After 1/24/08 ZYRTEC® and ZYRTEC-D® Will No Longer Be Covered -
Now a Non-Prescription Product!
 

Effective January 24, 2008, Zyrtec and Zyrtec-D will become available over the counter (OTC). The drug manufacturer will start shipping the product to retail stores on January 21, 2008.

CIGNA will continue to cover Zyrtec and Zyrtec-D as a prescription through January 25, 2008, in order to assure that members still have access to the product. After that date, Zyrtec and Zyrtec-D will no longer be covered since it is a non-prescription product.

CIGNA will send a letter to all non-Medicare members who have used a Zyrtec product in 2007, either at retail or mail pharmacies, informing them of the OTC availability and including a $5 coupon for the nonprescription Zyrtec. Medicare members will receive the same $5 coupon via the “Winter 2008 CIGNA Medicare Services” newsletter.

 
  Generic Code Numbers Affected:
  49291 Zyrtec 10mg oral tablet
  49292 Zyrtec 5mg oral tablet
  21769 Zyrtec 5mg chewable tablet
  21771 Zyrtec 10mg chewable tablet
  49294 Zyrtec Syrup 1mg/ml
  13866 Zyrtec-D oral tablet
 

All forms of ZYRTEC® are available over-the-counter for use by adults and children:

  • ZYRTEC® Tablets
  • Children’s ZYRTEC® Syrup and Chewable Tablets
  • ZYRTEC-D 12 HOUR® Extended Release Tablets are available without a prescription in most states. They can ask for ZYRTEC-D® at the retail or pharmacy counter.

ZYRTEC® may or may not cost your employees less out-of-pocket than before. The estimated retail cost for a 30-day supply of ZYRTEC® is now under $25.

Q&A’s
Is the non-prescription Zyrtec the same as the prescription version?
Yes. The company will market two distinct Zyrtec products for each dosage form. One will provide directions for treating the symptoms of hay fever and other respiratory allergies. The other will contain directions for use to relieve the itching due to hives.

How much will it cost?
The manufacturer has said that a 30 day supply of Zyrtec will cost consumers less than $25.

Will this affect coverage of other prescription antihistamines?
No changes will be made on the coverage for other prescription antihistamines, such as Allegra, Clarinex, or Xyzal.

WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
Please forward this information to your employees no later than January 24, 2008. To learn more about the use of prescription versus non-prescription drugs and how you can lower your healthcare costs, please contact Corporate Synergies at 1.866.CSG.1719, or click here to contact us today.
 
 

 

 
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