Part D, Armour Thyroid

[GoPokes]

Guys, I have a prospect turning 65, she takes Armour Thyroid. I am looking at part D plans on medicare.gov and apparently Medicare doesn't allow me to put that drug in on the plan finder, so I guess none of the part D plans cover it..?

Has anyone else run into this issue? Do I just have to get her a part D then get the insurance company to make an "exception" ???

Or, would I have to advise her to just pay full price for this med?

 

[WCMason]

Guys, I have a prospect turning 65, she takes Armour Thyroid. I am looking at part D plans on medicare.gov and apparently Medicare doesn't allow me to put that drug in on the plan finder, so I guess none of the part D plans cover it..? Has anyone else run into this issue? Do I just have to get her a part D then get the insurance company to make an "exception" ??? Or, would I have to advise her to just pay full price for this med?

This is not covered by any part D drug plan, and your client will have to pay for it herself. Fortunately, it's pretty inexpensive.

 

[GoPokes]

This is not covered by any part D drug plan, and your client will have to pay for it herself. Fortunately, it's pretty inexpensive.

Okay. Thanks for the quick response. She was pretty certain that it is expensive, and I couldn't find a price for it, so Ill advise her that it is not.

 

[bluediamond]

'Worst Pills, Best Pills' Armour Thyroid Review is Flawed

 

[WCMason]

Okay. Thanks for the quick response. She was pretty certain that it is expensive, and I couldn't find a price for it, so Ill advise her that it is not.

Well, inexpensive can be a bit of a relative term. I've heard people tell me that they get a 30 day supply for about $15.

 

[kgmom219]

You need to put in your own zip, but $15ish is a good guess.

Armour Thyroid - Prices, Coupons, and Information - GoodRx

 

[WCMason]

I meant to add that the reason it's not covered by and Part D plan is because it has never been approved by the FDA.

 

[somarco]

Armour Thyroid

 

[kgmom219]

I meant to add that the reason it's not covered by and Part D plan is because it has never been approved by the FDA.

Its approved, but thyroid meds are their own ballgame.

The "original" brand is Synthroid. The patent ran out years ago. Armour is one of many companies that produce a generic. BUT there is not an AB rated generic for Synthroid. AB is a rating system used by the FDA. Some states require generics to be A equivalency. Some require B. Some require AB.

Still with me?

Its get further complicated by insurance companies who only require the state requirements be met on a 3 tier copay, when the patient is reqd to pay the difference, but the pharmacy only has Armour. They won't cover it.

Then there's this teensy problem....getting a thyroid regulated takes 3-5 RXs before they get the dosing right. And it usually doesn't work when they switch between Synthroid to a generic. Or Armour to Synthroid. That's why she is being so specific. And you can't find it at medicare.gov. From an RX perspective, Armour is just another generic.

Tell her to get the cash price and plan on paying it.

 

[debshelp44]

Armour Thyroid and Synthroid are both brand names. The difference is Armour is made from dessicated pig thyroid and Synthroid in the lab chemically. Armour has been around for years before Synthroid but doctors prefer the lab made chemicals and it is prescribed the most often. I know because I have been on both and have had this discussion with my doctors on why don't I change. There is a huge difference in symptom relief when I've tried and I suppose that would be the same for your client.

Unfortunately it looks like they'll have to pay for it, although I would think they should try for an exception.