Starting New Years Day, Medicare is removing Armour thyroid extract for hypothyroid from its pharmaceutical formulary of approved medications. I received the notice today. My HMO won't cover the cost of my Armour thyroid now. What makes it ridiculousness is that I called some pharmacies about the approved thyroid and was told that there's a shortage of some of them-back ordered. It appears the new new thyroid hormone replacements have T 4 in them and are lacking T 3. I've been reading articles and comments on how many people don't seem to have the ability to break T 4 down into T 3. These people just don't feel well-still gain weight-lose hair.
Did U no Medicare is removing armour thyroid from formulary?
Question posted by meyati on 9 Nov 2012
Last updated on 30 December 2017
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6 Answers
Inactive
6 Nov 2017
Hi pmwilson: I called my pharmacy as soon as I read your comment about Nature-Throid. They told me they didn't have any in stock, and had it back ordered for a while now, but can't seem to get it for now! Great!
You have to do what you think will work for you. I also have Hashimoto's.
I called the naturopath that I used to go to and discussed it with her. I am going to wean off my Nature-Throid and go back to the thyroid supplements I used to take years ago before getting put on Synthroid by an endocrinologist. I did not do well on Synthroid either. I am not recommending that you do what I am doing. I will come back and post again and let you know how it is going for me. I just get tired of dealing with the side effects that come from prescription medications.
I also used to take the compounded natural desiccated thyroid capsules. That would be another thing to consider. Not sure how much they are charging at the compounding pharmacy for those at the present time. I took them a long time ago. My insurance won't cover any of the above. I have to pay cash price.
pmwilson67
6 Nov 2017
I just went to get my Nature Throid. I was told it's no longer on the market. Also some problem with Armour Thyroid I use to take it and switched because of a dramatic price increase. I have Hashimoto
and can't take synthroid it doesn't work for me. Don't know what to do now.
Shortstp61
30 Dec 2017
I was able to get Nature Thyroid at Walgreens the other day, so it is still on the market. However, it's much more expensive at Walgreens ($50 for 3 months) than Walmart ($21 for 3 months). Armor Thyroid, on the other hand, costs $65 a month at Walgreens.
I am still angeres me that the FDA would rule out an entire class of drugs like this. The fact is, some people, like me, NEED the T3, as well as the T4. I've been on this med for years with no ill effects.
As your doctor to fight for you. My insurance provider has urged me to do do and started the paperwork on my behalf.
dizee42
15 Dec 2016
Just got a letter from Cigna that they won't cover
Armour as of 1/1/17. Refilled it yesterday and asked the pharmacist what the alternative was, she wrote down levothyroxine, which is a generic synthroid.
I don't want synthroid! May have to find out about compounding and pay out of pocket.
So frustrating!
Inactive
15 Dec 2016
Hi dizzy: I pay cash price for my thyroid medication. It is the equivalent of Armour Thyroid, it's called Nature-Throid which is manufactured by RLC Labs. The difference is that the fillers are hypoallergenic. I pay cash price for it and shop around for the best price. I pay $21 at Walmart for a 3 month supply.
dizee42
15 Dec 2016
Thank you! I will look into that!
meyati
9 Nov 2012
My doctor wrote a script and assured me that he would keep writing scripts for the appropriate dosage of Armour. He is quite angered about several things. He asked me to stop going to the Costco near my house, because they gave me the wrong med. When he complained about that-Costco jumped on him and made accusations. In spite of my letter asking if there was a patient bill of rights at pharmacies-where I could look at medication before I pay for it, my doctor was on the s*** list and I got a letter from Pres that he had been reprimanded. My blood pressure was really up today from the letters about him being reprimanded -got on yesterday-I suggested to the system that they get an Urgent care Center on this side of town-so they blamed him for not telling me that they didn't have any. Then before I checked in, they made me sign a form that if he abused me, that I would report him.
The problem is that Costco is the only pharmacy that carries Librax-which I self pay- can cost from $38 to $250, but in many ways it is cheaper than being in ERs with IVs and stuff and having emergency colonoscopies, etc.
DzooBaby
9 Nov 2012
They have been talking about Armour for years. One reason some docs dont like it is they say it is not standardized from one pill to another. The way it is made from dessicated thyroid tissue of animals, some pills may have more active ingredient than others so it is inconsistent dosing. It seems to me that most people I know who started on Armour then were put on Synthroid later do not feel as well as they did on Armour though! It is not that expensive (Armour) so you might pay out of pocket. Another option would be to get Nature-throid which has both T3 and T4.
pogopatti
3 Oct 2014
Where do you but Nature Thyroid?
joannejenkins
13 Nov 2016
I was only diagnosed this spring and started the Armour 60mg in June (I think it was June). I have a whole new lust for life. My attitude, my general health have all improved. I wasn't sure that it was the Armour, but such a noticeable change for me, and nothing else is different. My insurance company (Medicare Part D Silver Script) did not cover this but my doctor did contact them and all is well. I just did a search for next year and apparently, I may have another problem. I wonder if we can get this through a Canadian Pharmacy. It doesn't matter if I buy outside the insurance since I already get pushed into the "donut hole"!!
kaismama
9 Nov 2012
Its not covered on mine now. Your doc can ask your carrier to make an exception because you can't take anything else, and the other brands are not available at this time. I would love to know their reasoning as its not an expensive medication.
meyati
9 Nov 2012
I'm seeing my Dr. later today. Pres HMO pharmaceutical board says that Armour is unsafe and "it has been determined that the clinical effectiveness does not benefit our members."
The board has been making an exception-I think that when the pharmacy sold me the OTC and I had the thyroid storm from the pseudoephedrine that they decided to declare Armour as unsafe-what was unsafe is the pharmacists lying and saying it was the same stuff I took before-they just changed the labeling and packaging. The possible reason-the pharmacy got more money from OTC and didn't have the paperwork. It's not like I popped up from an acorn yesterday and haven't tried OTC. I'll just be happy as long as he writes a script-I'm just scared that the FDA will ban Armour again.
kaismama
9 Nov 2012
So its up to them to decide if its unsafe for you. I haven't seen anything that the FDA has gone after it again. They have got to realize that synthetic doesn't do it for everyone.
meyati
9 Nov 2012
I might appeal to my congressman
kaismama
9 Nov 2012
That would be a good move.
mugndoli
8 Jan 2015
Not if you're on Medicare. Not eligible for Medicart part D means exactly that.
Related topics
armour thyroid, hypothyroidism, medicare, thyroid
Further information
- Armour Thyroid uses and safety info
- Armour Thyroid prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Armour Thyroid (detailed)
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