Pimples. They come, they go. You might put some acne cream on, stress out for a few days and then probably forget you ever had a pimple. However, for some, acne is not just a pimple or two. In these rare cases, treatment can last for months and involve doctors visits, contracts and blood tests. The worst part is, this treatment costs a lot more than a tube of Clearasil. While most insurance companies will cover the cost of curing such acne, the University of Florida's student health care insurance does not.
Isotrentinoin, commonly known as Accutane, is an oral medication that treats severe cystic acne using high dosages of vitamin A. Accutane is designed to treat acne that has not been remedied with other treatments, such as antibiotics and topical creams, according to the Accutane FDA Medication Guide Web site. Accutane is a dangerous drug that has been associated with blurred vision, bad headaches, diarrhea, nausea, seizures and strokes, according to the FDA Medication Guide. The drug has also been linked to serious birth defects and mental health problems, including depression and suicide. Despite its danger, Accutane is still considered a miracle drug by many users because of the results. It could also be considered a nightmare to pay for because of its high cost, especially for students at the University of Florida who use student health insurance. Laura Tipton, the pharmacy manager at the Student Health Care Center, said that Accutane is not covered by student health care insurance. "A lot of students take prescription acne medications," Tipton said. "But no acne medications are covered." Tipton said that all acne medications should be covered in the student health insurance plan. Accutane is about $200 to $300 a month depending on the strength, she said. Because of the high price of Accutane, only two students currently purchase Accutane from the Student Health Care Center, Tipton said.
Most students purchase the drug elsewhere, either off-campus or outside of Gainesville. Dr. Christian Johnson, pharmacist at the Walgreens on Archer Road, said that a lot of students purchase Accutane from his pharmacy. "We probably have about five a week and about 20 a month," Johnson said. "They are predominantly students." Johnson said that Accutane is covered by most health insurance policies. He agreed that it should be covered by most. "If the condition is serious enough to warrant the use of the medication, then yes," Johnson said. Johnson agreed that more students come to his pharmacy than the Student Health Care Center because of issues concerning insurance. There are generic alternatives to Accutane which are cheaper, Johnson said. Most students use these alternatives. Daniel Cook, 19, uses one of these generic alternatives, Claravis, and is in his fourth month of treatment. Cook purchases the drug from his home town of Fort Myers because his insurance plan covers the cost. "It's kind of a pain," Cook said. "I have to drive home once a month for blood tests and my mother has to send me the pills as she gets them."
Cook said he doesn't understand why it's not covered in the student health care insurance policy. "It would be so much more convenient if I could buy Accutane on campus," Cook said. "I feel like most of the people who are on Accutane are students," he said. "They shouldn't have to worry about paying for such an expensive drug." "I only pay $7 a month for Claravis," Cook said. "If it was any more than that, I don't know if I could bring myself to buy it."
While student health insurance does cover a drug like Plan B (the morning after pill), it does not cover a drug that cures something painful and embarrassing like cystic acne. For now, students who are on Accutane or considering it will have to either purchase the drug off-campus or tolerate the high cost in the Student Health Care Center. | 
