Cost of Copaxone

[JTRF]

I am signing up for Medicare and discovered my contribution on Copaxone will be approximately $5000 a year. On my old insurance my payment was $600 a year.  Living on a fixed income I won't be able to continue Copaxone if I don't find help, shared solutions doesn't help with people on Medicare.  Anyone have this problem?

[SarahL2491]

Medicare will not pay for Copaxone, and I think the Part D which is drugs, which is now required, will put it in a very high category and expensive.  I'll keep looking for you

[SarahL2491]

When you go on Medicare, consider a Medigap N policy.  When I started taking Tysabri, considered an outpatient procedure, Biogen, the parent company paid for the first 3 doses, since I was already diagnosed when I took out the policy.  Now between them, they pay 100%.  When I went to have my pacemaker replaced, I paid nothing, they paid 100% between them.

I'm not sure what to tell you about Copaxone, since its self administered.  I asked about it when I was diagnosed and my doctor said no.  I'm assuming that meant there wasn't much help.  Have you checked to see if your state has help for fixed income people?  I know medicare often sends me literature about how to obtain extra help.  I'll save it when they send me more and reply back to you.

[HVAC]

Costco only charges 15% above the actual cost of drugs. That does not help with DMDs.

Alex

[anon07072023]

What the heck?! I don't get it. Where's the sense in that? I had no idea. :-(

[maxthecat43]

800-887-8100 is the number for Shared Solutions.   It says that they have medicare part d specialists,  that may be able to help.

[maxthecat43]

How ridiculous that these programs either won't or can't work with Medicare!  

[HVAC]

Many drug assistance programs do not work with Medicare. I have a high deductible insurance and just have to bite the bullet each year and pay $10,000-$15,000 out of pocket plus premiums. We manage with one small income. We owe a lot.

Alex

[Sailorsong]

From my understanding due to the laws governing Medicare a lot of assistance programs are not allowed to help out with the co-pays.

Dennis

[anon07072023]

I will be switching to Medicare when I run out of COBRA on my disability. I didn't know that about the price of Copaxone on Medicare. And it sounds like Teva/Shared Solutions doesn't work with them on it for the cost?

[doublevision1]

Hi, I'm not in your situation but just wanted to suggest something I've seen others here talk about. Apparently Teva has a patient assistance program who provides substantial support. It seems to me that the co-pay can be pretty nominal. I believe the first step in making a request is to contact Shared Solutions. Good luck!