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[summer7799]

I know everyone has different insurance/coverage. But I'm very curious as to how much $ you paid for your meds? I will be treating with the new meds and I have no idea how much it will cost. I assumed insurance would cover most, but I don't know. Please share, thanks!

[researchmonkey326]

Also, you may get a shock if you need a rescue drug - my insurance, Humana, would not cover me for Neupogen because they consider it off-label usage.  Thankfully, although I came close, I never got where I had to have it - would have been $6000 for four shots if I remember correctly.  NYgirl7 is right - doesn't even count the copays on AD's, steroid creams, dermatologist visits, cough medicine and wigs, lol.  I'm in a trial that covers the cost of my meds and have still dished out hundreds of dollars on this stuff including ice cream for when nothing else helps.

[smaug48]

Nobody has mentioned the deductible. Small companies have been dealing with increasing healthcare costs by choosing "catastrophic" plans with high deductibles.  

The deductible for me and my wife is $5,000. In a given year, that means I pay the first $5,000 of my medical bills. That's keeping me from treating again currently.

smaug

[joemc34606]

I have united health care, just recieved medication today. $55.00 co pay for riba and interferon, no copay on incevick Vertex pays copay on incevick.
Joe

[alagirl]

by the way, the hematologist I see tells me that the government won't approve payment for procrit for most of their cancer patients on medicaid and medicaire.  It's a big deal with the hematology crowd lately at their conferences.  The govt misuses studies that are actually pro procrit to prove anti procrit points so as not to have to cover it.

[JJ_06]

I'm paying $35 for the riba and interferon and I don't have to pay a copay for incivek because the pharmacy had coupons from the drug company to help with the copay.  So a total of $35 a month for the triple therapy.  I thank God that I have such great insurance and within two days they approved my treatment.

[meakea]

I did treatment with riba and interferon (not the triple therapy) and my co-pay was a total of $15 a month.  Everyone's co-pays will vary depending on what their insurance coverage plan is.  You should check with your insurance company and they should be able to tell you exactly what it will be.  It will depend on the co-pays pre-determined for the tier category that the drugs fall into.  

[alagirl]

Holy Cow.  That triple therapy must be expensive.  I only did the two combo therapy.  I also got my riba and peg from a specialty pharmacy but they DID mail it to me every month.  My copay was either $25 or $30 per month with bcbs of alabama (can't remember which - it would prob be $40 now as they've gone up a little).  They used some type of ice pack to mail it to me and got there on time every month.  That turned out to be a good thing because I was hospitalized a lot and the hospital carried riba but I had to bring my peg shot with me because they actually couldn't get that at their pharmacy.

My copay was and still is $40 for a 10 pack of procrit.  AD's vary so much dependent upon type and whether or not there is a generic that it's not even worth discussing.

[nygirl7]

Nor the Procrit at $6,000 a box of ten or Neupogen or Ambien or Paxill or any AD or Syntrhoid if your thyroid goes or rash creams and lotions and magic mouthwash and uh ice cream ;)

[lynda607]

To clarify your comment, just the Incivek alone can cost up to $50,000.  That does not include the monthly interferon at around $2,500 and the monthly ribavirin $600 - $1000.

[cubgirl]

My pharmacist who brought first batch said my co-pay for everything is $160.00/month.  I guess I have great insurance as I heard this 3 drug combo cost $50K.  Listen to your doc, who has your best interest in mind.

[curiouslady1]

I went on a round about with the insurance company.  I have an insurance that farms out to another insurance etc.  So I spent all morning one morning nailing it down.  Turns out these all come from a specialty pharmacy so can't be mail ordered.  I can get the drugs only from one specific pharmacy in town and then must go to pick it up.  I can get a price for the Ifn and Riba but not for the new drugs.  Those have to "authorized" separately and I will definitely pay a higher co insurance on those after the doctor and insurer go through a song and dance and a dog and pony show together.  Bottom line is, don't begin to take one drug until you have all the drugs sitting there in front of you because they may not all be available at the same time.  So, bottom line is that with my plan, the ifn and Riba cost $10 to $20 a month apiece co-insurance.  The victrellis or teleprevir will cost about $80 a month because it is not in the regular formulary for Hep C yet.  The last drug will be made available only if the insurer approves it for my condition (in other words, they could act as if they know more than the doctor which they usually do when having to shell out money).  By the way, my insurance is pretty much top of the line for government workers who have negotiated the contracts through unions.  I think it doubtful you could do much better.  Despite all this, I am trying to get into a research trial.  Research trials pay for everything except for meds related to side effects and other ancillary meds (tho they will prescribe if you need it).  You will get a stipend to boot.  My reasoning however is not about the money; but, rather, the fact I am ifn naive and wish to use it to further an understanding of the disease, the type of work I do combined with the effects of the various drugs that are out there.  Hope this helps.  

[peaches45]

I am not sure cause there are so many plans, however my doctor told me not to worry if mine doesn't pay or cover it because there are foundations that the drug companys work with to help someone who can't pay for treatment. I am starting treatment in Oct.
becki

[HectorSF]

There are many different insurance coverage plans. I you want to know for you call you insurance company (its on the insurance card. "Patient support". Something like that) and find out exactly what your coverage is.

Hector