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 1-800-662-6667 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 are limited to a 30-day supply. Drugs are selected based on the need for special handling, monitoring, or cost. Our program is designed to encourage appropriate use, improve safety and reduce potential waste. Please see below for drugs that are limited to a 30-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 09/23/2011