LIVING IN PAIN

By Debby Wednesday, November 26, 2008

- A
- A
- A

I have lived with GERD for about 10 years now. I am 42. My doctor finally put me on Nexium which worked wonders for me. But now insurance won't cover Nexium. I have had to try Protonix and Prevacid. They neither one work for me. But insurance makes me try them once a day for 8 weeks, then twice a day for 8 weeks, then try the other prescription for once a day for 8 weeks, and then twice a day for 8 weeks. I have a constant cough which I read somewhere could be from GERD. Meanwhile, I am living in pain. I'm sure that I have erosions back on my espogaus again. They saw them with an endoscopy within one week of being off of Nexium. Now they want me to do an impediment test, which will have a computer on my side, with tubes going from my nose, down my throat, into my stomach. I believe these tests are costing more than the Nexium would. I don't understand why when they find a medicine that will work for a patient, that insurance will all of a sudden say, we won't cover that any longer, rather than put the patient through all this pain and suffering.

Comments (3) | Add comment

Jan Gambino, Health Guide

11/26/08 3:04pm

Debby,

I know you are frustrated and in pain...and frustrated that you have to be in pain. I wonder if you could appeal to your insurance company for assistance. When my daughter had multiple complications for reflux and asthma, she was assigned a medical case manager by the insurance company. This person was able to move things along for us and get services much faster. Perhaps your doctor can also write a letter to the insurance company asking for an exemption to the qualifying rule for the medication. I have been in the same situation with my daughter and the doctor and I had to play the medication trial game before getting permission to go back to the original medication.

If all else fails, try calling the drug manufacturer. They often have helpful customer service reps who know how to work with the insurance companies. They might be able to give you a sample or coupon to tide your over until you get coverage.

Take a deep breath and hold your ground as you keep going...

You can vent all you want. Venting allowed and encouraged! That's what we are here for!

Jan Gambino

The Reflux Mom

Anonymous

12/30/08 9:50am

Hi, I've been online trying to find help to fight with my insurance company, who won't cover Nexium either. They tell me it's the same thing as Prilosec, which I have taken long term bc they don't cover nexium and it's too expensive. I understand that it's the same components, but my stomach says - they are NOT the same. I was ON Prilosec 40-60mg a day and developed a bleeding ulcer, could not eat, was throwing up everything I ate, was in pain, constantly nauseas, etc. I lost 20 lbs, vomiting blood, and they still do not believe me and say it is the same. Within 4 days of taking my PAID for Nexium, the pain had gone, food was staying down, etc. I am going to fight this just bc of the principle, it is NOT the same. I have tried Prevacid, Protonix, Aciphex, Pepcid, none work NEARLY as well as the Nexium. How can insurance companies do this!!! I wish one of them could see what it was like, to see the difference btwn these two drugs, why the hell would I lie about Nexium!!!!

So, I feel your pain and hope you get something resolved, I agree that whatever is different w/the nexium is REAL and it is NOT the same as Prilosec.

dennis

6/ 6/10 3:57pm

I didn’t know how many people suffer from Acid-reflux, I will try to help as many as I can, I’m 59 years old, 3 years ago I was suffering from Acid-reflux, I tried just about all the drugs in the market but, it didn’t help much, and the side effects were terrible, a friend of mine told me about this natural food supplement that he tried, I ordered and tried myself, it was amazing, no side effects, safe for all ages including babies, I didn’t have to go on a diet, I eat and drink anything any time as much as I want, and I mean anything including coffee, sodas. pizza, chocolate spicy foods (my wife is mexican),. I didn’t have to make any lifestyles changes, I don’t have to elevate my head when I sleep and it lasted for more than a year, I had to order it 2 times since for myself and 1 time for my daughter and my son, my daughter was 18 years old and 32 weeks pregnant, my son was 10, the baby is now 13 months old and my daughter and my son had forgotten about Acid-reflux, until two weeks ago my daughter ask me for the web site address because one of her friends at school have reflux, I have told many of my friends about it, try it and tell your friends too, let me know if it work for you, the web site is betasupplements.com.

LIVING IN PAIN

Ask a Question