November 15, 2018
First Data Bank, in collaboration with The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is changing the status of nearly 200 vitamins and supplements from “prescription only” to “over-the-counter” starting January 1, 2019.
The FDA has never reviewed the vitamins and supplements on this list in terms of their effectiveness for the treatment of any condition. Often, manufacturers market these products as “helpful” for specific conditions.
The new “over-the-counter” status means Premera will no longer cover the cost of these vitamins and supplements. Premera’s pharmacy benefit only covers drugs designated as a prescription drug. The only exception is fluoride, which requires mandatory coverage by the Affordable Care Act.
See the full list of vitamins and supplements changing from prescription only to over-the-counter status.