Need super creative ways to save on Alimentum & Begging for Similac checks!

[vettechick99]

We believe DD4m has a milk allergy. Her ped put her on Alimentum, which is almost 4 times more expensive than the formula I was using. I get $5 Similac checks but I need about 7 cans a month so I won't have enough checks, even if I get some from friends.

I need to come up with some creative ways to reduce this cost. Buying bulk is good, but doesn't seem to be any better than using a check ($28-5. Even $23 x 7 = ). Today my grocery store gave me a coupon for $3 off any baby purchase of $15 or more so that helps. Any other ideas? Maybe I should ask Santa...

ETA: If anyone has Similac checks to trade or give away, please PM me. Thanks!!!

 

[amylynne01]

I was in your exact shoes about a year ago! My DD who is now 19 months old was thought to have a milk allergy (she actually is lactose intolerant) and was put on Alimentum as well. I ordered formula from abcbabyformula.com. Right now, 6 cans of Alimentum are 119.99 with free shipping, or about $20 a can. Plus no worrying about getting checks and what not. It came super fast - like 2-3 days tops. I never found Alimentum to be on sale when other Similac products were, so I found this to be the best option.

Our ped wrote a presciption for this, so it was covered 100% by our insurance because it was medically necessary for her to have. My ped's office wrote a letter to my insurance company, they took 30 days to approve it, and the coverage was retroactive to when the ped wrote the letter. I would buy the formula, send the receipt into my insurance company and get reimbursed for it. I would definitely ask your doctor about this. Even if you get 50% coverage, that's awesome! HTH.

 

[vettechick99]

$119 and free ship is a great price. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[bridget]

Nutramigen wasn't covered by insurance, but I ordered online. I also would ask for samples from my daughter's doctor. They were happy to share!

 

[amylynne01]

Nutramigen wasn't covered by insurance, but I ordered online. I also would ask for samples from my daughter's doctor. They were happy to share!

Samples! My ped was willing to give me a month's supply to get us started, and the nurse offered us more at every appt. I think we were one of a few babies using Alimentum, so they wanted to make sure it got used. We had an appt the same day a Similac rep was there, and he hooked us up!

 

[stefplus3]

Nutramigen wasn't covered by insurance, but I ordered online. I also would ask for samples from my daughter's doctor. They were happy to share!

It probably depends on what insurance you have b/c my son was on nutramigen and our insurance covered it.

Also, formula companies have a program for families w/ kids on expensive formula. You can get a case for free and after that you buy it at a great discount. I'm a student nurse in a hospital and was shocked to learn about it when we did our pedi rotation...I'd never heard about it. So try contacting the local rep either by asking your pedi office or call your local hospital pedi ward and ask them for the name/number.

 

[laughinplace199]

Will your insurance not cover it? One of my kids was on Nutramigen and our insurance covered it. I remember the ped nurse telling me to let them know if I had any problems with my insurance company because she said they often write letters or call the insurance companies on behalf of patients explaining that the formula is medically necessary.

Good luck!

 

[dbelmo]

I was in your shoes 10 years ago, way before any insurance company decided to cover the formula.... what I did do to cut the cost was ask extended family to buy the formula for gifts for whatever holiday was approaching.... my DS was too little to even know the difference, he was happy unwrapping the paper and playing with the box! That helped us some....

 

[MSSANDRA]

DS needed a special formula for premature infants and our doctor was able to order it for free through the company. We also got all the samples the office got. Not sure we ever paid for a can but it was really hard to find on shelves.

 

[riley2008]

Our insurance won't cover any type of formula until after 9 months, and then it had to be the "sole source of nutrition".(and breast milk only worked for one DS)

We signed EVERYONE we knew up for formula coupons. The 60yo secretary's husband got a hoot out of getting the formula samples in the mail. It was a joint effort by everyone in my office to keep our babies fed. I finally had to put one on Neocate . We had to directly order that from the pharmacy, although it doesn't really require a prescription. It is made in Liverpool. We were getting some friends that lived overseas to bring us cases, but that only went so far. I finally checked eBay. Several people were getting it for their children for whatever reason didn't need it. I finally made a direct connection with one of them and she would forward the case to me as they were shipped to her home. Her insurance was covering it 100% and passing on the formula for about 25% - about the cost of a regular name brand formula. That lasted until DS was 11 months and we were able to get him back on Nutramigen after they had an ingredient change.

So, keep checking around - it can be done. Our neighbor also with twins, quit working for 1 month to get WIC (just needed the formula) for the year.

 

[3boymthr]

As PPs mentioned call your insurance company. I used to work for an insurance company and as long as there was a prescription it was a covered item. We did make the insured jump through some hoops though. There were special forms to be filled out by both the insured and the doctor that confirmed that this was the only thing the child could eat. Sometimes the insured had to pay up front and apply for reimbursement, but in the end the insured only had to pay the brand name co-pay.

 

[Mrsdennison]

Our dd was on Nutramigen about three years ago. I know this is a odd place to find a sale, but Babys R US was the cheapest I found it. I always thought of that place costing more, but I would stock up when I went there with my coupon checks.

Mrsdennison

 

[Mom2Ben02]

Check ebay, CL, bookoo.com for formula checks. Friends buy them for 30 - 40 cents on the dollar, and our grocery store takes them up the amount of the can (so, if the can is $25, they will take 5 - $5 checks). That ends up being around $10 for a $25 can.

 

[princessmom29]

My DD7 was on Alimentum from 2 moths to one year. It was EXPENSIVE and not covered by insurance. We found a good bit cheaper at Target. We didn't have one where we lived at the time, so every time we came to visit my parnts we would buy as much as we could. It was like $27 a can at the time at Target, and $35 or so everywhere else. These were the small cans. You couldn't get it ina large can at the time. So it rounded out to about twice as expensive as regular similac or soy based.

 

[alexedan]

That e-bay lady is committing insurance fraud and should be reported!

 

[Kies99]

Our (now) 9yo DD was on Alimentum until she was 1yo. We had to use the pre-mixed and not the powder. What I remember most was that the price varied widely between the two Wal-Marts by us. At the time, at our Wal-Mart it was about $7 a can. If we went to the Wal-Mart in the "less affluent" part of town it was $5 a can. I'd suggest that if you have multiple Targets or Wal-Marts within driving distance, shop around and see if one is better than the other.

 

[mommyof3princess27]

My DD was on alimentum...try CL and WIC

 

[erinmomof2]

My DD was on Alimentum from 4 months to just over a year. Our insurance did not cover it. We signed everyone up for the samples and checks. That helped some. We also had a friend who worked in a family practice office as a nurse. She said the formula companies would send them samples for their patients and since they didn't see a lot of kids at their office with a need for it they had a lot of sample cans. She talked to her boss and was able to get me about 10 cans for FREE. This was a huge help to us. The sample cans were almost the same size as the cans we were buying in the store. I don't know if you know of anyone who works in a doctor's office, but it may be worth asking them.

I feel your pain on this. We were struggling at the time my DD was using alimentum and the cost of the formula was a big deal for us. As DD grew she was eating more and it got even more expensive. At 1 year she was able to tolerate soy formula and we were so relieved at the price difference. And by the time she was 2 she was okay with milk.

Another thought I had was to check some of the coupon trains here on the dis and explain your situation and see if anyone has any spare checks they can forward to you. You may also be able to find the checks on ebay.

 

[rdevine10]

As others said, some insurances do cover it! Samples from the Drs office (dont be afraid to ask). Formula checks. Both my girls were on Alimentum. The 1st one till 13 months, the 2nd from 6 months till she was 2 (she was a preemie who couldn't tolerate a lot of food proteins). You can also try ebay for lots of formula. Our alimentum was covered 100% by the home health care portion of our insurance, but not covered at all by our prescription plan... so make sure you check all of this out!

And, off topic, congrats on your baby- I used to read the Bonnet Creek thread all of the time.

 

[vettechick99]

It probably depends on what insurance you have b/c my son was on nutramigen and our insurance covered it.

Also, formula companies have a program for families w/ kids on expensive formula. You can get a case for free and after that you buy it at a great discount. I'm a student nurse in a hospital and was shocked to learn about it when we did our pedi rotation...I'd never heard about it. So try contacting the local rep either by asking your pedi office or call your local hospital pedi ward and ask them for the name/number.

I will definitely do that. Thanks for the idea.

Will your insurance not cover it? One of my kids was on Nutramigen and our insurance covered it. I remember the ped nurse telling me to let them know if I had any problems with my insurance company because she said they often write letters or call the insurance companies on behalf of patients explaining that the formula is medically necessary.

Good luck!

I looked up my Rx plan and it does not seem to cover it.

Check ebay, CL, bookoo.com for formula checks. Friends buy them for 30 - 40 cents on the dollar, and our grocery store takes them up the amount of the can (so, if the can is $25, they will take 5 - $5 checks). That ends up being around $10 for a $25 can.

What grocery store is that? I have Piggly Wiggly, WalMart, and Harveys near me. I have Kroger near my ped's office, about 40 mins away. I would love to be able to use multiple coupons at once.

My DD was on alimentum...try CL and WIC

I don't qualify for WIC. What is CL?

As others said, some insurances do cover it! Samples from the Drs office (dont be afraid to ask). Formula checks. Both my girls were on Alimentum. The 1st one till 13 months, the 2nd from 6 months till she was 2 (she was a preemie who couldn't tolerate a lot of food proteins). You can also try ebay for lots of formula. Our alimentum was covered 100% by the home health care portion of our insurance, but not covered at all by our prescription plan... so make sure you check all of this out!

And, off topic, congrats on your baby- I used to read the Bonnet Creek thread all of the time.

It doesn't seem to be covered under the Rx plan, but I will see if it's covered any other way. From what I've read online, not many cover it (I have UHC - HRA plan). And thanks! She is such a doll. I'm glad the allergy or sensitivity isn't causing colic. Just some skin issues and upset tummy.

Thanks to everyone for your ideas.