Oppose Cigna’s Decision to Not Cover the Cost of OxyContin in 2018

I have RSD, an autoimmune chronic pain disease that has no cure. It is rated highest in pain level on the McGill Pain Scale. Unless you have walked in my shoes you have no right to take away this medication. It is labeled the suicide disease and that is with preventative medication. What the hell do you think is going to happen when you take medication away. If you continue to do this. You watch, suicides will go up and it will be on your hands.

The treatment regimen for RSD is individualized and tailored to each patient. Making changes like this cause patients unnecessary pain, distress, and can cause progression of their disease.

This is disgraceful!!

When do those who suffer have a voice? Because criminals are criminal, those who suffer are punished. Stop this change! There are better ways to address the problems than punishing innocent people who suffer.

Once abuse-resistant OxyContin (pure oxycodone, the opioid medication in Percocet) was approved in 2010, its use immediately declined by 66 percent. But, between that time and 2013, overdose deaths from heroin (more accurately heroin and/or fentanyl) more than doubled, as addicts were forced to turn to these cheaper, more available, and more dangerous drugs. Not only did heroin/fentanyl overdose deaths go through the roof, but outbreaks of HIV (from needle sharing) were subsequently seen in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Is this what Cigna wants?

This is a disgrace.This is all about the bottom line for Cigna $$$$

Physicians are the only ones who should decide which drugs their patients should be prescribed!

I am not a drug addict...I am a chronic pain patient and my doctor and I will decide on which medication and dose helps me live a semi-decent retirement life--not a pharmacist.

This is legitimate treatment of chronic pain. There is no other recourse for many. Leave the treatment to the Drs.

Oppose this!

As a long time chronic pain patient, I rely on these kinds of medications. The fact that an insurer is stopping coverage of these medicines is an abuse of the contract between patient and insurer. This is not rooted in any sort of safety or concern for their customers. You are punishing innocent pain patients who need these medicines for NO good reason. You cannot punish pain patients who have not shown any signs of addiction, abuse, or criminal behavior. This is an over reach of your area of authority and is practicing medicine without a license. The starting and stopping of medicine, and denial of care are within the realms of doctors, not insurance companies.

They are not addicts nor are they thieves and criminals who break the law to obtain these much needed medications so badly needed by those who just want to be able to maintain some semblance of a normal life without pain or a reduction of pain. It is tie to recognize the rights of pain patients and stop the pity of the criminals who chose to break the law and end up dead or overdosed, they get what they deserve. Also it is time to break the chain of supply that help the criminals obtain these drugs with punishments that will send a message to others that decide to follow their crimes.

Please don't discontinue, my health depends on it!

Many legitimate pain patients are suffering terribly because of having the very pain meds that gave them some relief taken away from them involuntarily. This is terribly inhumane and must be stopped and reversed. The pendulum has swung way too far. Thousands of patients with debilitating injuries and/or health conditions are not getting the relief they deserve in this civilized first world country and it is a terrible and tragic travesty.

It is bad enough we can't get treatments that would help us covered by ins. Now they are not wanting to cover our meds. They are going to see alot more suicides because they won't cover meds that help with some of the pain. They need to walk in our shoes for a day. Hurting 24/7 with pain meds it help us get a little relief.

Chronic pain patients who have drug testing and pill counting are not usually the ones abusing their opioid prescriptions. This will only hurt chronic pain sufferer's quality of life.

I have RSD/CRPS, and this drug helps my pain.

I suffer from RSD. The pain is so severe most of us struggle with suicidal thoughts. We struggle just to get in the shower and can barely participate in our own home life. When I was on adequate doses of pain meds I could still work and cook for my kids. Now I am bed bound and lay on 4 heating pads begging the universe to find it's way to curing RSD.

What about us with long term Chronic severe pain...not my fault , not an addiction, paid my dues. Why are we caused to live in more pain because of people who abuse system. If they prove newer meds work then fine but til then its so wrong.

This will effect millions with legitimate chronic pain and their lives are challenging enough.