NEW YORK – With more than 50 million allergy sufferers in the country, many are feeling the financial pain of having to pay for the popular allergy drug, Claritin, which is now available without a doctor’s prescription.
Now that Claritin is an over-the-counter medication, its price has dropped by half to about $1 a pill.
But that’s no consolation for allergy sufferers who used to have the drug paid for by their health insurance plans.
Many patients with allergies will spend about $100 extra this spring and summer to pay for Claritin themselves.
A survey found that 65 percent of health plans are shrinking or withdrawing coverage of their allergy drugs.
Others are increasing the co-payments for the medicines.
William Berger, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says now is the time to discuss options with your doctor that may be covered by insurance and are the most effective in treating your allergy symptoms.
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AP-NY-05-21-03 1718EDT
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