Androgel, compounding and Aetna (Aetna doesn't "get" compounding))
Well so far my company uses Aetna for its' insurance. Lets see Androgel costs about $300/$400 per month. Compounding costs $50.00 (for the same efficacy)
My out of pocket cost/month for Androgel, $25.00
Aetna doesn't seem to understand "compounding" pharmacies. Their new formulary (the rules) says for next year they don't do compounding at all unless you are a self funded plan.
(I am in a self funded plan) So far it has taken almost an act of God Almighty to get a straight answer on getting approval for compounding.
To date I've pretty much said sc*ew it and have given up and am using Androgel.
Any advice... it's no wonder insurance is so high when this is a classic example of Aetna paying MORE (like 8 times more) and shaping my behavior that way since the stuff that's cheaper and just as good they won't cover.
Re: Androgel, compounding and Aetna (Aetna doesn't "get" compounding))
Testoserone is a generic drug.....thats why it can be created by compounding pharmacy. Androgel is just a specific big pharm formulation.....nothing special really about it other than its created in their lab so the consistency is quite good.
Only reason insurance will go with it vs. compounded is that big insurance supports big pharm its the same reason we don't get a lot of really good drugs in a timely or at all because FDA support big lobby's from Big Pharm Big Insurance.
Think its bad now??? wait till Obama Care hits and the gov't decides who gets what when.
Androgel, compounding and Aetna (Aetna doesn't "get" compounding)) 
