Aa
Hep c coverage
Does your insurance pay 100% of cost ?
Thanks for the information , I really apprecitate it. I am sure it will all work out , I must be just having a bad day.We will see in the new year.
If you have minimal liver damage, you really have a number of options ahead of you. You can actually wait until all of this shakes out. There isn't any dire need to go rushing into treatment immediately. In fact, you might want to wait until all the payment issues get sorted out at various levels of government for both drugs. Then there are the new drugs coming along and while I wouldn't want to bank on those if I was advanced liver damage, if you're early stage and your hepatologist is monitoring your status regularly, i.e. biopsy or fibroscan every 3 - 4 years, along with a CBC (Complete Blood Count) test to check your blood levels, then you can see how things shake out.
As for payment assistance, I know the drug companies are offering assistance to Canadians for Incivek and Victrelis. Considering your insurance company pays 80%, you're probably in better shape than some as they'll likely cover the balance.
On top of that, if you give it a bit of time, whatever your provincial drug plan coverage is, they'll likely be on board soon as well. IN Ontario, Victrelis was just approved under the provincial government's EAP program and we're told Incivek is not far behind.
In addition...there ARE clinical trials in Montreal and Suzeeque is right on the money on that. If you go to clinicaltrials.gov and use "HCV and Montreal" without the quotes as your search criteria, it will bring up what's happening.
There happens to be a Phase III TMC435 trial recruiting for Genotype 1 treatment naive.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01289782?term=HCV+and+Montreal&rank=4
And another Phase III for BI210335 for treatment naive G1's
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01297270?term=HCV+and+Montreal&rank=11
There's more but you can do some legwork yourself and get used to searching on that site.
I'd agree with the others.....take some deep breaths....keep learning about the disease and your options...sounds like you have more than your dour "treat now or die" prediction would let on...and hang in there.
Trish
As for payment assistance, I know the drug companies are offering assistance to Canadians for Incivek and Victrelis. Considering your insurance company pays 80%, you're probably in better shape than some as they'll likely cover the balance.
On top of that, if you give it a bit of time, whatever your provincial drug plan coverage is, they'll likely be on board soon as well. IN Ontario, Victrelis was just approved under the provincial government's EAP program and we're told Incivek is not far behind.
In addition...there ARE clinical trials in Montreal and Suzeeque is right on the money on that. If you go to clinicaltrials.gov and use "HCV and Montreal" without the quotes as your search criteria, it will bring up what's happening.
There happens to be a Phase III TMC435 trial recruiting for Genotype 1 treatment naive.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01289782?term=HCV+and+Montreal&rank=4
And another Phase III for BI210335 for treatment naive G1's
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01297270?term=HCV+and+Montreal&rank=11
There's more but you can do some legwork yourself and get used to searching on that site.
I'd agree with the others.....take some deep breaths....keep learning about the disease and your options...sounds like you have more than your dour "treat now or die" prediction would let on...and hang in there.
Trish
Thanks everyone , the problem is I was disgnosed sfter routine blood tests, the ususal ay, not knoing here it came from , anyway after the shock and seeing the specialist , all the lab etc .... it is a long time waiting . I guess I am getting restless of not getting everythng organized , and the reassurance It will be taken care of financially. I guess I chill out till Janaury and enjoy the holidays best I can. Thank you
check your insurance again some policies have an "out-of-pocket" maximum. This means that if you meet that maximum you wouldn't have to pay anymore for the remainder of the year.
That's kind of dramatic, isn't it? You say that you have minimal liver damage... Why are there only two options, either treat right now or die?
You're really all over the place. I agree with doncheery... Several deep breaths might be in order. It might be a good idea to make these kinds of decisions AFTER you've spoken with your hepatologist...
I know that there is an assistance program in Ontario. The form is on the Toronto Liver Clinic's website. Does your hospital have that kind of info on their website?
Calling the nurse several times a week probably won't do you much good. I'm sure there's only so much info they will give you over the phone. A nurse is probably not able to give you info about clinical trials in the context your question was asked. A nurse isn't able to tell you whether or not there are any studies for which you are eligible.
Write down your questions and save them for your visit with the hepatologist in January.
I know it's difficult to think of much else after you've been diagnosed. Try to find something to occupy yourself with! When I'm overwhelmed with 'what ifs', I spend time with my horse. He's the best therapist in the world. And keeps my mind off all the doom and gloom. :)
You're really all over the place. I agree with doncheery... Several deep breaths might be in order. It might be a good idea to make these kinds of decisions AFTER you've spoken with your hepatologist...
I know that there is an assistance program in Ontario. The form is on the Toronto Liver Clinic's website. Does your hospital have that kind of info on their website?
Calling the nurse several times a week probably won't do you much good. I'm sure there's only so much info they will give you over the phone. A nurse is probably not able to give you info about clinical trials in the context your question was asked. A nurse isn't able to tell you whether or not there are any studies for which you are eligible.
Write down your questions and save them for your visit with the hepatologist in January.
I know it's difficult to think of much else after you've been diagnosed. Try to find something to occupy yourself with! When I'm overwhelmed with 'what ifs', I spend time with my horse. He's the best therapist in the world. And keeps my mind off all the doom and gloom. :)
Merke has programs to help pay copay for Vic. and PegInterferon RediPen-I only pay 20 bucks a month for each-go to the drug/pharm co website and call the toll free #. You don't have to document income-under $50,000 annually, just sign up for the assistance. You need to have a specialty pharm co. dispensing prior to meds being prescribed to get the co-pay assistance. Accredo-my ins. specialty pharm customer service did this w/me on conference class and got me set up so I could afford tx. I would suggest looking at pharm co websites.
" if I have this disease an d I can't asfford treatment, so be it and I will die," Take a deep breath. In fact take a few. As someone stated each policy is different. That said I am sure the drug company and your insurance company can reach an arrangement. Also my understanding is that in Quebec RAMQ will be clearing Vic sometime early in the new year. Based on what you stated in previous posts regarding your condition you have time. The mandate of the bodies involved ,govt, drug, insurance is that nobody will die due to lack of treatment. You are with good people ( Wong at Royal Vic ) You are doing the right thing by staying on top of it. Get the info. Weigh the pros and cons. Make a decision.
I spoke to the person in charge of research at the hospital where my specialist is and she told me there is nothing at the moment through the drug companiies as far as trials go . So , I am fed up this crap, if I have this disease an d I can't asfford treatment, so be it and I will die,I am seeing my specialis in January and we will see, they have my insurance info and willtske it from there . And whoever asked about the liver it is mild inflmation low v/l which I know means nothing and of course the famous 1a.
There is assistance available in Ontario. I don't know what kind of means test is used...
The pharmaceutical companies are offering help. Does this not apply to Canada? Have you tried calling? Ie, incivek says they cover up to 20% of copayment. http://www.vrtx.com/patients.html
All the info I have seen on the new drugs say 3 to 5 years, but it's all speculation.
All the info I have seen on the new drugs say 3 to 5 years, but it's all speculation.
I just searched clinicaltrials.gov with the terms 'hepatitis c AND montreal' and there were several results. One is a phase 3 and recruiting.
Yes it depends on the type of policy you have, Ironically, this is the kicker, I am a licensed insurance broker, and where I work th rplanis garbage. Go figure ? I also live in Quebec, 80% n o can do, my hepc doc is going to 1have to get the drug co to pay for the differrence, therr are no clinical trials here in Quebec ,so that's out pf the question . What else is threre, I guess I can't get treatment , I am tapped out financially 0
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I also have Manulife and all my drugs (as well as massage, chiro, dental, eyeglasses, homeopath, etc etc) is paid 100%. I don't pay a monthly premium, either. Ontario, Canada. :)
So it just goes to show that yes, every policy is different.
My HCV treatment, however, is covered entirely by the drug company as I'm participating in a trial.
So it just goes to show that yes, every policy is different.
My HCV treatment, however, is covered entirely by the drug company as I'm participating in a trial.
I live in Canada , it's different here , the drugs only gpt approved 1 in august the other in september. Now our gov't is ***** footing around and there is a big meeting this weekend my hepc doc will be there with our healthcare big wigs to decide who in Canada and each province will get to treat , in otherwords treatment will have to meet protocal. My docs nurse said she will be in touch with me next week .Iam to stsrt treatment in new year, Also how long do you think it will be for new drugs to come out ? 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016.......
Petition the drug companies for assistance. Someone here I forget who did that and does not pat their co-pay.
My insurance compsny is Manulife pays 80% thr other 20 % I cannot afford, the treatment here is 7000.00 a month . Hello !
What's the point of your question. Are you trying to figure out what you will pay,or seeing how much you pay relative to others?
I see you are in Canada so maybe my answer wont be specific to you.Hopefully some of our Canadian friends will chime in with some good answers cindy
There are literally hundreds of insurnce policies.They are not all the same.Who do you have as a carrier?And just because you have a policy from say Blue Cross/Blue Shield doesnt mean the copays will be the same.It depends on how your specific policy is written.
My insurance requires their standard co-pays for the medications.
RBV is generic and cheap, INC is brand name and costs me more, the INT costs $200 because it is an injectable. My cost for the meds is $300/month. I haven't seen bills from the doctor yet.
RBV is generic and cheap, INC is brand name and costs me more, the INT costs $200 because it is an injectable. My cost for the meds is $300/month. I haven't seen bills from the doctor yet.
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