Consumers, physicians criticize insurers on allergy drug costs. (Briefing).In late 2002, the Food and Drug Administration allowed the allergy drug Claritin to be sold over the counter, requiring allergy sufferers in the United States--as many as 50 million people--to pay out of pocket for the full price of the drug. Health insurers hailed the decision as a major cost saver, but consumers are grumbling as they enter the height of allergy season. Many health plans have put other antihistamine antihistamine (ăn'tĭhĭs`təmēn), any one of a group of compounds having various chemical structures and characterized by the ability to antagonize the effects of histamine. prescription allergy drugs on higher, more expensive pharmacy tiers to discourage members from choosing the prescription medications over Claritin. Some are requiring members to try Claritin for two weeks before paying for a prescription allergy drug. As a result, major news organizations have developed stories that feature consumers complaining about having to pay the full over-the-counter price for Claritin or a higher copayment co·pay·ment n. A fixed fee that subscribers to a medical plan must pay for their use of specific medical services covered by the plan. copayment, n for prescription allergy drugs. And physician groups have criticized insurance companies for making what they consider an inappropriate decision. "I've heard a lot of folks say they feel they have to pay more for their over-the-counter Claritin," said Paul Bernard Paul Bernard was born in London, England on 20 June 1929, and died there on 25 September 1997. He is remembered as a television director, though he was also a designer on television, most notably on productions of The Avengers. , regional director of pharmacy for Anthem Inc. "I got my hair cut the other night and the guy who cut it brought it up." The barber complained that he now has to buy a package of 48 pills instead of 30, which results in a higher overall bill. But Bernard pointed out to the man that, per pill, Claritin now costs less than many people's copayment for the prescription drug prescription drug Prescription medication Pharmacology An FDA-approved drug which must, by federal law or regulation, be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription–eg, finished dose form and active ingredients subject to the provisos of the Federal Food, Drug, . "There are some misconceptions Misconceptions is an American sitcom television series for The WB Network for the 2005-2006 season that never aired. It features Jane Leeves, formerly of Frasier, and French Stewart, formerly of 3rd Rock From the Sun. about how much people have to pay," he said. The generic version of Claritin is being sold at his local drug stores for $24 for a pack of 48 pills. Nonsedating prescription antihistamines Antihistamines Definition Antihistamines are drugs that block the action of histamine (a compound released in allergic inflammatory reactions) at the H1 are on Anthem's third tier, which costs $30, or 50% of the drug's cost, for Anthem's two most popular plans. However, he acknowledged that some consumers with rich benefits now pay more for Claritin. For those who work for employers with low copays, such as $2 a prescription, the over-the-counter drug over-the-counter drug A therapeutic agent that does not require a prescription, which the FDA feels can be safely self-prescribed by non-physicians. Cf Prescription drug, Under-the-counter. is quite a bit more expensive, Bernard said. |
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