| |
|
 |  | With Insurance: Copays of $300-$700 a month |  | Without Insurance: $500-$7,500 a month |
|
Levels of hGH, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, naturally decline with age. hGH can be legally prescribed in the United States for a limited number of conditions, such as a true hGH deficiency in children or adults, as well as wasting in AIDS patients; but it is not FDA approved to counteract normal aging or for bodybuilding.
Typical costs: |
- 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[1] 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.
Related articles: CT Scan, MRI
|
|
What should be included: |
- 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[2] and Nutropin[3] , 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[4] has an overview of hGH.
Additional costs: |
- Regular doctor visits and blood tests are required to monitor hormone levels.
Discounts: |
- Pharmaceutical companies have programs that offer free or discounted drugs to eligible patients. For example, the Pfizer Bridge Program[5] 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.
Shopping for hgh: |
- 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.
|
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
|
|
|
|
CostHelper News
| 
7 Lesser-Known Discounts for the 50+ Crowd
As they age, members of the Baby Boomer generation don't like to admit that they're senior citizens, but they love getting discounts. It's kind of a quandary, because some of the best deals available are reduced prices for older folks. || Posted October 21 2013
| | 
7 Ways to Stretch Your Reduced Food Budget
End of the year budgets are tight for everyone, especially in this economy.It's especially hard for the millions of Americans who depend on government programs like food stamps to help make ends meet. || Posted November 11 2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Cost |
| Amount: $500.00 not covered by insurance |
| Posted by: a user in Hayward, CA. | Posted: October 6th, 2019 01:10PM |
| Condition Being Treated: | Dosage: 15cc |
| Brand Name: | Insurance: No |
|
|
| Posted by: KATHLEEN C in Pasadena, CA. | Posted: October 1st, 2019 01:10PM |
| Condition Being Treated: Deficiency from head trauma | Dosage: 3.6 mg |
| Brand Name: Nutropin AQ Nuspin | Insurance: Anthem Blue Cross |
I've been using hormone replacement for HGH deficiency (due to head trauma), i.e. Humatrope then Nutropin AQ Nuspin, from 2004 until end of 2018. It was covered by Anthem Medicare Pt D Gold plan supp. I then learned, too late to change plan, that Anthem replaced Gold plan w plan C which doesn't cover any form of somatropin. (Anthem still covers thyroid supplement due to lack of TSH resulting from dysfunctional pituitary due to same head trauma.) My endocrinologist, Dr. Norman Lavin in Tarzana, CA has made every effort to get "prior authorization" without success. Now that new enrollment period is approaching, is there another Medicare Pt D insurance plan that will cover it? |
|
|
| Posted by: Nicolas Alejandro in Lombard, IL. | Posted: May 3rd, 2018 12:05PM |
| Brand Name: Sermorelin | Insurance: Blue cross blue shield of Illinois |
Doctors will not write me a prescription even though Hgh is needed. They tell me to go to wellness clinics. Have to purchase generic. Body is wasting away. I’ve taken test after test. To show I’m deficient. Doctors say they will lose their doctors license |
|
|
| Posted by: Bruce Blake in Idaho Falls, ID. | Posted: July 5th, 2014 11:07AM |
| Condition Being Treated: Muscle Wasting | Dosage: .25 |
| Brand Name: Norditropin | Insurance: Blue Cross |
I was totally confined to my bed due to a spinal condition. Blue Cross would not pay for muscle wasting so my doctor let me use 2 months of samples which completely got me out of bed, stopped my seizures and restored function in my right arm and leg. That was last fall and I am now deteriorating fast again and losing total function due to peripheral nerves (which it fixed last time). He has tried again to get it prescribed, but it keeps getting denied even though I am quickly wasting away. I lost 35 pounds because I can't eat due to pain and it causes pain when I do eat just to swallow. I will be completely immobile in a couple of weeks. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
External Resources: |
- www.magicfoundation.org/www/docs/998/insurance-message-board
- www.norditropin-us.com/
- www.nutropin.com/about/
- www.mayoclinic.com/health/growth-hormone/HA00030
- www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/programs/ProgramDetails.aspx?p=8
More Health & Personal Care Topics
|
Search Thousands of Topics on CostHelper.com
|
Post
