Addison's Disease Treatment Cost

Typical costs:

• For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs typically would include doctor visit copays and prescription drug copays. Treatment for Addison's disease typically is covered by health insurance.
• For patients not covered by health insurance, treatment for Addison's disease typically costs about $20-$100 or more per month for prescription drugs -- about $240-$1,200 or more per year -- plus the cost of regular doctor visits for monitoring, at a typical cost of $50-$250 or more per visit. For example, Drugstore.com charges about $20 for a one-month supply of Prednisone, $40 for a one-month supply of generic cortisone acetate, $60 for a one-month supply of generic hydrocortisone tablets and $80 for a one-month supply of brand-name Cortef hydrocortisone tablets. In addition to one of these three drugs, some Addison's disease patients also require fludrocortisone acetate (brand name Florinef). Drugstore.com charges about $25 for a one-month supply of generic fludrocortisone acetate.
• According to the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality[1] , an office visit to a primary care physician costs an average of $100, while a visit to a specialist costs more than $200 on average. Thyroid patients at HealthBoards.com[2] report that an initial visit with an endocrinologist cost $100-$250 or more, but follow-up visits cost $35-$75.

• A doctor typically will prescribe synthetic oral hormones to augment those being produced by the body. Cortisone acetate[3] , Prednisone[4] or hydrocortisone[5] can supplement low levels of cortisol. Fludrocortisone[6] can supplement low levels of aldosterone.
• The Mayo Clinic offers an overview of treatment[7] for Addison's disease.

• A patient with Addison's disease can experience an acute adrenal crisis, which usually requires a trip to the emergency room.

• Some clinics offer specialist care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a locator[8] for clinics that provide discounts on an income-based sliding scale.
• Many doctors and hospitals give discounts of up to 30% or more to uninsured/cash-paying patients. For example, Washington Hospital Healthcare System[9] in California offers a 35% discount.
• Some drug manufacturers offer free or discounted medicines to patients in need. For example, Pfizer[10] , manufacturer of Cortef, offers the Connection to Care program, which provides free medication to patients who have an annual income[11] at or below two times the federal poverty level and are uninsured or facing financial hardship. The MAINTAIN program provides free medication to qualifying unemployed patients[12] . Or, any U.S. patient without prescription drug coverage can apply to join the Pfizer Pfriends[13] program, which offers discounts of about 15-36%.

• A primary care physician can make a referral to an endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating problems with the endocrine system. Or, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists offers a doctor locator[14] by city and state.
• Addisons-Help.com[15] offers information, forums and support for patients.

1.  www.ahrq.gov/news/nn/nn042507.htm
2.  www.healthboards.com/boards/thyroid-disorders/528259-endocrinologist-cost.html
3.  www.pfizer.com/files/products/uspi_cortisone.pdf
4.  www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a601102.html
5.  www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682206.html
6.  www.medicinenet.com/fludrocortisone-oral/article.htm
7.  www.mayoclinic.com/health/addisons-disease/DS00361/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
8.  findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx
9.  www.whhs.com/about/washington-hospital-discount-policy-for-uninsured/
10.  www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/Find/find1.aspx
11.  www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/Programs/programdetails.aspx?p=2
12.  www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/Programs/programdetails.aspx?p=116
13.  www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/Programs/programdetails.aspx?p=1
14.  /www.aace.com/resources/find-an-endocrinologist
15.  www.addisons-help.com/

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