Families struggle as ADHD medication costs skyrocket

MARION, Iowa (KCRG) – An Iowa mother said a recent job change also meant a change to her insurance.

Heidi Hora said she is now paying exponentially more for an ADHD medication for her son.

She said it took years and trying multiple drugs for her to figure out which medication worked best.

After several attempts, they finally found one that worked: Concerta.

Hora said her son has been on the brand name drug for years now, costing her an average of $55 to $75 a month.

However, last week a pharmacist told Hora the drug would now cost over $700.

“We had no choice but to pick it up for him because by Friday, he wouldn’t have had any medication to go to school, drive a car,” Hora said.

She started a new job with new insurance last month. Her new plan does not cover her son’s prescription.

The medication which used to cost around $70 a month is now 10 times that.

“To think that his success is dependent on what I do for work, where I work, what insurance I have... it’s devastating,” Hora said.

One pharmacy researcher said the cost of a prescription is the result of a complicated negotiation system between manufacturers, insurance companies and middlemen called pharmacy benefit managers.

Newer drugs that are still trademarked can be even more expensive.

“I’ve also seen people taking less medication than they’re prescribed because they kind of stretch out their day supply to last longer, which, you know, is not what we would want to see from the effectiveness of the medication,” Julie Umrie, Associate Pharmacy Professor at the University of Iowa, said.

Hora said she is working with her son’s doctor to appeal to the insurance company, saying the generic medications don’t work for him.

Until then, she’ll be stuck paying hundreds of dollars more for her son’s medication.