hGh Cost

• For patients not covered by health insurance, hGH typically costs about $500 to $7,500 for a monthly supply administered by injection daily. The cost depends on the dose and what condition is being treated; for adults with growth hormone deficiency, the cost would be on the lower end of the range because a lower dose is needed; for children with growth hormone deficiency, the cost would be in the middle of the range, depending on the size of the child; for AIDS patients, who require larger doses, it would be on the higher end.
• hGH sometimes is covered by health insurance if considered medically necessary, but some patients have had coverage denied. The Magic Foundation offers help making the case for coverage or appealing a denial, and outlines patients' experiences getting approval.
• For patients covered by insurance, typical out-of-pocket costs would consist of a monthly copay as high as $300 to $700 or more.

• Usually, a doctor must perform a blood test to determine whether hGH should be prescribed.
• hGH, prescribed under the brand names that include Humatrope, Norditropin and Nutropin, can help children who are not growing properly because of a deficiency. For adults with a true hGH deficiency, injections can increase bone density and muscle mass, decrease body fat and increase exercise capacity. And hGH can counteract loss of lean muscle mass in patients suffering from AIDS-related wasting.
• The Mayo Clinic has an overview of hGH.

• Regular doctor visits and blood tests are required to monitor hormone levels.

• Pharmaceutical companies have programs that offer free or discounted drugs to eligible patients. For example, the Pfizer Bridge Program provides free Genotropin to qualified uninsured and underinsured patients. And Eli Lilly Humatrope Patient Assistance Program offers a full, one-year supply of Humatrope for qualifying uninsured patients.

• For children or adults in whom a hormone deficiency is suspected, a general practitioner can provide a referral to a pediatric endocrinologist or endocrinologist. Or, HealthFinder.gov offers an endocrinologist locator. To discuss hGH for AIDS-related wasting, speak with an HIV specialist. The American Academy of HIV Medicine offers a specialist locator by zip code; currently, there is not a national standard of qualifications for an HIV specialist, so it is important to ask detailed questions about a doctor's experience in treating HIV-positive patients.
• Most doctors will not prescribe hGH to a patient to counteract normal aging. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration offers an article detailing the legal, FDA-approved uses of hGH as well as illicit uses.
• Some online companies sell sprays, pills or herbal supplements they claim have the same effects as injections, but these have not been proven effective and could be unsafe. hGH counterfeiting has become a problem; it is not recommended to purchase it online or otherwise try to obtain it without a prescription.
• hGH has serious known side effects, including an increased risk of some types of cancer, nerve pain and elevated cholesterol and glucose levels.

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