Armour Thyroid is the brand name of an oral prescription medication used to treat, or prevent, hypothyroidism, thyroid nodules, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, multinodular goiter, and possibly thyroid cancer. It contains thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) derived from the thyroid glands of swine.
Hypothyroidism is a common condition in the United States, affecting nearly 15 million people. Because they symptoms are not always extreme, many people do not realize they have an underactive thyroid until conditions worsen and they are tested.
If you have an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, you may have some of the common symptoms such as sensitivity to cold, dry skin, difficulty losing weight, tiredness, among others. If you do have symptoms, your health care provider may want you to have your thyroid function checked, and you may be a good candidate for Armour Thyroid.
How Armour Thyroid Treats Thyroid Disorders
When the thyroid gland does not produce sufficient amounts of thyroid hormone, a range of problems can exist. The conditions can vary from undetectable to extreme, from hypothyroidism to Grave’s disease, and even cancer. Some of the signs that you have a thyroid hormone deficiency include the following:
• Brain fog or problems with memory
• Low mood or depression
• Fluid retention and bloating, puffiness particularly in the face
• Aching joints
• Elevated cholesterol levels
• Increased weight, difficulty losing weight
• Sensitivity to cold
• Hoarse voice
• Dry skin
• Constipation
• Hair loss or hair thinning
• General fatigue
• A slower heart rate
• Lumps or swelling on the neck
• Problems swallowing
• Shortness of breath
Because Armour Thyroid is an oral tablet that contains thyroid hormones, its purpose is to elevate the body’s decreased levels of this important hormone. Armour Thyroid comes in different dosage amounts. Your health care provider determines your dosage needs through testing and observation.
Medicare Benefits for Armour Thyroid
Armour Thyroid is an FDA-approved oral medication that physicians prescribe to treat people who have low thyroid production. If your physician prescribes Armour Thyroid for hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s disease, thyroid nodules, goiter, or thyroid cancer, your Medicare Part D (prescription drug) policy may help cover the cost of this medication.
If your Medicare benefits do not cover Armour Thyroid, the price you pay out-of-pocket depends on where you live and what your pharmacy charges. The average price in the United States for 100 tablets of 15mg AT is just under $80.00. If you have purchased an optional Medicare Part D policy, or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug benefits, your policy may include the drug Armour Thyroid on its formulary.
The optional prescription drug plan that you purchase depends on what insurance companies provide Medicare Part D coverage in the area where you reside. The company and policy you purchase has its own list of covered drugs called a formulary.
Your out-of-pocket cost for drugs like Armour Thyroid depend on your plan’s deductible and the drug’s copay. The amount of the copay depends on where the formulary categorizes the drug. Part D plans categorize all drugs into tiers, and this determines the amount of your copay. Tier one contains generic brands of drugs and carries the lowest copay amount. On tier two you find brand-name drugs that are preferred drugs. On tier three the brand-name, non-preferred drugs carry the highest copay amount.
If you are not sure about what drugs are listed on your policy’s formulary, you can request a printed copy from your insurance provider, or you can look it up online. A licensed agent representing your provider can also give you the information on the phone.
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