“Many of the Insurance Companies are now covering Chantix because it has had such good results!”
Today, when I went to Walgreen’s to pickup my Continuing Monthly Pack of Chantix, I had the best surprise! I had several other items I was picking up and the pharmacist said, “Your total is $65.” I thought, oh gosh he forgot the Chantix. So I asked, “Does that include the Chantix?” He said, “Yes, your Chantix was only $20.” I about fell over. My mouth did drop to the floor, which wasn’t a very pretty sight I’m sure, since I had four teeth pulled the other day. 
Anyway, the pharmacist continued, “Many of the Insurance Companies are now covering Chantix because it has had such good results!” WOW! Of course I had to tell him I had 12 days smoke free and I had tried everything else there is at least once, and nothing worked except Chantix. I’m sure I was skipping to the car and could not stop smiling. I also couldn’t wait to get home and Blog about it.
Of course you all know what this means don’t you?!! ANYONE can quit smoking using Chantix now. If you have insurance, please check it out and see if Chantix is covered now. It wasn’t in November so this might have just gone into effect January 2008! If you don’t have insurance, go to the Chantix site and there is a link to help those who qualify, lower income, etc., to get Chantix at a reduced price. So, absolutely ANYONE can get Chantix. That is so awesome. Especially now, all those New Year’s Resolutions to quit smoking, and now they can. Some might think I work for Pfizer or am paid to endorse this product. That could not be further from the truth. I am just a 50 year old lady that has smoked since she was 12 years old and has been diagnosed with COPD which includes moderate Emphysema, who has begged many Doctors to hospitalize me so I wouldn’t be grouchy at my family, especially my kids, while I went through withdrawal. I have been trying to quit for the last 10 years. When I turned 40 I wanted to do it then, then all of a sudden I turned 50, and redoubled my efforts. I finally came to terms with the fact that, no matter what, I will not take another puff. In the beginning the Chantix made me nauseated and I thought to myself, “well, I can quit taking it and keep smoking.” Then I re-thought that statement and said to myself, “well, even if I throw up on the sidewalk walking in to work, I am not going to smoke.” Then I knew I was willing to go to any length to quit smoking. The nausea went away after the first week and it hasn’t returned since. I make sure I take the Chantix after I have eaten and with a full glass of water. That seems to really help.
Chantix is now being covered by many insurance companies. That is the best news of the year for me. No more excuses. The cost of Chantix cannot be used to rationalize a reason for me to smoke. This news had made me very grateful and hopeful that many others will be able to try Chantix and become non-smokers.
chantix
TTFN
January 13, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I hate my insurance company
I am unfortunately with an HMO that feels that stuff like Chantix is an unnecessary expense so they don’t cover it. It does end up being a tax deduction so at least I will see some of it back at year’s end.
January 14, 2008 at 8:23 am
No..Are you sure? My company didn’t cover it until this month. Oh, that is a bummer and I’m sorry but, you can do it and the tax deduction does help. I was using my Flexible Spending Account to fund my Chantix and that helped.
Please keep me updated on how you are doing.
Take care of you!!
February 8, 2008 at 10:24 pm
If someone really wants to stop smoking, why use insurance dollars? For crying out loud, use the funds that you would have bought cigarettes with instead of jacking up everyones insurance premiums! Use common sense, people!!!! You may also needs those insurance dollars later when you are very sick (specially from old smoking habits; even if you DO quit you will STILL have health problems as not all the damage is reversible and crops up later in life). Some plans have lifetime maximums and some include what you spent on prescriptions. You think a million or two goes a long way, think again. (Those with unlimited maximums are very fortunate now, but that could change down the road.) Just ask anyone who has been in the hospital… you will be shocked at what the hospitals, doctors and other “specialists” charge!
March 5, 2008 at 1:27 pm
DO NOT USE CHANTIX! UNLESS YOU PLAN TO GET IT ILLEGALLY ON THE STREET AND NOT THROUGH THE SYSTEM!
This drug is for one dangerous and the side effects that include severe depression and mood swings are very high. There is a class action suit against Pfizer for this already and this drug will not last – too many people are reporting problems. Pfizer agreed without question to refund the cost in full when I told them I took it for a week and discontinued it because of extreme paranoia and mood swings.
Second, not only did my insurance NOT cover it (ridiculous in itself), but they have it on record that I even tried it, so my insurance premiums went up by more than 50% immediately – FOR A DRUG THEY WOULDN’T EVEN COVER IN THE FIRST PLACE! The insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies are criminal in this country. Chantix will make you nuts and cost you thousands of dollars per year just to try a drug that will destroy you emotionally and financially.
March 8, 2008 at 12:55 pm
was googling quit zits and found your blog – nice info and good job. i myself am at day 50 quitting with chantix.
about the person who says chantix will make you go crazy – i’ve noticed a lot of this on the web, and it is my belief that the tobacco companies are running so scared that they have employed “web trolls” to go out and spread malicious info about chantix.
in any event – i used it too – no bad side effects and i think it’s truly a miracle drug. great blog – keep it up!
May 14, 2008 at 8:37 am
If you think about it, quitting smoking is what causes you to go through mood swings and depression. This happens to anyone that tries to stop smoking no matter how you do it. It’s the cigarette companies you should be blaming.
I took Chantix and it worked great!!! I know several others that have quit smoking using it also.
December 29, 2008 at 7:47 pm
YAY!
I used Chantix once before, had to pay for it out of my pocket. I only used it for a month because I really didn’t want to stop smoking, LOL.
But if it’s covered by insurance, cool!
August 13, 2009 at 6:30 am
Both of my parents use this drug and stopped. Dad in eight days with 40 years of smoking, and mom in 4 days after 25 years of smoking. Neither of them had any depression and now they can keep up with their grandkids, surprise!!! And as for the person who has all the negative remarks are you a cig company professional, or a life long non smoker who doesn’t know what the addiction is like. Because when you really want to stop something it doesn’t matter the risk or cost it if gets you to a better place. Just ask the thousand who have quit even by paying out of pocket like my parents did. To pay for the drug was about hte same as whaT THEY SPENT A WEEK ON TOBACCO PRODUCTS.