Before you read on, please note that this post is for informational purposes only, not as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Reliance on any of this information is solely at your own risk. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner (HCP) before undertaking any new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking advice because of something you learned here.
As a 20 year veteran of the biopharmaceutical industry, I have learned a thing or two about the cost of healthcare. Nothing frustrates me more than seeing people pay more money than they have or need to pay for quality care.
When I started going through perimenopause myself, I was struck by two things:
- The danger of using Google to search for solutions (you get whoever pays the most first, so how do you know it is good?)
- The high cost of options to ease symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.
These two uncomfortable truths led me to create The Fuchsia Tent. Our mission is to clarify, simplify, support and provide access for ALL women as they endeavor through the menopausal transition.
This article offers tips to simplify solutions. maximize your money, and minimize your suffering.
Are supplements cheaper than prescription medications?
The short answer is usually not.
Some supplements on the market to treat perimenopause symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats, mood symptoms, sleep disturbance, etc.) need to be taken for a while to achieve symptomatic relief.
Some individuals prefer them to pharmaceutical treatments, and like pharmaceuticals there is a therapeutic dose, or the amount you need to take to get relief. They take time to work and that costs money.
The average cost for a 30-day supply of most products marketed to treat perimenopause is around $50/month, which is nothing to sneeze at.
Still, there are very good options that come with free-coaching or medical care, and there are wonderful Telehealth providers that also offer custom supplementation.
- Many Functional MDs and Holistic practitioners use Fullscript which offers a wide variety of supplements at a decent discount. Fullscript also has sales where supplements are discounted by 20%
If I am going with prescription hormonal or non-hormonal therapy, how do I keep costs down?
While there are many branded estrogens and progesterones on the market, unless you have a special need your best bet is to grab for the generic version. With or without insurance, the generic patches and pills are your least expensive option.
STEP 1: If you have prescription insurance, your plan will likely dictate which hormonal option is the lowest cost. If you are unsure you can ask your pharmacist when you go to fill the prescription or head over to your insurance carriers site and look for the formulary grid. A formulary is a list of branded and generic medicines covered by your insurance plan.
STEP 2: If you do not have prescription insurance or are interested in a branded alternative, head over to GoodRx. GoodRx is a healthcare site that helps to aggregate pharmaceutical cost and information to help you get the lowest price. Think Priceline for drugs.
STEP 3: If you are seeking a drug for which there are no generic (newer medications with different formulations (Veozah, Duavee, Addyi, etc...) check the manufacturers’ website for patient assistance programs. I have linked the three brands above to patient assistance sites. Manufacturers of branded pharmaceutical products typically have copay cards to help offset cost on their sites.
FSAs and HSAs: If you work for an employer who allows Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Spending Accounts (HSA) as part of your benefits plan, consider signing up.
- Both options are pre-tax, which is a great yearly cost saving option for many.
- Both options for medical care, including many of the hormone therapy/menopause health providers out there!