Does your Insurance Cover Retin-A?

[Anonymous]

Derm prescribed a retin-A type product for me, but my insurance refuses to pay because of my age (late-30s). It costs about $200 (!) tube.

Anyone else find this? If so, what do you do? Do you pay the full price, or get your derm to prescribe something cheaper?

[Anonymous]

no i have used it for years. Buy it at costco much cheaper about $170

[Anonymous]

PP poster here it is worth every penny. I have been using it for about 15 years i am almost 45 and have no wrinkles and lines

[Anonymous]

Is it for medical or cosmetic purposes? Think insurance companies may pay for the former but not the latter.

[Anonymous]

Mine pays for it because it is billed as an acne treatment. Not sure if they'd pay for it otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Would a dermatologist be willing to prescribe Retin-A for occasional acne? I am 39 and still break out once every 2-3 months. My breakouts are usually 1-2 very large pimples tend to last 2-3 weeks and leave red scars that last 2 months. I also still have scars from my adolescent acne.

Right now I have no breakouts but do have 3 red marks left from the last breakout. I am wondering if I go to a dermatologist now, if he would turn me down for Retin-A because I am currently not breaking out? BTW - I have tons of blackheads on my nose and chin that never go away.

[Anonymous]

The key would probably be what it is billed as, ie acne treatment. Can you go when you are breaking out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The key would probably be what it is billed as, ie acne treatment. Can you go when you are breaking out?

Yeah, guess I'll have to wait for the next breakout Thanks!

[Anonymous]

NO reputable derm would prescribe Retin-A for the acne scenario you describe. Why not just suck it up and accept that insurance doesn't pay to remove your wrinkles?

I just hate footing the bill for those who scam the insurance companies (much as I hate the insurance companies sometimes).