On average, what does it cost?

[Vico-Dan]

My Norco and Pod habit is getting way out of hand and too costly.

I just took 20 Norco and hardly even noticed anything, and I'm going thru a bunch of Poppy Pods as well.

I'm spending about 5 or 6 hundred per month on pills and pods just to maintain.

I need to get on Suboxone.

I have insurance, but not sure if they cover it, or if I would need a referral from a Dr. or how it works.

If I were to go to a Sub doc, what would it cost initially, and what would it cost per month on average?

I'm in California, the SF Bay Area and there are plenty of Sub Docs, but I'm sure they charge more here than say somewhere else in the country that has a lower cost of living.

Can anyone in California, particularly the SF Area weigh in with an opinion?

And, if my insurance covers it, how would I go about that? Do I need a referral? Should I not use my insurance so I don't have a history of drug abuse on my med recs?

Thanks.

[havok]

Every doctor is different but on average the first visit usually costs from $100-$300, and each monthly visit after that is around $100. I only have to see my doctor every 2 months (I get one refill with my prescription), so it averages out to $50 a month for my doctor visits.

You also have to pay for the script each month which is $350 for 60 of the 8mg suboxones without insurance. My insurance covers the script once I meet my deductible, so I pay $30 no matter how many subs I am prescribed.

So with no insurance you can expect to pay around $300-$450 total a month depending on the doctor and how much suboxone you are prescribed. If you have good insurance, you can probably expect to pay alot less. Some might even cover everything, so you won't have to pay at all if you are lucky.


On an unrelated note, I have heard some people say that doctors can't give refills for CII meds, so how is it that my doctor can give me a refill on my suboxone prescription? Buprenorphine is a CII med right?

[Suboxstitute]

I have some experience in health plans/employee benefits. Now, CA is different in many things, but often, for mental health and AODA (Alcohol and other Drug Abuse) services, you do NOT need a referral. And since CA has fairly employee-friendly insurance law, it is probably covered if you have a normal policy thru work. If it is an individual policy different rules apply.

I just did a long post the other day with detailed pricing; it varies widely by provider and by area of the country (I'm in the Midwest) I'll try to remember what I said and put it here.

I used my insurance. I sorta wish I hadn't. I'm in a large university based health HMO, and now I believe I am flagged somewhat through the entire system. But I had just lost my job then, hubby has great health insurance, so I saw the HMO sub doctor/clinic who are good and decent. But I could have gone to another town 45 minutes away and paid for everything in cash, and no one would be the wiser here in my town.

One thing is that I did NOT sign off for other doctors to know what my treatment is for - all it will show in my record is where I've been. But the name of the clinic is well know, so really, they will know if they look

Mental health records have a 'second level' of privacy so in theory you should have some privacy. But reality> hmmm. Also, if you use the same pharmacy and get your sub, and then later get a legit script for pain meds, the pharmacy (esp. the chains) will be ALL OVER that.

It is likely that if you have any decent insurance, it will cover it. In most states (and this is NOT fair) mental health and AODA services have annual limits unlike any other health condition. since it varies, just call the number on the back of your insurance card, you'll get a low level customer service rep who won't give a rip and ask if they cover the doctor, any counseling, tests if needed and most especially, the sub. It runs maybe $6.50 per pill for the 8mg without insurance.

Four parts to pay: (1) The induction (initial visit(s)), (2) the ongoing visits with the sub doc (can be short, often more frequently at first, then probably monthly), (3) the cost of the meds themselves and (4) MAYBE visits with a counselor if the sub doc requires it (mine does, but I try to see the counselor as little as possible and I get away with it!)

Maybe(5) We have NO piss tests at our clinic, either, no no costs there. If they require a full blood work-up, etc. with occasional piss tests, that's another expense.

If you were using off the street, sub will generally be cheaper for you than your doc it depends.

My initial visit was actually 3 visits - one for induction and two followups within the first week, plus an hour long visit with counselor. That ran me about $1,000 BUT insurance paid for most. People say that is expensive, but I got a lot for it.

Monthly visits are around $150 w/doc. Counseling a little less. with a different person, not doc.

Meds - well, the first month you might be on 16mg per day (example). Take 2 8mg tabs, multiply by 30 and your script is $390 without insurance. That will go DOWN since you will not (should not) stay on that high of a dose.

Also ready the sticky on this site about sub. Lots of good stuff.

Good luck!

[Suboxstitute]

On an unrelated note, I have heard some people say that doctors can't give refills for CII meds, so how is it that my doctor can give me a refill on my suboxone prescription? Buprenorphine is a CII med right?

I get refills now. It is a CIII not a CII. There was some rumor that it changed, but it is def a C III. It can be called in and refilled.

And my prices are close to yours now for MONTHLY... it was the induction phase that was way more.

[mikells43]

the thing to look for is a good doc thats not in it for the money. thats hard to find of course. but look out for the ones that charge an outragious first time fee for the "induction" and then the follow ups are cheaper . usually all run theri bupe practices like that but u can find a reasonable one. the avg here in pa is 100-500 for first visit and 30-200 for follow ups. bupe is for suboxone around 5 bucks a pilll for 8mg. subutex is 2 dollars more generally. www.naabt.org (http://www.naabt.org) there u can find a doc.

[havok]

Ok if suboxone is a CIII that makes sense. I thought it was a CII because my pharmacy treats it like a hardcore narcotic. They always have to call the doctor to verify shit, and they will never fill it early even if I offer to pay out of pocket with no insurance.

I agree that it is really important to find a good doctor. My doc is really cool. He never drug tests, and I don't have to do anything other than come see him for 20 min once a month or recently once every two months.

He is totally cool, and I can tell him pretty much anything, and he would never stop scripting me. He actually cares about how I am doing and isnt just in it for the money. He is an ex-addict himself, and I think that helps alot. I have told him that I relapsed a couple times, and all he did was offer to up my dose if I wanted to.

He has also given me basically as much suboxone as I want a month. I get 75 of the 8mg tabs a month, and I could probably get even more if I wanted to, but 75 is already more than I really need. Recently I stopped taking them because I have gone back to using, but it is nice to have them on hand for when I am ready to quit again (which will be soon due to a court program).

[Suboxstitute]

Recently I stopped taking them because I have gone back to using, but it is nice to have them on hand for when I am ready to quit again (which will be soon due to a court program

Havok, how long did you need to stop the bupe before you felt any other stuff you were doing, if you don't mind my asking, and what was your daily dose? Not that I have any ideas . . . .

[Oxydation]

Yep, just depends on your insurance (if you choose to go that route). I'm on my wifes insurance, which fortunately for me provides great coverage. I did have to change my "Primary-Care" Physician though. So, I called up the insurance, made the change to Dr. X who is a General Practice M.D. who some time ago became "Suboxone-Certified" (or whatever it is a Doctor must do to provide a limited number of patients with Suboxone / Subutex for the treatment of Opiate Dependency.

Long story short, I made the change via the telephone, made my first appointment with Dr. X, which is a CoPay of $23 per visit. He checks me out, asks many questions about my usage of drugs, history, route of administration of most recent Opiates, etc. Then prescribed me 24mg Suboxone per day for 30 days at a time (it's always only a 30 day supply in my case). The Subs run me about $6 for my script at Walgreens or CVS each month. The Doc is cool though. The only 'critical' thing he does is make me bring in my current bottle each time I see him so he can see exactly where I'm at with my Subs (not giving them out and so forth) and he does check in with my ReHab Counselor to make sure I'm making my appointments. I've had him adjust my dosage due to headaches but he's really cool about what ever I feel is working best for me. I hate having to see him every 25 days or so just to get a refill (and spend $23 for the visit) but he's always available and there's never a delay in getting my meds so I can deal with it.

Not sure if this will ever bite me in the ass at a later date (i.e. Flagging my medical records, etc.) but I had to get on Subs when I did...I was wigging out with WD's for the hundred and something time and just fed up with dealing with them.

[havok]

Havok, how long did you need to stop the bupe before you felt any other stuff you were doing, if you don't mind my asking, and what was your daily dose? Not that I have any ideas . . . .

I was taking 8mg of suboxone a day when I stopped using. I started doing dope again pretty soon like after 12 hours, but it probably took 2 days before I felt the full effects. Even after just 12 hours I was able to get pretty high however. I just had to do a little more than normal, and I didn't get as high as I would with no bupe, but it wasnt a total waste either.

[chopstix]

FWIW, I live in the south yay area (insanity cruise), my sub doc is in Wastonville, holmes, she nabs me $100 a pop for visits, every-other-month now, and I pay $120 for 15 tex, from the office; 'xone is $100/15ct. I rarely take/shoot/sniff/plug/eat more than 8mg/day and that's usually under a needle compulsion.

PM me if you want her number, I chose her because the appt was immediate which was unheard of at the time I was shopping in this fuX0red area.. SF is probably way better..

[havok]

Monthly visits are around $150 w/doc. Counseling a little less. with a different person, not doc.


So are you saying that you have to pay $150 to see your doc every month, and you also have to pay around $150 to see a separate counselor every month as well?

[Thanat0s]

So are you saying that you have to pay $150 to see your doc every month, and you also have to pay around $150 to see a separate counselor every month as well?

sounds about right...

[Suboxstitute]

On the question of... paying the doctor $150 per month and a counselor around the same (a little less) per month the answer is - yes - I do.

In my case, insurance covered most of it (not that SOMEONE isn't paying the price in this case my husband's employer, the State of ______ where we live)

....at the end of last year, when the "AODA" benefits ran out, they let me go without any visits after late October, gave me refills and all. So that was pretty cool. So I wouldn't have to pay too much out of pocket.

I get away with NOT seeing the counselor every month, but around 7 weeks, they'll notice and call me in for an appointment with her.

This clinic is all about "working a full recovery program" which in theory is probably right.

But I get NOTHING out of the counseling since frankly, she is just not very good. Edit to add: the doctor just does "med checks" now and writes the script... he is a shrink and addiction guy, and qualified to do counseling, but doesn't do it in this clinic.

[deathboy]

With insurance my doctor visit is $10. I take Subutex and my prescription is $7 no matter the quantity.

I'm current prescribed 12mg per day but only take 4mg (AM & PM). I'm hoarding it in the event the gummint decides to pull the plug. Never say never folks.

DB

[mikells43]

With insurance my doctor visit is $10. I take Subutex and my prescription is $7 no matter the quantity.

I'm current prescribed 12mg per day but only take 4mg (AM & PM). I'm hoarding it in the event the gummint decides to pull the plug. Never say never folks.

DB


i deff get what ur doing man;). i have a safe that my bupe goes into, its bolted to the floor lol.