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Return to Article: Lawmaker pledges more oversight of FEHBP drug costs

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  bcbs cost are to high for what it offers on percription drugs compared to other plans. It doesn't make sense that one plan can offer copays of 30/10 while bcbs is 65/35 someone needs to look into this.

  manuel rodericks Posted October 15, 2009 11:45 AM
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  More info on the price gouging on prescriptions.....I might add that if I fill my Snythroid through the mail order program offered by BCBS, it costs $65.00 for a 90 day supply because it is label. If I fill it at King Soopers Grocery Store here in Colorado, using the brand label Synthroid, it is $15.47 for the 90 day supply. (I have to take label because of the sensitivy of my thyroid...the generic brand doesn't work for me...causes my thyroid to go up an down.) Anyway...I called and asked the mail order folks why there's is $65.00 for the 90 day supply, and the lady on the end of the phone said, because that is what your insurance company contracted with us for brand. I asked her why would I fill it for $65.00 when I could get it for $15.47 at my local pharmacy for a 90 day supply? She became irritated with me and said because thats what they contracted for. People are getting taken with these prescriptions even with insurance coverage.

  The costs shouldn't change from mail order to local pharmacy costs. Someone's not monitoring the system.

  Another prescription I'm on costs me $95.00 (it's actually $92.44) per month with my insurance coverage. It says on my prescription label that my insurance saved me $482.65. Figure that. I still had to pay $95.00 with insurance. How can the American people continue to pay these costs?

  Unfortuantely, I need these meds....I didn't ask to want to be on them, my body doesn't function without them. I like the rest of the American public are getting hosed on our prescription benefits.

  Debra Lucas Posted September 30, 2009 11:39 AM
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  Before signing on to the BCBS Basic program which would charge a 50% co-pay on non-formulary drug. I was told my cost would be $52.64. In December I paid $30, by May my co-pay was $72.62and the same prescription I got this week had a co-pay of $76.93. Something must be done!

  k lundgren Posted July 8, 2009 12:38 PM
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  I have Pacific Care insurance under FEHB, and when I was going to have colonscopy I had to purchase a prep kit. I was really surprised that I had to pay $50. and Pacific Care on paid about $11. towards the kit cost. I certainly felt that I was getting gyped! Someone definitely needs to look into the cost being paid by the insurers vs. the insurees. DJ

  darlene johnson Posted July 8, 2009 11:55 AM
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  Wonder if Lynch is going to fix the problem not the symptom Until trail lawyers and the tort system is reigned in healthcare costs will continue to rise

  dan m ketter Posted June 27, 2009 2:56 PM
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  This is an excellent idea. I use two name brand drugs and both are $65 for 3 months. Generic are $10 for 3 months. Last year brand drugss were$45. Any cost of living adjustment won't handle the increases in BC-BS drug bills and the increased cost of being in BC-BS.

  David Hubbard Posted June 26, 2009 3:01 PM
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  I agree 100%. In Puerto Rico we are paying more for the plan and getting much less. How can the medical plan get so expensive while they only allow generic medicine. Unfortunately, OPM is in cohorts with Triple SSS in Puerto Rico to the detriment of all federal employees here. I welcome the full investigation against these scoudrels (especially OPM).

  Frank Pacheco-De Jesús Posted June 26, 2009 1:11 PM
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  Thank you! We can start by making the providers post the copay by drug in their literature. Skip the $5 teaser. The real copay is about the same as a lease payment on a Mercedes. Here is how far out of line the FEHB drug costs are. I can get my meds from a high school street dealer for less than I pay at the pharmacy. The DEA should look at my provider and the FEHB part of the problem in the war on drugs. Legal sources are way too expensive, so the dealers are winning.

  Anthony Weishar Posted June 26, 2009 12:06 PM