Article: OTC Claritin adds price headache

OTC Claritin adds price headache

Many insurers also charging higher co-pays for allergy prescriptions

By LAURAN NEERGAARD Associated Press

Tuesday, April 22, 2003

Washington -- Allergy sufferers who rejoiced when Claritin went over the counter are now dealing with an additional headache: At nearly $1 a pill, non-prescription Claritin is much more expensive for insured patients who were used to a $10 co-pay for a whole bottle.

Many insurance companies are also making it harder to get competing prescriptions, charging $35 to $50 co-pays for competitors Allegra or Zyrtec. Some demand proof that patients tried, and failed, OTC Claritin for a few weeks before even allowing their doctors to write ...

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