Comments on: Insurer UnitedHealthcare Pushes Pill-Splitting Savings

By: Melodye Murphy

Melodye Murphy — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 17:38:25 +0000

What are the names of the 15 drugs?

By: william h. heino sr

william h. heino sr — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 16:48:11 +0000

Pill splitting save seniors 50%, but for veterans that split pills, they are charged 50% more, in violation of 38 USC 1722a law. Penalized! Claim now before Veterans' Board of Appeals. Searching 'VA violation of 38 USC 1722a' for complete stories.

By: Just Me

Just Me — Sun, 12 Jun 2005 23:10:00 +0000

Splitting is fine, but alternative days also does the same thing.

Probably depends a lot on the medication-but this could be a good alternative for some medications.

By: Larry Dean

Larry Dean — Sun, 12 Jun 2005 18:13:09 +0000

My doctor has me taking a Lipitor pill every other day, rather than every day. My tests are coming back just fine, with no increase in cholestrol. Splitting is fine, but alternative days also does the same thing.

By: Just Me

Just Me — Sun, 12 Jun 2005 00:15:46 +0000

I honestly don't see any problem with this, I know people who have split pills for years (usually because they needed a lower dosage and a lower wasn't available).

My son takes melatonin (not a pharm drug) and we split his pills-no big deal.

I think the difference is I am not comfortable if the insurance carrier tries to require it, but encouraging it, only saves the insurance company and the insured (because contrary to what many think, insurance isn't free, it is a pool where the healthy subsidize the less healthy-splitting pills will save money from that pool, and may help keep premiums down).

By: mike

mike — Sat, 11 Jun 2005 21:42:36 +0000

h-mm..