Generic option for Seasonale?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-24-2003
Generic option for Seasonale?
4
Mon, 03-29-2004 - 2:16am
Okay, I know there's no generic for Seasonale yet. I'm also pretty sure Seasonale is just a monthly pill formulation repackaged for 3 months. What montly pill is it? Nordette? I can't remember...

I ask because I like Seasonale and want to stay on this formulation because this is the fewest side effects of any pill i've been on. BUT my insurance company covers it at their highest copay: $40 a month. They charge me 3 copays when I get the 3-month packet of Seasonale which equals $120. I can pay Seasonale OUTRIGHT for $118 (I *so* love my insurance...) Anyhow, they might cover an older monthly pill (nordette for instance) at the $10/month copay. In theory, I'd save almost $300 a year by buying monthly supplies of the cheaper monthly pill and paying for 2-3 extra packs of pills to cover the sugar pill weeks

$10 copay x 12 = $120 + $80 for two "extra" packs = $200

VS.

Seasonale at $118 x 4 = $472

This sounds doable, right? If so, does anyone know specifically what pill they're using and just repackaging for Seasonale. It would be super helpful (of course, so would me getting a job with better health insurance, but hey!)

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 03-29-2004 - 10:07am
Hi aweaverb,

Yes, the identical formulation is in Nordette. They are made by different companies (Nordette by Wyeth and Seasonale by Barr) so there might be slight differences in side effects. I think it's worth giving it a shot. See if your ins. co. covers Nordette. Let us know how you’re doing, ok?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-30-2003
Mon, 03-29-2004 - 2:04pm
My insurance company covers Seasonale at their highest cost which is $50 for a 3pack. They consider the 3pack ONE prescription and don't charge for each month. Yours charges for each month?? That so sucks!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-24-2003
Mon, 03-29-2004 - 2:28pm
I hope that continues to be the case for you. Mine was like that the first time I got the prescription filled in Dec-I only paid one copay of $40. When I went to get my second pack last week, they realized the person who entered it into the computer in Dec. did it wrong. Since it's a new product, the person didn't know to enter it as a 3-month supply (very few prescriptions are filled that way).They entered it as 1-month so I got charged one copay. This time the checkout person knew what they were doing, entered it as 3 months, so I got charged 3 copays. Bummer.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-16-2003
Wed, 03-31-2004 - 6:55pm
I do the Nordette instead of Seasonal. My doctor said it was cheaper. Without insurance it is $106 for 84 active pills and 7 placebo, same combo as Seasonal. My normal co-pay for any prescription is $15, but my insurance covers 90% of birth control so it is only $10.60 every 3 months.