Insurance companies do anything they can to avoid paying out any money to you IMO.

As far as Lidoderms go...they will soon be generic...so your copay may be less.
Some companies will not pay out for Lidoderm at ALL unless you have a previous diagnosis of shingles.

Typically the insurance companies want FDA approval before paying out anything. Hence the appeal process for off label non-approved FDA actions.

Flector had a recent warning about causing potential liver damage with long term use.
http://www.arthritistoday.org/news/d...-damage025.php

This particular NSAID is used in the patch (and in compounded creams) because it is more fat soluble than other NSAIDs...like naproxen for example. So therefore, it crosses the skin, which has a fatty membrane barrier better. But unfortunately, this drug is quite toxic in any form. So because of this, the insurance will be hesitant to approve...because you may then need treatment for liver damage which is even more expensive to THEM!

Then there is the "patch" factor. Patches are quite expensive to design and manufacture safely/correctly. Getting the drug to come out of them at a steady rate, is quite complex. So the cost reflects this. (for example --note all the recalls on fentanyl over the years!).

There is an effective OTC thing you can try... Salonpas Pain patch. These are approved by the FDA even for severe pain.
They have 10% methyl salicylate in them (as opposed to the others they make which have less), so are worth a try.
http://www.salonpas.us/products/salo...n-relief-patch
The large beige one on the front of the box, is the new one.

I've used the Salonpas original one for years for my arthritis with good results. I haven't needed the new one yet.