Fighting Insurance For Medication You Need
Being diagnosed with high cholesterol can be stressful enough. But when your insurance won't cover the medication that your doctor recommends, you’re faced with a problem that plagues millions of Americans.
Choosing between your health and your budget.
Understanding Insurance Company Approvals
For many medications, especially branded medications, insurance companies will require you to go through step-therapy or prior authorization before approving a medication. It can be a long and stressful process that often leaves patients discouraged, isolated, and unsupported.
This was exactly what Diana experienced when she was prescribed Livalo® (pitavastatin) for high cholesterol.
Livalo is a third-generation statin and has reduced potential for interacting with certain medications compared to other statins. The problem is that it is an expensive branded medication. It costs over $1000 for a 90-day supply without insurance.
Diana couldn’t afford Livalo and started researching online for an alternative. She came across Zypitamag® (pitavastatin), a pharmaceutical alternative to Livalo, but at a fraction of the cost, just $1.15/day.
We feel Diana’s story may resonate with you as you may have a similar experience. Here is her story in her own words:
My doctor initially wanted me to use Livalo (pitavastatin), but insurance said I had to fail on 5 statins before they would even approve it. So, we did — I had bad reactions to every one of them.
When insurance finally provided approval for Livalo I went to fill the prescription and it was outrageously expensive, so I went on some generic statin. When it came time for my blood test, nothing had changed. My doctor was adamant that I needed something better for me and wanted me to try Zypitamag.
Zypitamag just works for me. And, it's affordable. I don't even use my insurance coverage as your company discount is better.
*Your personal experience with Zypitamag may differ. Zypitamag, like all statins, can cause side effects. The most commonly reported side effects with Zypitamag are back pain, constipation, diarrhea, muscle pain, and pain in the legs or arms. This is not a complete list of side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if Zypitamag is right for you. This is a stock photo which represents an actual testimonial.
The High Cost of Livalo
Diana’s story is unfortunately one we hear all the time at Marley Drug. Amy who was diagnosed with high cholesterol when she turned 50 was asked to pay $863.27 for a 90-day supply. And that was AFTER her insurance approved the medication. She opted to switch to Zypitamag and paid $103.50 for a 90-day supply, a savings of over $700.
If you are taking Livalo, consider switching to Zypitamag.
About Zypitamag
Zypitamag (pitavastatin), is a pharmaceutical alternative to Livalo (pitavastatin) and was approved by the FDA in 2017. Livalo and Zypitamag contains the same active ingredient, pitavastatin. Zypitamag has been deemed bioequivalent to Livalo by the FDA.
At Marley Drug, due to our relationship with the manufacturer of Zypitamag, Medicure, we are able to offer this medication at a much more affordable price without the need for insurance. By cutting out the insurance company middlemen we are able to provide patients an affordable price for this branded product.
Questions about your Statin and Cholesterol?
We’re here to help. If you’ve recently been diagnosed with high cholesterol, or have questions about your statin, give us a call and one of our pharmacists would be happy to answer your questions.
Call us at 800-810-7790 for a free pharmacy consultation.