41 for a 90 day supply of Synthroid 125 mg from my insurance company in the mail.
I pay $4 per month for Levothyroxine ~ I want to try Armour but need to find another Dr. since mine refuses to prescribe it
I pay $4.00 at Wal Mart too.
I pay roughly $30 for 90 day supply of Armour. My prescription includes two different strengths, so it’s a bit more expensive than it might be otherwise.
I live in Canada and have insurance, so my co-pay is $10.00. That gives me a 3-month supply. Although I now take 7 x 30mg/day of Thyroid (natural desiccated thyroid), I only get 500 pills each time, because I’m still using an older RX. When my refills expire (1 year from original RX date), I’ll up it to 700. My pharmacy often has to split it into 2 bottles, because they usually don’t have enough stock for the whole amount at one time.
Rosemary, I would ask the endo to try you on Thyroid (by Erfa). It is Canada’s equivalent to Armour. When taken properly, in the appropriate dose, it can work beautifully.
In order to get the brand name Synthroid, my insurance company insists on generic and will only do 30 days, I buy it mail order through Canada. It costs me $28 U.S plus $10 shipping for 100 days of .2 mg. It may cost we a couple dollars more but I gladly pay it for the convience and the assurance of the proper strength.
I live in UK and my GP will not order Armour Thyroid for me although I have an exemption certificate for medicines relating to thyroid disease. I have to pay approximately £80 ($160)for 3 months supply of Armour Thyroid. I can get Levothyroxine free but it doesn’t suit me at all.
I spend $30/month for 5 grains daily of Naturethroid (taken in 3 split doses) from a doctor outside of my HMO (Kaiser). My family doctor will prescribe Armour but I think it might be different and I do not want to switch.
Genie, you purchase from Wal-Mart!? I did not know they sell Armour. I am paying about 75 cents a pill with insurance or $1 a pill without insurance for 4 gr. And you are paying $14.50 for three months with a sealed bottle?!!
Thank you for your post. What is your dose?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sealed bottle of 100 Armour Thyroid tablets — approx. $14.50 at Wal-Mart.
(That’s more than a three month supply
at a cost of LESS THAN $5.00 per month.)
***************************************
NOTE: IF I used our so-called insurance
prescription benefit, the cost is $1.00 per pill. Bums!
Comment by Genie — May 16, 2008 @ 7:42 am
I pay $12.00 for 90 days supply of Levothyroxin at Walmart Pharmacy. For years, I took what I thought was “cow” thyroid made by Armour, but in past months, the pharmacist told me that had been taken off the market. I read your article about that being taken off the market, and you only refer to dessicated pig thyroid. I am having trouble getting the dosage adjusted. My old medication was $11.90 for 200 60 mg. pills. Does anyone know where I can get the medication I had taken for 35 years?
Ramona,
For decades, Armour thyroid has been made from porcine (pig) thyroid. Armour thyroid has NOT been taken off the market. Cow thyroid was switched to pig decades ago, and no commercial prescription natural thyroid medication is made from cow.
You may want to ask about Armour thyroid again.
Mary
I am unable to get thyroid medication. I have every symptom of hypothyroid–have had the symptoms for about 40 years. But the doctors I can afford to go to (at health clinics) always refuse to do any test but TSH, and they always insist my TSH is normal. They are never interested in my other symptoms.
I pay $15 for Armour thyroid - insurance co-pay which is pretty much the total cost. Armour Thyroid is now considered a brand name, not a generic, which it used to be. Do any other companies make natural thyroid?
I pay $11.75 for three months of Levothroid (T4 med ) & $160.60 for three months of cytomel (T3 med ) . I pay it all - as we have a high deductable (thousands) to meet before insurane would pay any of it
expensive yes but woth every penney to feel better.
I take Armour Thyroid, and since living in Europe (The Netherlands), this takes a VERY special prescription from the conselting Doctor, and since this medication then has to be specially imported from the U.S. a monthly cost of ~50 Euro’s (~100 U.S. Dollars equivalently??),….for my own costs!!
Insurance companies over here (Europe) do not consider AT (in general)as a ‘legal’ medication..
After a lot of effort, I finally managed to get this medication payed for by my insurance, …however I had to change to another Medical Insurance company 3 years ago (long/uninteresting story..)
And so NOW my fight for compensation for AT-costs has started ALL over again..
I’m somewhat jealous of U.S. citizens: AT is much more recognised in the U.S.A., then in Europe..
Ira
To be thourough & exact:
I take 4 grains of AT a day…240 mg
(is NOT even my optimal dose yet,…I know by now from my experience as a Hashi’s Hypo for 7 years :..am Hypo for much longer even, but diagnosed in 2000)
So quite expensive, if you don’t get compensation from a Medical Insurance, and the pills have to be imported specially for you from the U.S.!!
But without AT I soon turn into ‘a zombie’ ,with brain-failure, muscle-ages, dizziness, neural-paines etc. etc…
I HAVE to pay this sort of money (sometimes even borrow it…), in order to ‘NOT die slowly’……
Ira
I Had to add to add my five cents on this. I dont pay because I have a great medical plan but my perscription for three months is only 8.75 plus dispensing fee of 5.00 so total of 13.75 for synthrox or levothyroxin. (Canadian that is) Hope this helps….
I live in Cyprus and take Euthyrox (levothyroxine)100 mg/day. A box of 100 pills (100 days) costs me EUR 3.91 = US$ 2.50. I pay for it myself and am then reimbursed by my private medical cover. In Cyprus if you dont wish to go to a private doctor you can use state hospitals/doctors and ultimately get free meds, however its so cheap that even if I didnt have private medical cover I would just go and buy it from a pharmacy instead of wait at the hospital and have to go through the state hospital/doctors (I go to a private doctor)
I take Armour Thyroid….not covered by HMO.
Prescrubed two (2) separate doses, as flws.
90 mg 100 tablets $26.50 (Prescribed 2 x wk)
60 mg 90 tablest $13.43 ” 5 x wk)
Taken daily in a.m. empty stomach;wait at least 1 hr b/4 eating.
Have taken ALL other brands incldg. generic over yrs. in past w/very little - if any - success flwg. surgical removal of thyroid.
Rosemary, I am wondering from the tone of your comment if your doctor is testing your TSH often enough. I was going to a doctor that was only testing my TSH once a year and I it was always around 10. Then he didn’t always check it again after a dose change. I talked to friends and a technician that was drawing blood and found out that three or four times a year was more appropriate and always after a dose change. I changed doctors. I am glad you are going to an endo and think you will be glad you did.
I forgot to say I pay about $10 for a three month supply of Synthriod. My new doctor checks TSH every three months.
Most of you don’t specify dosage. That makes $’s difference! Bad experience with over the counter generic and with cheap mail order for generic AT years ago–they sold outdated stock or mixed it with close to exp. date stock. Inconsistent results. AT user for about 35 years, other thyroid brands 7 years before AT.
Name brand AT, 2 grains (120 mg) sealed bottle–all pills close to same exp. date–100 pills for around $35 without insurance. I get quality from an independent pharmacy. For me, $’s don’t matter, health does. The exp. date is about 2 years away compared to big box stores. More potent? Perhaps.
I pay about $1 per “pill”. I found that the regular thyroid meds really didn’t help much. We have a wonderful compounding pharmacy in town, and my physician (D.O.) who practices alternative medicine works with that pharmacy. The pharmacisit makes a compounded thyroid med for me which has worked far better than any of the prescription meds.
I pay $19 for three months of levoxyl but it is the Cytomel that is expensive-more than $100 a month.
I pay $4 per month for Levothyroxine at WalMart
I pay $4 for a 30 day supply of Levothyroxine. Walmart has many generic drugs at his price.
$48+ for 3 month supply as I want the brand Synthroid thru Medco. Only $20 if I wanted the generic.
Previous insurance (company changed policy)–$20 for generic/$40 for 3 month supply. The pharmacy provider would ONLY supply Synthoid so if doctor wrote script for Synthroid-Generic subsitute OK — I could get the BRAND synthoid for the co-pay. If he wrote–Synthroid–Brand Specific–I paid $40.
How I got around the $48+? I have a AAA card (auto company) — they use CAREMARK. Caremark only provides (at this time) Synthroid and NOT the generic equivalent. I paid $29.13 for the brand for 90 days. However–CAREMARK COULD change this policy with notice. For the meanwhile–I’ve saving about $20 every 3 months!!
Can’t the insurance company realize–if I get a different generic every 90 days–it means $100+ of bloodwork to see if it is working?
Makes no sense to me!!!
I was diagnosed 8 years ago as a healthy, active 26-year old male of European background, with unrecognizable symptoms and a TSH level of 116.4!
(Men present symptoms quite differently than women, I now know.)
When I had no insurance, I paid about $9-$13 per month out-of-pocket at pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS. Today I have excellent insurance, and since the cost of the drug is below the $10 threshold, my insurance pays it all and I pay nothing! Woot! I’m so lucky! (This is for generic, which I tolerate very well.)
I’m still the only guy I know with this $&@$%^*# disease…
I am in Columbus, Ohio. I pay a copay of $11.99 per month for Armour Thyroid. I did check a local pharmacy and a month’s supply of what I would need without insurance was $19.99.
I take one
compounded 50 mcg timed-release Liothyronine daily for my underactive thryroid. Thru Anthem’s mail-in compounding pharmacy, I my co-pay is $120 for a 90 day supply. (If I purchase it at a local compounding pharmacy, my co-pay is $60 for a 30 day supply.)
I live in New Zealand. Because prescriptions are subsidised, if I took thyroxine I would pay $3.00 (about $US2.30) for 3 months’ supply. However, I take the equivalent of Armour which is manufactured locally and since it isn’t subsidised and I have quite a high dose, I pay about $120 ($US92) for three months. It’s worth it!
I can get Levoxyl at a reasonable co=pay of $10-$14, but Cytomel costs me $50 for a 3 month supply. If I weren’t on a prescription plan it would not be covered at all by Medicare insurers.
Judy, et al - Reference posts dated May 16th.
Prescription Savings - with/without insurance
Yes, Wal-Mart and Target sell Armour in sealed bottles of 100 and more, tablets. (Check the expiry date BEFORE you pay.) Simply tell — don’t ask — your MD to write the RX for 100 tablets. My dose is 1 grain, however the doctor allows me the lattitude to tweek the dose during cold months… when symptoms (including carpal tunnel like pain) rear it’s ugly head.
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Did you know that pharmacies will haggle?
Tell them: “Hey, Target sells this for… ”
At the very least, they will match the lowest price. Places to check out for consistently
low prices regardless of medicine prescribed:
Target, Wal-Mart, and Costco. I’ve heard that
K-Mart will haggle as well, but have not yet tried them. If your pharmacy refuses to haggle or “price match”… move the the Rx to a place that wants your business! All it takes is a phone call.
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Also, pick up FREE discount Rx cards — which save you 10-25% off Brand Name meds
ComCare: http://www.comcare.com/ click: enroll
Phone the Governor’s and/or Mayor’s office. Most States and Counties that belong to the Nation Association offer FREE Rx cards,
regardless of income or if you have insurance. Savings average 10-30% off Brand Name meds
when you pay cash.
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If you are taking ANY medicine for an extended period of time (or for life), ALWAYS tell your MD to write the Rx for 100 tablets when paying cash. Also, on the prescription’s “refill”
line — have your MD write: “1 YEAR”.
Then, if you’re planning an extended vacation or want to keep an adequate supply in an earthquake/tornado/fire region — you simply fill your first Rx, then a week later, phone in your second request of 100 tablets.
Refills stating “1 YEAR” can be filled four times or twelve times during that year…
the pharmacy doesn’t care! (Except controlled
substances, of course.)
Hope this helps you, Judy, and others.
Genie — in Arizona
I’ve been on Armour thyroid for over 30 yrs. I just became a ’senior citizen’ and am now on Medicare with Plan D for drugs. Medicare does NOT cover Armour!
I am furious over this. I now pay out of pocket the cheapest price I could find–Sams Club. 100 tabs of 120 mg of Armour for $28 and change. CVS charges $38+ for same am’t. How to get Medicare to recognize Armour?—they do cover all the synthetics, of course.
Thanks to insurance I only pay $4 a month for 100 mcg generic levoxyl. I cannot believe what some of you guys have to pay. What has to happen for health care to quit being such a scam in the US?
Up until the end of last year my Armour thyroid was covered by insurance. This year it was dropped by the insurance company because they say it isn’t FDA approved, and I have to pay full price each month which is around $30/mo. This makes me angry because this medication has been around a hundred years and is safe. I have used it for 45 years successfully except for a few months they tried to change me to synthetic which did not work.
I use levothyroxine (generic version) and get it at Walmart for $4 for a one-month supply. They just started a new program at $10 for a 3-month supply. I just switched my prescription to that. Saves on time and now especially on gas.
I also get my monthly supply at Wal-Mart and pay $4.00. Bless them. A couple of my other meds are $4 there too.
I pay $12 per month for 50mg Levoxyl at local pharmacy. My insurance has $100 deductible for year and my co-pay for this would be $20. I rarely meet my deductible with this price so I pay “out of pocket”. I think I will switch to WalMart for the $4 co pay. Thanks for the info everyone!
This is an absurd poll because there is nothing about dosage. The higher the mg. the higher the cost. I take 60 mg. tabs as follows: one one day, and two the next, for a daily average dose of 90 mg. I buy 200 at a time from Costco on line pharmacy. I pay $33.56 for the 200 with no shipping costs.
I take 75 mg of Armour Thyroid every morning. It costs about $43.00 for a three mouth throgh my CVS mail in insurance company. I am scheduled to have my thyroid removed next month because a needle biopsy revealed I have suspicious papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.
I have spoken with two endocrinogist and had my slides seen by two pathologist. I am at my witts end since this is suspicious. I hate to loose my thyroid if it is healthy.. Has anyone else gone through this problem?
Thanks for your help and support.
Jan
I live in the United Kingdom and have a free named brand Eltroxin. Medicines are free in the UK if you are over 60, but hypothyrodism counts as a chronic condition and the medication is free for anyone of any age. Also,I get a prescription for 3 months’ supply at one time and so don’t have to keep going to get another one.
After I meet my deductible (which I do in January), I’m supposed to pay 20% of the cost for my Synthroid. However, my employer (a hospital) writes off 20% of employee bills, so I don’t have to pay the 20%
I pay $4 at Wal-mart for Levothyroxin.
I pay $10 for 100 tablets of 60 mcg of Armour thyroid at the dispensary at my doctor’s clinic
I pay $3.47 copay for a 30 day supply with my current insurance for levothyroxine. When I didn’t have insurance, I paid $15.00.
My co-pay for Synthyroid is $47. dollars a month for my presciption,this is an absurd amount for this product. I take the white pills,because I’m allergic to the blue dye so I am paying more to get the “correct” dosage. Any idea’s on how to get around paying this much monthly?
I live in England and dont have to pay anything. If you have a life long illnes ie Thyroid you are issued with a Medical Exemption Certificate where all medication is free. This is really handy as it then saves you alot of money.
I live in NJ, USA. I am lucky my levothyroxine is coverd by my insurace (I have $0 co-pay).
I used to use Target pharmacy for it $4 for 30 days & $9/10 for 90. I still use them for my other perscriptions that aren’t covered by my insurace.
I was paying $10 for synthroid but am now going to “diet dr” who provides armour and am paying him $95 out of pocket for apt and meds (not covered by insurance). For 10 years I have been unable to lose weight after RAI and have gained 60 lbs but have lost 12 lbs in 3 weeks on armour and mild appitite suppressants. I really think the armour is the key
I have insurance, but because I MUST take Synthroid (brand), generic not allowed by doctor, it is cheaper for me to purchase 100 pills at Costco for $51 — insurance would cost me $162 co-payment for 90 pills because I chose the brand over generic. What’s wrong with this picture?