How to save money
Generics available for many popular medications
The Food and Drug Administration requires that generic drugs have the identical active ingredients as their brand-name equivalents. We believe they offer the best value for members who pay the lowest copayment for generic prescriptions. Here are some examples of generics that offer excellent value:
- Fosamax®, a popular medicine for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, is available as a generic for your lowest copayment. Like its brand-name equivalent, generic Fosamax offers the convenience of once-a-week dosing.
- Flonase®, the most frequently prescribed intranasal steroid is available as a generic for your lowest copayment. Nasalide® and Nasarel®, other popular intranasal steroids, are also available as generics.
- Imitrex®, a drug used for the treatment of acute migraine, is available as a generic with the same medicinal benefit as brand-name medications in the same drug class.
- Many anticonvulsants (drugs used for seizure disorders) are now available in generic form and offer cost-effective alternatives to newer more expensive brands. Some of these generics include; Depakote®, Keppra®, Topamax® and Trileptal®, etc.
Over-the-counter drugs offer savings
BCN covers select over-the-counter medications for members with drug benefits. Members save with a prescription for over-the-counter generic Claritin or over-the-counter Zyrtec®, antihistamines for people with allergies. These drugs are comparable in effectiveness to both Allegra® and Clarinex® and do not cause drowsiness. For your lowest copayment (Tier 1), you get up to a 48-day supply of generic Claritin or Zyrtec. This can result in a savings of $10-$30 for most BCN members over the cost of a brand-name alternative.
Members also save with a prescription Prilosec OTC® — an effective, cost-saving alternative over other drugs that treat heartburn and acid reflux. Check with your physician to see if Prilosec OTC is right for your condition. Receive up to a 42-day supply of Prilosec OTC for one generic copay amount or a 90-day supply for two generic copayments.
Lower copayments for formulary asthma controllers
BCN has reduced the copayment for formulary controller medications used mainly to control asthma to the lowest/Tier 1 copayment. For example, a member whose drug rider has a $40 copayment for formulary preferred (Tier 2) drugs and a $10 copay for Tier 1 drugs (mostly generics), will pay just $10 for these brand-name controllers. The drugs included in this program are Alvesco®, Azmacort®, Asmanex®, Flovent®, Pulmicort Flexhaler™, QVAR®, and Intal®.
$0 copayment for risperidone (generic Risperdal ®).
BCN provides coverage for Risperdal (g) for $0 copayment in an effort to remove any potential barriers to access to this important drug.
Copay discounts for maintenance drugs at retail pharmacies
Save more by getting a 90-day supply of the maintenance medications you take for chronic conditions. BCN members can get a 90-day supply at most retail pharmacies in Michigan for two copayments instead of three. This benefit allows BCN members to use a retail pharmacy, as well as mail order, to obtain larger quantities of the long-term prescription medications they take. Certain drugs are not included in this program. BCN requires that eligible members first fill a prescription for a one-month supply of a new brand name medication to ensure the drug and dose are appropriate. Prescriptions for generic drugs are not subject to this requirement. Call Customer Service at 800-662-6667 for more information. Our list of pharmacies shows which ones are participating with this program.
Certain drugs are not included in our 90-day at retail program and therefore limited to a 34-day supply. Drugs are selected due to the need for special handling, administration, or monitoring, or based on cost-related issues. These drugs are targeted to encourage appropriate use, improve safety, and reduce potential waste. Please see below for drugs that are limited to a 34-day supply
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Acne | Accutane(g) |
| Anti-infectives | Fuzeon<s>, Noxafil, Relenza, Tamiflu |
| Cancer | Alkeran, Afinitor<s>, Arimidex<s>, Aromasin<s>, Casodex(g)<s>, CEENU, Cytoxan(g), Droxia, Eligard, Emcyt, Eulexin(g), Fareston, Faslodex, Femara<s>, Gleevec<s>, Hexalen, Hycamtin<s>, Hydrea(g), Intron-A<s>, Iressa<s>, Leucovorin(g), Leukeran, Lupron<s>, Lupron Depot, Lysodren, Matulane, Megace(g), Megace ES, Mesnex, Myleran, Nexavar<s>, Nilandron, Oforta<s>, Purinethol(g), Revlimid<s>, Sandostatin(g)<s>, Sandostatin LAR<s>, Sprycel<s>, Sutent<s>, Tarceva<s>, Targretin<s>, Tasigna<s>, Temodar<s>, Thalomid<s>, Thioguanine, Trelstar Depot<s>, Trelstar/LA<s>, Tykerb<s>, Vepesid(g), Vesanoid(g), Votrient<s>, Xeloda<s>, Zoladex<s>, Zolinza<s> |
| Anticoagulants | Arixtra<s>, Fragmin<s>, Heparin(g)<s>, Innohep<s>, Lovenox<s> |
| Antipsychotics | Clozaril(g), Fazaclo |
| Arthritis/Psoriasis | Cimzia<s>, Enbrel<s>, Humira<s>, Kineret<s>, Oxsoralen, Simponi<s>, Soriatane CK ; Taclonex, Scalp |
| Dermatology | Panretin, Solaraze, Regranex |
| Growth Hormone | Genotropin<s>, Geref<s>, Humatrope<s>, Norditropin<s>, Norditropin-Nordiflex<s>, Nutropin/AQ<s>, Omnitrope<s>, Saizen<s>, Serostim<s>, Tev-Tropin<s>, Valtropin<s>, Zorbtive<s> |
| Hematologics | Aranesp<s>, Epogen<s>, Leukine<s>, Neulasta<s>, Neumega<s>, Neupogen<s>, Procrit<s>, Promacta<s> |
| Hepatitis | Baraclude<s>, Copegus(g)<s>, Hepsera<s>, Infergen<s>, Intron A<s>, Pegasys<s>, Peg-Intron<s>, Rebetol(g)<s>, Rebetron<s>, Ribasphere, Ribapak<s>, Tyzeka<s> |
| Infertility | Bravelle<s>, Cetrotide<s>, Ganirelix<s>, Gonal-F/RFF<s>, Fertinex<s>, Follistim/AQ<s>, Lupron(g)<s>, Luveris<s>, Menopur<s>, Novarel<s>, Ovidrel<s>, Pregnyl<s>, Profasi<s>, Repronex<s> |
| Specialty Drugs | All specialty drugs (refer to Specialty Drug List (PDF) ) |
| Miscellaneous | Actimmune<s>, Apokyn<s>, Arcalyst<s>, Cellcept(g)<s>, Exjade<s>, Forteo<s>, Gengraf<s>, Increlex<s>, Lupron Depot<s>, Kuvan<s>, Micrhogam<s>, Myfortic<s>, Neoral(g)<s>, Oforta<s>, Orfadin<s>, Prograf<s>, Pulmozyme<s>, Rapamune<s>, Remodulin<s>,Rhogam Plus<s>, Sabril<s>, Sensipar<s>, Samsca<s>, Sandimmune(g)<s>, Sandostatin/LAR<s>, Somatuline Depot<s>, Somavert<s>, Stimate<s>, Synarel, Tobi<s>, Tyvaso<s>, WinRho<s>, Xenazine<s>, Zavesca<s> |
| Multiple Sclerosis | Avonex<s>, Betaseron<s>, Copaxone<s>, Rebif<s> |
| Muscle Relaxants | Amrix, Dantrium(g), Fexmid, Flexeril(g), Lioresal(g), Noragesic/Forte(g), Norflex(g), Paraflex(g), Parafon Forte(g), Robaxin(g), Skelaxin, Soma/Compound(g), Soma 250, Zanaflex(g) |
| Nausea and Vomiting | Anzemet, Cesamet, Emend, Kytril(g), Sancuso, Zofran(g) |
| Pain Control | Actiq(g), Avinza, Codeine(g), Demerol(g), Dilaudid(g), Duragesic(g), Embeda, Fentora, Kadian, Magnacet, Methadone(g), MSIR/MS Contin(g), Nucynta, Numorphan, Onsolis, Opana/ER, Oxycodone IR(g), OxyContin, Percocet(g), Percodan(g), Roxanol(g), Toradol(g), Tylox(g) |
| Pulmonary Hypertension | Adcirca<s>, Letairis<s>, Revatio<s>, Tracleer<s>, Ventavis<s> |
| Sedative/Hypnotics | Ambien(g), Ambien CR, Butisol Sodium, Chloral Hydrate(g), Dalmane(g), Doral, Edluar, Halcion(g), Lunesta, Prosom(g), Restoril(g), Rozerem, Sonata(g), Xyrem |
| Smoking Cessation | Chantix, Commit Lozenge(g), Nicoderm patch(g), Nicorette gum(g), Nicotrol NS, Nicotrol NS |
| Weight Loss | Adipex-P(g), Bontril(g), Didrex(g), Ionamin, Meridia, Tenuate(g), Xenical |
Legend
(g) Generic equivalent
<s> Specialty drug
page modified 03/25/2010