How do health insurance plans apply a deductible to prescription medicines?

My insurance (Unicare Platinum PPO Performance) says there is a $25 copay on brand name prescriptions. It also says there is a $200 deductible on brand name prescriptions. Last Friday I picked up Levaquin and I had to pay $150. They said it's because I haven't met my deductible yet.





So how does that work? Do I have to pay regular prices on brand name prescriptions until I've paid $200 during the 12-month period before I can start paying $25 per prescription? I thought the copay started automatically. I guess I was naieve.How do health insurance plans apply a deductible to prescription medicines?
That's where the insurance company gets you. Yes, you pay out of pocket entirely until you meet your deductable.





The next time you get a prescription make sure to ask your doctor for a medication that has a generic available. Levaquin has no generic as of yet, but a drug in the same class called Cipro does, and that little change could've saved you from having to pay out of pocket, you would've paid just your generic copay.





Unfortunately, if you don't know much about medications, insurance companies can get out of paying for medications.





Always ask when your bill is high if there was something similar your doctor could've written that would save you money. The pharmacist can always call your doctor and request that a medication be changed.How do health insurance plans apply a deductible to prescription medicines?
Yes, most plans are like this. I have a $100 deductible on prescriptions, so I have to meet that every year before I can start paying my copay price. It sucks, but I guess it's better than having to pay full price all the time. Another alternative is to use generic whenever you can. If the generic medicine is less than your copay, they can't make you pay more to reach your deductible. Some medications aren't yet available in generics though.
I SPECIALIZE IN MEDICAL INSURANCE SO I HOPE I CAN HELP.


WHEN YOU HAVE A DEDUCTIBLE YOU WILL PAY FULL PRICE ON EVERYTHING UNTIL THAT DEDUCTIBLE IS MET. YOU CAN CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND TELL THEM YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH HAS BEEN APPLIED TOWARDS THIS.


ALSO REMEMBER THERE FISCAL YEAR IS NOT ALWAYS JAN 1 SO YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHEN IT IS. BEST THING TO DO IS KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS. ALOT OF TIMES, THEY WILL STILL CHARGE FULL PRICE AND THEN YOU NEED TO SUBMIT THE BILL THE BILL TO YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO BE PAID FOR IT. ALSO REMEMBER TO GET GENERIC WHEN YOU CAN. WALMART DOES CHARGE 4.00 FOR THE MEDICATIONS WHEN YOU GET GENERIC SO CHEAPER TO USE THAT WITHOUT YOUR INSURANCE.
insurance is great when their plan matches your meds





for a few of my drugs that are just too expensive even with insurance I buy online (site below). They only sell generics and it take a week (sometimes more) to get the meds but the cost is very low





good luck