Question:
Does insurance cover B12 injections?

I can't afford the $40.00 a month for injections. Does anyone get their insurance to pay for their monthly injections. Can I purchase the B12 and give myself injections to save money?    — Janet R. (posted on July 23, 2004)


July 23, 2004
I had never given myself a shot before and it turned out to be very easy. I got a scrip for the B12 serum that I store in the refrigerator and for 12 syringes and I inject myself on the first of each month. Piece of cake. The vial of B12 serum lasted me over a year and hadn't then reached it's expiration date. I had the nurse at my doc's office show me how to fill the syringe making sure there were no air bubbles and I followed her lead and have not had any problems so far. Best of Luck
   — Vicki S.

July 23, 2004
YES they are covered by insurance - I go to the doctors office twice a month and they are covered - Basically pay $4.82 a shot....
   — star .

July 23, 2004
My shots are covered. I go once a month, and there is no co-pay because it is a nurse visit. I am two years post op. I have Kaiser HMO.
   — Allison M.

July 23, 2004
My insurance (Guardian) covers it 100%. I get one injection monthly.
   — Hazel S.

July 23, 2004
Janet...I don't know which type of surgery you had. I had proximal RNY on 1/5/04. My surgeon told me I needed to take B12. The problem with an oral B12 is this...B12 is only absorbed in the portion of the small bowel which has been bypassed, so you can't take an oral supplement, swallow it and get any benefit from it. But, there is a "sublingual" B12. This is placed under the tongue and is absorbed directly into the blood stream thru the blood vessels under the tongue, just as nitroglycerin is absorbed from under the tongue for heart patients who take the nitro for chest pain. You simply place the small pill under your tongue and it dissolves pretty quickly. I got mine at GNC and it was less than 7 dollars for a box and I believe there were 36 pills in the package. I place one pill under my tongue once a week, so you can see the package lasts quite a while. Hope this helps...good luck and God bless.
   — Katherine F.

July 24, 2004
The sublingual B12 work great for me and if you look up puritans pride on the net and go to there web site you can buy 2 bottles and get 3 free.
   — Penney S.

July 24, 2004
I used to get the injections at the Dr. office. They charged my ins company $18, of which they paid 100%. With a move, lost job and alot of insanity, I lost my health insurance. I talked to my doctor and he gave me a scrip for the B-12 to get self injections. A three years supply was like 3 or 8 dollars. (of which insurance will pay for, but the charges usually won't even meet your co-pay) My sister is a nurse, so I had her teach me how and where to give myself the shots and I was good to go.
   — RebeccaP

July 24, 2004
My insurance pays for it. My doc wrote a script for the syringes, enough for a year and then another script for the B-12 which I fill monthly. The syringes cost me about $2.50 for 12 and the B-12 is about $3.00 a month.
   — smmeow

July 24, 2004
I just got on the b-12 shot. I take 1x a week for a mo. then 1x a mo. I am having my friend do it who is now a nurse. I got my first shot at teh Dr. office my ins. covers it. I paid for a 1 yr. supply of the b-12 liquid $3.55 and for 15 surgnges and needles .25 ea. NOT bad at all. I was also told you can give them to yourself but there is NO WAY I could do it so I am not :)
   — Janine Greenwood

July 25, 2004
Give yourself or have someone else give you the shot..I get mine from the Mayo CLinic, needles and b12 $9 for 3 months worth..I put an ice cube on the spot, I use leg, first and then dont even feel the shot..
   — Kathy S.




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