Amarin Corp Plc (AMRN)

[onecardchuck]

I got switched to gV. My experience seems to match what many others have posted. I live in Rochester NY and get my scripts filled by Walmart and have Excellus insurance through my wife's company.

Unfortunately I had my wife pick-up my last script and she did not know to check for the switch and brought me home a bottle of Hikma crap. First thing I noticed on the bottle is the label on the top "This is the same medication you have been getting color size or shape may appear different". The Exp. is only Sep 2022. The bottle states it contians 1 gram of Icosapent Ethyl. The label does not have much else on it other than stating "See package insert for complete prescribing information". I have not opened it yet.

(Making a long story short)
I called the Pharmacist and he confirmed that when a manufacture like Hikma labels there product as an exact replacement NY state law requires him to automatically switch me to the generic. Regardless of the indication I am taking it for which is not High Trigs. He admitted he did not know what I was taking it for but no matter his instructions are to replace the prescription with the generic. I asked him the price difference and he stated $20.91 I laughed and stated my coupon then makes Vascepa cheaper to the insurance company than the generic. He admitted he did not know what the insurance company would do about covering it if I switched back to Vascepa. He informed me the only way he can fill the prescription with Vascepa is to have my doctor change the script to say Vascepa instead of Icosapent Ethyl and put DAW(dispense as written). He sent a request to my doctor for the change and I will be calling my doctor on Monday.

I also got a letter in the mail from Excellus stating that Vascepa will be moved to Tier 3 on January 1, 2021 because of generic coming online that will be Tier 1. The letter does state that coverage for Vascepa will continue but a copay increase may start on Januuary 1, 2021. It also states to talk to your doctor if you would consider a lower cost alternative.

I probably cannot return the Hikma crap to the pharmacy but would be glad to send some pills to whomever would like to do there own check out of it. I have not opened the bottle yet but will soon once I verify I cannot return it to the pharmacy. I will be posting as I did before the weight of the capsule the the weight of the contents using my reloading scale good to 1/100 of a gram and of course the smell.

Hope this helps,