Need Epinephrine for Severe Allergies? Make Your Insurance Work Harder For You!
Below are a few tips and suggestions for making the most of your medical insurance. If you have any questions about health issues, you should always consult with your healthcare provider.
The end of the calendar year is upon us. That means many patients have met their annual out-of-pocket medical insurance deductible, activating their full coverage. But medical insurance limits and deductibles will reset in the new year.
If you or your child requires epinephrine for severe allergies, now may be the perfect time to stock up! If you’ve achieved full coverage, the year’s-end is a great time to take advantage of it. Always review your specific insurance plan and contact your insurance provider with any questions. Also, it’s a great time to check your devices’ expiration dates in case they need a refill.
What are Serious Allergies?
Serious food allergies means having severe allergic reactions to certain foods, which may include nuts, milk, eggs, soy, and/or other foods. A potentially life-threatening allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. At the first sign of anaphylaxis epinephrine is the recommended first step at treating it, followed by immediate medical attention. Being prepared for anaphylaxis means having access to an epinephrine auto-injector.
What’s A Deductible?
A “deductible” is the money your insurance plan requires you to pay out-of-pocket before it covers all or part of your healthcare services. Deductibles are becoming more common and more expensive. Consumers often spend $1000 out-of-pocket to meet the deductible. Your insurance plan may (or may not) count both physician costs and prescription costs toward your deductible.
Now may be the time to stock up on the epinephrine auto-injectors you need. Be prepared!
- Keep your epinephrine auto-injector with you
No matter how careful you are, allergic emergencies (Type I, including anaphylaxis) can happen. Use your auto-injector at the first sign of a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction – then call 911.
. - It’s smart to store devices in handy places
You might want to store epinephrine auto-injectors at your office, school, and friends’ and family’s homes – everywhere you frequently go. Do not store them in the car, though, because heat or cold can damage the medicine.
. - Shelf life and expiration dates
The epinephrine auto-injector has an expiration date, so it’s a good idea to check your devices’ expiration dates. Now could be a great time to restock!
. - Single-use only
Most types of epinephrine auto-injectors only dispense one dose of medicine – they’re not reusable. That’s another reason it’s great to have extra supplies on hand. Need instructions on how to use your medicine? Check the medicine’s or manufacturer’s official website for directions.
. - New Year’s Resolution
The New Year’s season is a built-in reminder for optimizing your health… for example, refill your prescription, talk to your doctor, and revisit your allergy-management routines. Now is the perfect time to take care of you!
The end of the year may be a great time to use the insurance benefits you’ve earned throughout the year to stock up on epinephrine auto-injectors. Remember, your health is always of paramount importance! Be prepared.
Sources:
“Epinephrine for First-aid Management of Anaphylaxis,” Sicherer et al, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
“Food Allergy,” American College of Asthma, Allergy, & Immunology (ACAAI)
“Latex Allergy,” American College of Asthma, Allergy, & Immunology (ACAAI)
PP-PAT-EAI-US-0008 12/2017
Need Epinephrine for Severe Allergies? Make Your Insurance Work Harder For You!
Below are a few tips and suggestions for making the most of your medical insurance. If you have any questions about health issues, you should always consult with your healthcare provider.
The end of the calendar year is upon us. That means many patients have met their annual out-of-pocket medical insurance deductible, activating their full coverage. But medical insurance limits and deductibles will reset in the new year.
If you or your child requires epinephrine for severe allergies, now may be the perfect time to stock up! If you’ve achieved full coverage, the year’s-end is a great time to take advantage of it. Always review your specific insurance plan and contact your insurance provider with any questions. Also, it’s a great time to check your devices’ expiration dates in case they need a refill.
What are Serious Allergies?
Serious food allergies means having severe allergic reactions to certain foods, which may include nuts, milk, eggs, soy, and/or other foods. A potentially life-threatening allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. At the first sign of anaphylaxis epinephrine is the recommended first step at treating it, followed by immediate medical attention. Being prepared for anaphylaxis means having access to an epinephrine auto-injector.
What’s A Deductible?
A “deductible” is the money your insurance plan requires you to pay out-of-pocket before it covers all or part of your healthcare services. Deductibles are becoming more common and more expensive. Consumers often spend $1000 out-of-pocket to meet the deductible. Your insurance plan may (or may not) count both physician costs and prescription costs toward your deductible.
Now may be the time to stock up on the epinephrine auto-injectors you need. Be prepared!
- Keep your epinephrine auto-injector with you
No matter how careful you are, allergic emergencies (Type I, including anaphylaxis) can happen. Use your auto-injector at the first sign of a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction – then call 911.
. - It’s smart to store devices in handy places
You might want to store epinephrine auto-injectors at your office, school, and friends’ and family’s homes – everywhere you frequently go. Do not store them in the car, though, because heat or cold can damage the medicine.
. - Shelf life and expiration dates
The epinephrine auto-injector has an expiration date, so it’s a good idea to check your devices’ expiration dates. Now could be a great time to restock!
. - Single-use only
Most types of epinephrine auto-injectors only dispense one dose of medicine – they’re not reusable. That’s another reason it’s great to have extra supplies on hand. Need instructions on how to use your medicine? Check the medicine’s or manufacturer’s official website for directions.
. - New Year’s Resolution
The New Year’s season is a built-in reminder for optimizing your health… for example, refill your prescription, talk to your doctor, and revisit your allergy-management routines. Now is the perfect time to take care of you!
The end of the year may be a great time to use the insurance benefits you’ve earned throughout the year to stock up on epinephrine auto-injectors. Remember, your health is always of paramount importance! Be prepared.
Sources:
“Epinephrine for First-aid Management of Anaphylaxis,” Sicherer et al, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
“Food Allergy,” American College of Asthma, Allergy, & Immunology (ACAAI)
“Latex Allergy,” American College of Asthma, Allergy, & Immunology (ACAAI)
PP-PAT-EAI-US-0008 12/2017
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Anaphylaxis can be life threatening, can happen within minutes, and can be caused by stinging and biting insects, allergy injections, foods, medicines, exercise, or unknown causes. Always carry your epinephrine injection with you because you may not know when anaphylaxis may happen.
When you have an allergic emergency (anaphylaxis)
- Use epinephrine injection right away.
- Get emergency medical help right away. You may need further medical attention. You may need to use a second epinephrine injection if symptoms continue or recur. Only a healthcare provider should give additional doses of epinephrine if you need more than 2 injections for a single anaphylaxis episode.
Epinephrine injection should only be injected into the middle of your outer thigh (upper leg). Do not inject the epinephrine injection into your: veins, buttocks, fingers, toes, hands, or feet. If you accidentally inject epinephrine injection into any other part of your body, go to the nearest emergency room right away. Tell the healthcare provider where on your body you received the accidental injection.
Rarely, people who have used epinephrine injection may develop infections at the injection site within a few days of an injection. Some of these infections can be serious. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following at an injection site: redness that does not go away, swelling, tenderness, or the area feels warm to the touch.
Cuts on the skin, bent needles, and needles that remain in the skin after the injection, have happened in young children who do not cooperate and kick or move during an injection. If you inject a young child with epinephrine injection, hold their leg firmly in place before and during the injection to prevent injuries. Ask your healthcare provider to show you how to properly hold the leg of a young child during injection.
If you have certain medical conditions, or take certain medicines, your condition may get worse or you may have longer lasting side effects when you use epinephrine injection. Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions.
Common side effects of epinephrine injection include: faster, irregular or “pounding” heartbeat; sweating; headache; weakness; shakiness; paleness; feelings of over excitement, nervousness or anxiety; dizziness; nausea and vomiting; and breathing problems. These side effects may go away with rest.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of epinephrine injection. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
APPROVED USE
Epinephrine injection is a disposable, prefilled automatic injection device (auto-injector) used to treat life-threatening, allergic emergencies including anaphylaxis in people who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic emergencies. Each device contains a single dose of epinephrine.
Epinephrine injection is for immediate self (or caregiver) administration and does not take the place of emergency medical care. You should get emergency help right away after using epinephrine injection.
The epinephrine injection 0.3 mg is for patients who weigh 66 pounds or more (30 kilograms or more). The epinephrine injection 0.15 mg is for patients who weigh about 33 to 66 pounds (15 to 30 kilograms). It is not known if epinephrine injection is safe and effective in children who weigh less than 33 pounds (15 kilograms).
Please read the Patient Information and Instructions for Use in the accompanying Full Prescribing Information.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Epinephrine injection should only be injected into the middle of your outer thigh (upper leg). Do not inject the epinephrine injection into your: veins, buttocks, fingers, toes, hands, or feet. If you accidentally inject epinephrine injection into any other part of your body, go to the nearest emergency room right away. Tell the healthcare provider where on your body you received the accidental injection.
Rarely, people who have used epinephrine injection may develop infections at the injection site within a few days of an injection. Some of these infections can be serious. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following at an injection site: redness that does not go away, swelling, tenderness, or the area feels warm to the touch.
Cuts on the skin, bent needles, and needles that remain in the skin after the injection, have happened in young children who do not cooperate and kick or move during an injection. If you inject a young child with epinephrine injection, hold their leg firmly in place before and during the injection to prevent injuries. Ask your healthcare provider to show you how to properly hold the leg of a young child during injection.
If you have certain medical conditions, or take certain medicines, your condition may get worse or you may have longer lasting side effects when you use epinephrine injection. Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions.
Common side effects of epinephrine injection include: faster, irregular or “pounding” heartbeat; sweating; headache; weakness; shakiness; paleness; feelings of over excitement, nervousness or anxiety; dizziness; nausea and vomiting; and breathing problems. These side effects may go away with rest.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of epinephrine injection. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
APPROVED USE
Epinephrine injection is a disposable, prefilled automatic injection device (auto-injector) used to treat life-threatening, allergic emergencies including anaphylaxis in people who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic emergencies. Each device contains a single dose of epinephrine.
Epinephrine injection is for immediate self (or caregiver) administration and does not take the place of emergency medical care. You should get emergency help right away after using epinephrine injection.
The epinephrine injection 0.3 mg is for patients who weigh 66 pounds or more (30 kilograms or more). The epinephrine injection 0.15 mg is for patients who weigh about 33 to 66 pounds (15 to 30 kilograms). It is not known if epinephrine injection is safe and effective in children who weigh less than 33 pounds (15 kilograms).
Please read the Patient Information and Instructions for Use in the accompanying Full Prescribing Information.
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