Lipitor $4 co-pay? Maybe Not. So Beware

12 years ago

Possibly some can get Lipitor for $4, but with my Anthem Insurance, my cost through CVS is now a $51 ripoff.

This scheme is so tricked up, it boggles the mind. According to my CVS pharmacy, when the patent expired and the $4 co-pay started, Pfizer DOUBLED the price of Lipitor.

So here's the trick. They say they are giving you $50 off, but it is apparently $50 off of the new doubled price. With Anthem, my copay is now more than $51, so I and others with Anthem (and likely lots of other insurers) now have to PAY MORE than we ever paid in the past. Ironically, I can still get Crestor for $25 with their loyalty card, so you can guess what I will do!

It sure seems that Pfizer thinks consumers have no choices, are stupid, and won't be able to figure this out. Wrong!

To add insult to injury Pfizer has apparently bought off many pharmacy chains requiring them to not sell generic Lipitor, in trade for perks or rebates they will receive - according to a lawsuit recently filed by a pharmacy which did not agree to Pfizer's terms. The source for this is Courthouse News http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/11/08/41276.htm

The lawsuit states that Pfizer is effectively trying to extend the patent of Lipitor by forcing the generics out of the market in the US - so that if you want Lipitor or generic Lipitor you will have no choice, at least in the near term

I'm no lawyer but this sure stinks to high heaven. I would be surprised if the FTC does not get involved as this sure seems as if it may be illegal, and as if it may be an unlawful restraint of free trade.

Greed is not good - no matter what the movies say. Pigs get fat, but Hogs get slaughtered.

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Comments (7)

lynn_d
12 years ago
Hubby gets a rebate from Lipitor each time we fill his Rx, but his co pay just went down from $60 to $20 for 90 days supply.
maybee_gw
12 years ago
I switched from Crestor to generic Lipitor at Wal-Mart for the $4.00 co-pay. Maybe you don't want to switch to the generic? I have always taken Crestor, so I didn't think switching to the generic would hurt..Crestor was very expensive for me..I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance
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3katz4me
12 years ago
I don't take Lipitor or generic but my prescriptions are all generic and some are the $4 ones. If I let the pharmacy apply my insurance it's usually more than $4. So I just tell them to skip my insurance entirely so I can get the prescription for $4. It's all pretty ridiculous. Not to mention I can't get a 90 day prescription filled if it's paid by insurance (max 30 days) without doing the mail order thing which is a real PITA. Fortunately I take cheap generics and can pretty much skip the insurance hassle entirely.
samkaren
12 years ago
It boggles the mind what these companies charge for one little pill. I read that one (little blue pill) can cost $7. I can understand why some people cut their pills in half to make they stretch longer.

SamKaren
your resident DJ
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
12 years ago
I now have to get the generic lipitor, the copay is $15, I have the $4 copay card but insurance will not allow brand name if generic is an option. So now I have to pay an extra$11 for that generic over lipitor.
kathi_mdgd
12 years ago
I get mine from express scripts and pay 9.00 for a 3 month supply.I was totally surprised last month when they sent my refill for Femara,and it was free.Seems it went generic,so no charge.That's ok with me,i'll take free any day.

Some of our meds we fill on the base,so no charge,but others they don't carry so it's express scripts or cvs.

I really feel sorry for those that have high co-pays.I was at the oncologists one day and this older lady in front of me came in for her treatments and her co-pay was 277.00,i almost dropped my teeth:) I pay nothing for that either.Thank God DH was career military.
kathi
3katz4me
12 years ago
Hmmmm...kathi_mdgd - nothing is free. You may not be paying for your prescriptions but someone is paying for them. Could be the same people who are also paying their own high co-pays.

Lipitor $4 co-pay? Maybe Not. So Beware

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lynn_d

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