Insurance coverage for mmj

leaffan said:

Maybe I should have asked if we want coverage for mmj?

All inclusive coverage....ie, purchased from an LP, or the cost of the equipment for your own home grown ( legal in the future I hope ).

Click to expand...

There kind of has to be coverage....while I my not need the money right now, maybe in five years I won't be able to grow anymore or be able to afford to buy it. In that instance, it would be nice if I simply had to pay a dispensing fee or percentage of the cost. Free would be ideal but that's fantasy speak!

The first thing an insurance company asks for is the drugs din.
Because we need to get prescriptions we assume that it must be like other drugs but its not.
Technically to the government its not a drug
Its the devil lol

DIN = Coverage...not necessarily. I thought din was just the way drugs were classified. I think TOtoke hit the nail on the head...a din would be acknowledgement from the government that mj has legitimate benefits....and you just know that won't happen if stephen is in power. We need to know how JT feels about this.

torontoke said:

The lady in ns won her case against the gov
She was on welfare and submitted all her reciepts etc and they refused to pay then after a court battle she won and now they pay her whole ticket.
It set precedence so now hc is kind of on the hook because they have been ordered to pay for hers

Click to expand...

I have read about this before...I have to do some research here....thanks

Din = drug inventory number

Its how they look up and order drugs on their computers. Without a din number the insurance companies told me they cant even look it up on their system.
If they cant find it on their computer how can they pay for it.

Its quite the tricky way to get around paying for it

WHATFG said:

I understand what you're saying gb...because mj is a natural substance, it will never get a din and therefore total insured coverage. However, once you start extracting the individual contituents you have then "altered" that natural substance. Some folks are still so scared of mj that they will believe that the improved version is safer, better, whatever bs they're spoon fed. Extractions are where big pharma is headed and the original plant are just a means to an end. If people revolt....maybe....

Click to expand...

An altered compound is synthetic.
To take a compound out of something and then say it's yours? Is the same deal.
You don't have to take the compound out. They do this in order to confuse the lines!
Exactly what GM is trying to accomplish and is what will fuck our planet up genetically.

YES.. I think government forced MMJ is medicine and should be approved.!
Specially if they want to make the tax they want.

I cant get into sativex and the way its made. Simply put. Its diluted weed oil. If you made it yourself. It would cost you 1000 times less and it would work the same if not better and you would never run out.

Yup... the peoples plant she be!!


coverage doesn't have to come down to a DIN NUMBER!!! so we can get away from this idea now as it won't be getting one and as Ive said..If it does. We're in deep shit!

WHATFG said:

I understand what you're saying gb...because mj is a natural substance, it will never get a din and therefore total insured coverage. However, once you start extracting the individual contituents you have then "altered" that natural substance. Some folks are still so scared of mj that they will believe that the improved version is safer, better, whatever bs they're spoon fed. Extractions are where big pharma is headed and the original plant are just a means to an end. If people revolt....maybe....

Click to expand...

Sorry my friend you are incorrect about the DIN information.
A Drug Identification Number (DIN) is a computer-generated eight digit number assigned by Health Canada to a drug product prior to being marketed in Canada. It uniquely identifies all drug products sold in a dosage form in Canada and is located on the label of prescription and over-the-counter drug products that have been evaluated and authorized for sale in Canada.

A DIN uniquely identifies the following product characteristics: manufacturer; product name; active ingredient(s); strength(s) of active ingredient(s); pharmaceutical form; route of administration.

Natural health products are identified by a NPN. This field is also coming under heavy legislation and regulation on due to companies selling crap. Not everyone just enough to wreck it for the rest.

What I don't understand is why they don't assign the Licensed producers the unique din instead of the strain. Because each producer could potentially have the same strain and have it turn out 20 different ways. So how would they relate that?

Well when i contacted my benefit company they told me they wouldnt cover it because it didnt have a din so i will respectfully agree to disagree.

Now when my lawyer submitted the forms to my car insurance company they didnt mention the din number so we shall see soon enough.

Meimei said:

Sorry my friend you are incorrect about the DIN information.
A Drug Identification Number (DIN) is a computer-generated eight digit number assigned by Health Canada to a drug product prior to being marketed in Canada. It uniquely identifies all drug products sold in a dosage form in Canada and is located on the label of prescription and over-the-counter drug products that have been evaluated and authorized for sale in Canada.

A DIN uniquely identifies the following product characteristics: manufacturer; product name; active ingredient(s); strength(s) of active ingredient(s); pharmaceutical form; route of administration.

Natural health products are identified by a NPN. This field is also coming under heavy legislation and regulation on due to companies selling crap. Not everyone just enough to wreck it for the rest.

What I don't understand is why they don't assign the Licensed producers the unique din instead of the strain. Because each producer could potentially have the same strain and have it turn out 20 different ways. So how would they relate that?

Click to expand...

Coldfx is a perfect example of shit sold to Canadians as a natural health product that has little or no positive effects. The reason they can't give pot a din is simple: it's a plant it varys in concentration within the same plant! It's not homogenous is any way. If you can't control every dose you can't give it a din. All joints aren't rolled the same and don't/won't burn the same. If you take big bong rip and leave the chamber full of smoke how much of a dose did you receive?

Meimei said:

Sorry my friend you are incorrect about the DIN information.
A Drug Identification Number (DIN) is a computer-generated eight digit number assigned by Health Canada to a drug product prior to being marketed in Canada. It uniquely identifies all drug products sold in a dosage form in Canada and is located on the label of prescription and over-the-counter drug products that have been evaluated and authorized for sale in Canada.

A DIN uniquely identifies the following product characteristics: manufacturer; product name; active ingredient(s); strength(s) of active ingredient(s); pharmaceutical form; route of administration.

Natural health products are identified by a NPN. This field is also coming under heavy legislation and regulation on due to companies selling crap. Not everyone just enough to wreck it for the rest.

What I don't understand is why they don't assign the Licensed producers the unique din instead of the strain. Because each producer could potentially have the same strain and have it turn out 20 different ways. So how would they relate that?

Click to expand...

This is the whole point....too many strains and variables to assign it a din....now extracting and measuring the THC, CBD, etc etc, will allow a din to be assigned to it just like Marinol, etc. it's no longer the whole plant we're looking at but the most effective components. It's about money and spin. It's not considered a NHP because it has no benefits as a schedule 2 controlled substance. It has to be kept down until someone is ready to cash in.

And further who says the government isn't already trying to control how much thc is in our meds? They control the size of the script for vets and cops.

Here's a semi-related useless fact that needs explanation. Why is Viagra covered under most insurance plans? Viagra is THE definition of 'recreational drug'. An 85 year old that wants to get laid has his prescription covered, but someone living with 24/7 pain does not? I wonder if we all swore mmj cured erectile dysfunction, we would have a chance at coverage? LOL

VIANARCHRIS said:

Here's a semi-related useless fact that needs explanation. Why is Viagra covered under most insurance plans? Viagra is THE definition of 'recreational drug'. An 85 year old that wants to get laid has his prescription covered, but someone living with 24/7 pain does not? I wonder if we all swore mmj cured erectile dysfunction, we would have a chance at coverage? LOL

Click to expand...

That's because the recreation side of it is considered a secondary therapy.
That's why some drugs are covered for some insurance ND not others.

Like how I am on a blood pressure medication called olmesartan. It's primary indication is for blood pressure and is typically covered under health care.
however, because my doctor prescribed it for inflammation, which is a secondary and not covered reaction, I have to pay the full amount of the drug even though! it should 100% be covered by my insurance all because I'm not using it for the condition prescribed.

So I went to HC too....what purpose does din serve=

A DIN lets the user know that the product has undergone and passed a review of its formulation, labeling and instructions for use. A drug product sold in Canada without a DINis not in compliance with Canadian law.

The DIN is unique and serves as a tool to help in the follow-up of products on the market, recall of products, inspections, and quality monitoring.

So a couple of thing jump out at me here not the least of which is the review of formulation. This I why I say extractions are the direction big pharma is headed. If they suddenly find out that one constituent solves some big medical dilemma/mystery you can bet your ass that there will be more fucking plants growing to get at that component to extract it than we'd know what hit us.

Labelling and instructions for use? At the risk of sounding dumb we've been told as patients we can only smoke dried mj and every LP has their own label.

So can we safely conclude that the federal government is not in compliance with it's own laws? Mj is a drug...the din is a tool for recalls ( haven't had recalls on med mari!) inspections ( how many QUALITY LPs shipping) and quality monitoring...QA causing a problem. Me thinks the SC is going to eat HC for breakfast in February.

VIANARCHRIS said:

Here's a semi-related useless fact that needs explanation. Why is Viagra covered under most insurance plans? Viagra is THE definition of 'recreational drug'. An 85 year old that wants to get laid has his prescription covered, but someone living with 24/7 pain does not? I wonder if we all swore mmj cured erectile dysfunction, we would have a chance at coverage? LOL

Click to expand...

Well I guess it comes down to your insurance policy. If you're paying for a policy pick one that covers what you know you'll need covered. If someone/company is paying explain to them what yor needs are and what you need covered. Probably won't change anything for you but you never know. Whoevers decision it is may have mercy on you. No all perscription drugs are covered by all plans anyway. Pot is expensive unless you grow it yourself period. $5g X150= 750. 750X 12= $9000 a year buying shwag for most people with in the mmpr. Double that for quality stuff from a lp(if that even exist). Insurance company's will deny ANY claim if they think they can get away with it. Insurance company's are betting the premiums you pay every month will be more then the amount they pay. And in most cases they win and make money. But that's not always the case. People get sick and the insurance co's have to pay more then they made off of you. So it's no surprise they will try to limit what they approve payment for even if it should be covered under your plan. So is it shocking that if your meds cost way more then the premiums paid for your coverage they will deny deny deny and hope you just go away?

A DIN is not the only answer. A medication must also be included in the provincial formularies (lists). Even if it is an approved drug, if there is another drug that works better, is cheaper, or more politically correct, it will be on the formulary and yours might not, so you may still be out of luck.

For example, Ontario's Trillium drug plan does not cover the triptans I take for migraines (any triptans from any manufacturer), and also does not cover the painkillers that I need if I can't get the triptans. So I'm pooched either way. Most government organizations like workers comp follow the approved provincial formulary. Most private insurance companies have their own lists, and they don't cover everything either.

Gmack420 said:

Well I guess it comes down to your insurance policy. If you're paying for a policy pick one that covers what you know you'll need covered. If someone/company is paying explain to them what yor needs are and what you need covered. Probably won't change anything for you but you never know. Whoevers decision it is may have mercy on you. No all perscription drugs are covered by all plans anyway. Pot is expensive unless you grow it yourself period. $5g X150= 750. 750X 12= $9000 a year buying shwag for most people with in the mmpr. Double that for quality stuff from a lp(if that even exist). Insurance company's will deny ANY claim if they think they can get away with it. Insurance company's are betting the premiums you pay every month will be more then the amount they pay. And in most cases they win and make money. But that's not always the case. People get sick and the insurance co's have to pay more then they made off of you. So it's no surprise they will try to limit what they approve payment for even if it should be covered under your plan. So is it shocking that if your meds cost way more then the premiums paid for your coverage they will deny deny deny and hope you just go away?

Click to expand...

Some really good posts in this thread....very cool.

Gmack...I agree with you. It comes down to your policy and your insurance company.
Insurance companies don't give a shit about you, they want to make as much money as possible.
Perhaps this is why one insurance company paid an MMAR patient one lump 20k sum to set up his home grow.
One time 20k versus 1k a month for years...
Money money money...we have to strive to make this work for us.

Meimei said:

That's because the recreation side of it is considered a secondary therapy.
That's why some drugs are covered for some insurance ND not others.

Like how I am on a blood pressure medication called olmesartan. It's primary indication is for blood pressure and is typically covered under health care.
however, because my doctor prescribed it for inflammation, which is a secondary and not covered reaction, I have to pay the full amount of the drug even though! it should 100% be covered by my insurance all because I'm not using it for the condition prescribed.

Click to expand...

I think it's considered off-label use. I had wcb tell me the same thing....you can't use that for pain when it's meant for seizures...ffs...when you've got chronic pain you'll do just about anything to lessen it.

I forgot about that second layer...the provincial formulary...

leaffan said:

Some really good posts in this thread....very cool.

Gmack...I agree with you. It comes down to your policy and your insurance company.
Insurance companies don't give a shit about you, they want to make as much money as possible.
Perhaps this is why one insurance company paid an MMAR patient one lump 20k sum to set up his home grow.
One time 20k versus 1k a month for years...
Money money money...we have to strive to make this work for us.

Click to expand...

If you're paying out of pocket for your coverage shop around and ask specific questions in writing to the company so there's no wiggle room.