Copaxone dropped from formulary

[MrStripey]

When I received notification a couple months ago that the Autoject 2 was being discontinued, I wondered if something was up with Copaxone's future availability. Well, yes it was! Today I got a notification from my insurance company that it's being removed from the formulary. I take the daily, and going forward the formulary will cover the generic; the 3-times-a-week Copaxone isn't listed as an alternative, so I assume they're dropping that, too.

Of course there is NO collusion between the drug manufacturers and the insurance companies! Hmmmm

[mdarc91103]

From what I understand, many insurance companies are dropping the brand named drugs from their formularies if a generic is available because the generic is cheaper. Has your doctor tried writing your script specifically for Copaxone, not the generic, with "no substitutions" written on the script? Sometimes, if your doctor puts it in writing that the generic isn't suitable for you and you fight it with the insurance, they will cover it. They may make you take the genetic for a month or 2 and then your doctor can verify that the generic doesn't work for you and you need the brand, even if it's the 3 times a week, which I would assume is cheaper than the once a day.

Good luck with this!

[NanciG]

Insurance companies routinely change formularies and drop the more expensive, name-brand medications. I agree with mdarc91103. I had to try generics in the past and had side effects that I never have had with Copaxone. Because of the reaction, my doctor has been able to keep me on Copaxone. Of course, if we can't get replacement autoject devices when the springs wear out, it isn't going to matter.

[MrStripey in reply to NanciG]

I suspect they're going to stop producing it altogether, but of course you won' t be able to get a straight answer anywhere.

[NanciG in reply to MrStripey]

I agree completely!