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Is AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct selling generic lipitor or are they blocking our use?
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Medicare & Insurance
Is AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct selling generic lipitor or are they blocking our use?
Share Medicare dos and don’ts, including eligibility and supplemental insurance.
I read that Lipitor is now generic on December 1, 2011. When I accessed my AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct account it showed that in 2012 Lipitor will not be sold as a generic,but will
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Forums » Health » Medicare & Insurance » Is AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct selling generic lipitor or are they blocking our use?
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Is AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct selling generic lipitor or are they blocking our use?
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Is AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct selling generic lipitor or are they blocking our use?
posted at November 14, 2011 5:17 PM EST
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Posts: 5
First: November 14, 2011 Last: May 22, 2012 |
I read that Lipitor is now generic on December 1, 2011. When I accessed my AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct account it showed that in 2012 Lipitor will not be sold as a generic,but will be a Tier 3 preferred, at a cost of about $700 a year. I then called Prescription Solutions, Secure Horizons and AARP. None of them could tell me if that was true, except to agree that it showed as a Tier 3 with no generic available. In fact AARP cut me off without giving me an answer ( I hope it was an accident). The NEW YORK Times reports tha pfizer pharmaceutical has offered bribes to insurance companies to NOT sell generic Lipitor to their customers. I need to find if AARP and Secure Horizons is one of those companies. So far it looks like (based on current reaserch) that they are part of this action. Can anyone help me to find the truth? |
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Re: Is AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct selling generic lipitor or are they blocking our use?
posted at November 14, 2011 5:27 PM EST
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Posts: 5
First: November 14, 2011 Last: May 22, 2012 |
My message got lost. I was just asking AARP if they are selling generic Lipitor. They New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/12/health/plan-would-delay-sales-of-generic-for-lipitor.html?_r=1 |
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Re: Is AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct selling generic lipitor or are they blocking our use?
posted at December 6, 2011 10:13 AM EST
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Posts: 1
First: December 6, 2011 Last: December 6, 2011 |
In Response to Is AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct selling generic lipitor or are they blocking our use?: I read that Lipitor is now generic on December 1, 2011. When I accessed my AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct account it showed that in 2012 Lipitor will not be sold as a generic,but will be a Tier 3 preferred, at a cost of about $700 a year. I then called Prescription Solutions, Secure Horizons and AARP. None of them could tell me if that was true, except to agree that it showed as a Tier 3 with no generic available. In fact AARP cut me off without giving me an answer ( I hope it was an accident). The NEW YORK Times reports tha pfizer pharmaceutical has offered bribes to insurance companies to NOT sell generic Lipitor to their customers. I need to find if AARP and Secure Horizons is one of those companies. So far it looks like (based on current reaserch) that they are part of this action. Can anyone help me to find the truth? Posted by fairforall I also am taking Lipitor and have been trying to find out what my copay would be after Nov. 30. I called AARP Secure Horizons twice before Nov. 30. Neither representative had any information about the copay for Lipitor or the generic. Yesterday, I went to my local Walgreens where I have my prescription for Lipitor. The pharmacist told me that they would not know what my co-pay would be until my prescription was submitted to AARP Secure Horizons. This morning I called the plan. I was told that the generic would not be available for 6 months and that Lipitor, 10 miligrams is still a Tier 3 drug with the co-pay of $45.00. I have seen on the Pfizer internet page, and in newspapers, that eligible patients are entitled to a $4 monthly copay. It seems like everyone is eligible except people that are on a government plan like Medicare or a state plan. This is a disgrace. Why should Medicare and other government recipients pay $45 a month copay while other people get the same drug for $4 copay even if they have a private health insurance plan. I have just seen an article online that says that several senators are investigating that Pfizer has made deals with United Healthcare and other insurers to keep the price of Lipitor high. I am really surprised that AARP endorsed plans are involved with such dishonest backroom deals. I am seriously considering switching my plan. |
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Re: Is AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct selling generic lipitor or are they blocking our use?
posted at December 6, 2011 1:56 PM EST
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Posts: 1
First: December 6, 2011 Last: December 6, 2011 |
I just returned from the pharmacy a couple of minutes ago. I'm on the AARP Medicare Prescription Preferred plan for my medications. My pharmacy does have the generic lipitor. The pharmacist told me that the AARP plan was actually more expensive for the generic lipitor than buying Pifzer's own brand name lipitor. There is no doubt that Pifzer and United Healthcare are in cahoots to keep the real generic savings from us. I will be sending a letter to every member of congress, both house and senate telling them about this. I, too, had read that some senators were interested in this dishonest collusion. I just hope that the more they hear from us, the more they'll perhaps be concerned enough to do something about it. As far as being surprised that AARP endorses plans that engage in practices to take advantage of older people, as one poster said here, I'm not surprised at all. AARP is just another big business. That person said that he/she is seriously considering switching plans. If today weren't December 6th, that is, the day before the last day that switching is allowed, I'd switch for sure. I'll certainly switch next year. I have to say that I'm so angry at AARP and at United Healthcare that I could just scream.
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Re: Is AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct selling generic lipitor or are they blocking our use?
posted at December 7, 2011 6:28 PM EST
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Posts: 14583
First: January 28, 2008 Last: May 21, 2013 |
In Response to Re: Is AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct selling generic lipitor or are they blocking our use?: I just returned from the pharmacy a couple of minutes ago. I'm on the AARP Medicare Prescription Preferred plan for my medications. My pharmacy does have the generic lipitor. The pharmacist told me that the AARP plan was actually more expensive for the generic lipitor than buying Pifzer's own brand name lipitor. There is no doubt that Pifzer and United Healthcare are in cahoots to keep the real generic savings from us. I will be sending a letter to every member of congress, both house and senate telling them about this. I, too, had read that some senators were interested in this dishonest collusion. I just hope that the more they hear from us, the more they'll perhaps be concerned enough to do something about it. As far as being surprised that AARP endorses plans that engage in practices to take advantage of older people, as one poster said here, I'm not surprised at all. AARP is just another big business. That person said that he/she is seriously considering switching plans. If today weren't December 6th, that is, the day before the last day that switching is allowed, I'd switch for sure. I'll certainly switch next year. I have to say that I'm so angry at AARP and at United Healthcare that I could just scream. Posted by martinrice Unfortunately AARP's endorsement means little except a way to get fees for AARP! sOMETIMES IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH PATIENCE,TIME and persistance in calling AARP tou'll get a rep who will actually be an advocate with UHG, but that amount we pay for drugs is Not what the insurer or the VA pay! When taken to court by the FDA pharma just pays a settlement and contiues with the pricing variation and kickbacks. Karl |
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Re: Here's Your Answer and Some points (Rx) to Ponder
posted at December 11, 2011 1:50 PM EST
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Posts: 1923
First: November 27, 2011 Last: May 18, 2013 |
In Response to Is AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct selling generic lipitor or are they blocking our use?: I read that Lipitor is now generic on December 1, 2011. When I accessed my AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct account it showed that in 2012 Lipitor will not be sold as a generic,but will be a Tier 3 preferred, at a cost of about $700 a year. I then called Prescription Solutions, Secure Horizons and AARP. None of them could tell me if that was true, except to agree that it showed as a Tier 3 with no generic available. In fact AARP cut me off without giving me an answer ( I hope it was an accident). The NEW YORK Times reports tha pfizer pharmaceutical has offered bribes to insurance companies to NOT sell generic Lipitor to their customers. I need to find if AARP and Secure Horizons is one of those companies. So far it looks like (based on current reaserch) that they are part of this action. Can anyone help me to find the truth? Posted by fairforall Consumer Reports did a report on the facts surrounding this situation. Here is the link to the Consumer Reports article. It will answer many of the questions in this thread. |
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Re: Is AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct selling generic lipitor or are they blocking our use?
posted at December 19, 2011 10:53 AM EST
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Posts: 1
First: December 19, 2011 Last: December 19, 2011 |
All I want is a answer. All of this has to be rumors. United Healthcare could not be a dishonest, congress, a different question. Lets see how fast they act on this problem Please vote and lets get rid of those people in congress. They have been there too long. 
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Forums » Health » Medicare & Insurance » Is AARP Secure Horizons Medicare Direct selling generic lipitor or are they blocking our use?
