FEP blue federal and birth control

[Anonymous]

I recently got a prescription for the birth control pill and am a federal employee with standard FEP blue insurance. I am freaking out because my bill at the pharmacy for ONE MONTH was more than 53$. Is this because it's a so-called non-preferred brand, tier 3 pill? How can I lower the cost of my birth control? Help! I'm totally new to birth control and prescriptions...I thought all of this was supposed to be covered!

[Anonymous]

Ummmm under Obama care it is not only covered by free. Ask for generic. Call your dr. And ask if that is okay of course.

[Anonymous]

They will likely carry the ones on the formulary. If you are new to birth control or don't normally have trouble with other ones you've tried, ask to be switched to the generics, which should be free.

If you're like me and almost all of them make you nuts, then you may have to suck it up and pay the monthly premium for the non-generic special one.

[Anonymous]

I can't take a generic (not available for my pill, apparently). If you can take a generic, do. If not, ask your doctor to write the prescription so you get three months at each refill. Mine did, and the overall cost is less.

[Anonymous]

I found with BCBS that you save a lot of money going through their mail order catalog for regular prescriptions (you get them in 3 month increments). They charged more if you got them monthly at the pharmacy.

[Anonymous]

Most BCBs have a Generic available. Some pharmacies won't fill the generic unless it's actually on the prescription, others will fill with the generic if you ask or indicate your insurance does not cover.

What brand/ pill is it?

[Anonymous]

Welcome to my world. I paid at least that every month b/c my BCBS individual plan didn't reimburse for Rxs unless I reach my $5000 deductible (I never did).