I am just curious about what everyone else is paying for an Epipen? I have read several times on this board that people have "lots" of extras just in case. Where I live in Canada they cost around $80.00. With a relatively short shelf life,this is a lot of money! I never hear anyone mention Ana-Kits. Does anyone have those? They are a needle which is pre-loaded with Epinephrine. They are quite a bit cheaper but a little more fiddley. Its just until reading some of the messages (I think some were on the old discussion board), I had never thought to give the preschool teacher (or anyone else) and extra one for back up in case one didn't work properly.I wonder if this happens often?
I am so glad to have this web-site to refer to, because nobody else (even the doctors!) can really relate unless they've "been there" !
------------------
Colleen
<p>Colleen,</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I cannot tell you the cost as I have a prescription card so I pay $10.00 for each one. It would not surprise me a bit that they could be $80. Regarding the Ana-Kit, when Epi-Pen had their big recall last year, I asked my doctor to prescribed me an Ana-Kit for the interim time as I waited for my Epi-Pen kit. They REALLY did not want to do it. For some reason they do not like the Ana-Kit. Couldn't tell you why, though.<br />
Christine</p>
<p>Colleen,<br />
Last time we got an Epi-pen JR it was $50.00 (we pay 1/2 so it was $25 for us). I have heard that the adult dose is $100. It is a lot of money and I get so upset when I get one and it expires in less than a year.We had to get an anakit when the pens were recalled last year. Luckily we had one that was O.K. Our daycare is nervous enough about the epi-pen. I hate to think about explaining the anakit to them. We have one Epi-pen at daycare but we also leave our fanny pack with a full set of meds in my son's backpack in case they ever need a back up. Once he goes to public school I think I will make sure they have two of their own. I try to just be glad when we have to discard expired pens because that means we haven't had to use them!</p>
<p>------------------<br />
Valerie</p>
<p>The Ana kit cost us $36.00 in Ontario and the Epi Jr was $70.00. Fortunately my husbands medical plan covered them. I had two pens but now have 4 after the only two I owned were left in the car overnight to freeze. Keep your old ones to practise with. I was surprised to see that the needle wasn't very big. Easy to use.</p>
<p>Colleen, I too live in Canada - Calgary. I agree the Epi is expensive, but we are fortunate in that our extended health care covers our Epipens. I realized how important it is to have a "back up Epi" when the one Epipen I had was recalled after I had it for several months! We had camped in the mountains and that really scared me to think something could have gone terribly wrong if all we had was the defective Epi. Also, if you administer the Epi too early a subsequent reaction can occur quickly before emergency services arrives or you can get your child to hospital. Have you checked into your provincial health care coverages? Maybe your health services branch may have suggestions on any supplements available. I sure think Epipens should be covered 100% for everyone everywhere!!!</p>
<p>Remember that an epi-pen is good for 10-15 mins after initial ijection. It wise to have an extra one on hand for every 15 mins that you are away from the hospital. Epi-pens are expensive I paid $72.00 per pen (we have 2). Unless used, you would only have to replace them, when they expire.<br />
Carol</p>
<p>I agree that Epi's are expensive the last one I bought was 68.00cdn. My son's life is worth it!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for all your input about Epipens/Anakits. I have decided that although Anakits are considerably cheaper, in an emergency Epipens are the way to go.<br />
As my husband and I are self-employed with no extended health coverage, we need to pay 100% of all our prescriptions. I am going to check out our provincial health plan to check and see if there is any way that I am not aware of that we can get back some of the costs. Of course our son's life is worth any amount we would have to pay, but since money doesn't grow on trees, we'll take any help we can get!<br />
I know we will be needing to stock up on more Epis since he will be starting school in September too.<br />
Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>------------------<br />
Colleen</p>
<p>Colleen,</p>
<p> In Connecticut, epi-pens cost about $40.00 but considering the exchange rate between canada and the US that doesn't sound too far off. We have one kept at school, one at Grandma's house and two that travel with our son everywhere except school.</p>
<p>Clara,</p>
<p> We also had two epi-pens freeze in the car. Our Pharmacist informed us that one or two freezes would not harm them. Have you been told different? As far as practicing, we have an epi-pen trainer that cost $5.00 from FAN. We use it often to train everyone that our son spends any amount of time with. I wouldn't recomend actually practicing on a person with a real pen the way you can with the trainer.<br />
Janet</p>
<p>------------------</p>
<p>Our Epi-pens cost $40/each here in Pittsburgh PA. We keep two at school, one travels with him, and one at home. I wish I knew what insurance plan covers this!! I refuse an Epi-pen replacement that has less than one year until expiration. I've been handed one that expires in three months!</p>
<p>Our previous insurance was an HMO here in Florida and the epi-pen was covered at 100%. We paid nothing for it as long as we got them at an HMO pharmacy. (We were allowed 2 epi-pens at a time so I would have his allergist write a prescription and his pediatrician write one so we could have 4 at one time). This was under my medical insurance. Now that I no longer work outside the house, we are now covered under my husband's insurance. Luckily, my son's epi-pens don't expire until January 2000. I will probably be in for a rude awakening with our new insurance. I was spoiled with my HMO! No complaints!</p>
Pages