When Insurance Became a Headache, Jeff Saved on His Prescriptions With GoodRx
Jeff hails from Shreveport, Louisiana where he works as a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), administering anesthesia to patients for surgery. He is married and has 2 teenage children and 3 dogs. Jeff loves his work and enjoys hanging out with his family, but for the last 20 years, he’s unfortunately been dealing with a bulging cervical disc in his spine.
Bulging discs, also known as “protruding discs,” compress spinal nerves and can cause pain, numbness, and muscle weakness. Generally caused by age and spinal deterioration, bulging discs are most common in the lower back due to the weight and pressure they hold in the spine. Treatment for protruding discs can vary by case: Some patients experience no symptoms at all and don’t need any treatment, while others may need to have surgery to correct the issue and alleviate their pain.
To help manage his pain, Jeff takes celecoxib, the generic version Celebrex. Celebrex is a prescription-only NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), which helps lessen the swelling in his spine, so he is able to avoid surgery and go about his daily routine.
Paying for his prescription was a challenge, though. Jeff struggled when trying to utilize his current insurance provider’s pharmacy benefits—he was kept on hold with the company for hours at a time, was denied proper paperwork from various providers, and was then denied coverage with no explanation. Without insurance coverage, a 30-day prescription of his celecoxib prescription would cost $287 out of pocket.
After weeks of back and forth his insurance’s pharmacy benefit manager and going several months without treatment, Jeff’s nurse practitioner showed him a GoodRx discount card. GoodRx cut his prescription cost down to just $6—a whole 98% off!
With that, Jeff has been able to spare himself any more physical pain as well as the nuisance of trying to get his medication approved through his insurance. He’s grateful to save both time and money, so he can focus on enjoying life and not worry about his pain.
