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Hi all. Been a while since I've posted here. I've had chronic antibiotic-dependent pouchitis for about 3 or 4 years now following my 2004 colectomy. After much experimentation with different medicines, my doctor and I finally settled on Xifaxan, which has been very helpful. After being on it for about 2 and a half years now, Cigna has told me they won't cover it any longer. I've already filed 2 appeals, both of which were denied. This is really the only medicine that helps keep me in remission, so I'm very concerned at this point. Any suggestions?
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I don't really have any suggestions other than to keep bugging the insurance company. I've noticed that at some point they figure the time they're expending in denying your request becomes counter-productive or they start losing money. It's almost like they have a big hourglass on their collective desk and when that last grain of sand falls they say, 'um, okay, we'll cover that for you.' And why couldn't they just agree to that from the start?

kathy Big Grin
Yea this is new with this drug. They are also covering it weird. My GI writes the script for 30 days treatment and double the strength. I use it for 2 weeks then save the rest for 2 weeks the following month then repeat. I was able to get it on a 2 refill max now I have to call in for the refill. Mine is still covered though with no copay just different rules. This drug is the least effective though for me. I have to combine it with other antibiotics.
Drew,

Samantha offers good advice. Give the manufacturer of Xifaxan a call; I believe it is Salix Pharmaceuticals, but you can double check by looking at your prescription bottle. I believe they have a patient assistance program that can help people who cannot afford medication when their insurance doesn't cover it. I think you have to have less than $50,000 in assets to qualify. It's certainly worth investigating if the drug has given you so much benefit.
clz81-

Um that's $42 a pill!! Not that you couldn't do the math.

I would still try the drug company and see how much they ask about ability to pay. In my case I don't remember them asking.

I would also try a personal appeal to them. It doesn't hurt to try. Tell them your life depends on it. These are tough times. They are obviously ripping people off. Maybe they will give it to you if you promise not to call 60 Minutes and tell them about it.
Hi all. Just wanted to provide an update on my Xifaxan issue. After 3 appeals (2 letters from my doctor and a conference call involving my doctor, a Cigna review team and myself) my prescription was approved for one year. I had heard that the third time is often the charm in these reviews, and luckily that turned out to be the case. Start to finish the whole ordeal lasted about 6 or 7 stressful weeks. But I guess all's well that ends well.

My doctor prescribed Pentasa for me during my Xifaxan hiatus, and it surprisingly worked pretty well. I also continued my daily shots of Pepto Bismal extra strength. I do one shot a day as a maintenance regimen, and two a day when things get rough.

As a side note, I was just prescribed doxycycline for an unrelated issue, and I'm noticing that it's working wonders for my pouchitis. Doxycycline was one of the few antibiotics I hadn't tried for my pouchitis, and it's nice to know that it's another option now if something else becomes ineffective (like Cipro did).

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