Thanks to you both...
USCGirl- I was covered for years with a group plan thru my employer ( they used Blue Cross).

Became unexpectedly unemployed and exhausted COBRA so now have to have an Individual Plan. Signed up with Blue Shield. Double checked with both Blue Shield and Blue Cross of California (they are separate entities and not affiliated in California) and NEITHER has Allegra or Zyrtec on their formulary for INDIVIDUAL plans! Maybe they do for Group, I'm not sure.

An insurance broker told me today that when Claritin went OTC, a lot of insurers dropped Zyrtec and Allegra. The oral antihistamines that Blue Shield of CAlif. DOES cover are Periactin and Vistaril (Atarax), both of which are not quite as popular (can you spell l-e-s-s e-f-f-e-c-t-i-v-e?) as Allegra or Zyrtec. (Actually Atarax IS popular but isn't it mainly for dematologic allergy??)

Anyway, bottom line is--- less demand. Therefore less pay-out $$ to the insured. No-brainer!


Fortunately this Blue Shield individual plan I got will cover Nasarel and Flonase steroid sprays which work for me depending on the allergen in question.

Am planning to soon get back to work with my old employer and my benefits will then kick in again.
Until then, I'm going to stick with Nasarel which helps... and try Claritin as you suggest.

Fingers crossed.

zuzu xx