Any chance Medicare would pay for Avastin?

[ConcernedInNY]

Though FDA approved, to take Avastin for ovarian cancer, it would be off-protocol.
Any chance Medicare would pay for the Avastin?  Or does Medicare always say no to covering Avastin for Ovca?

[Jan214]

I just read an article about medicare expanding it's cancer policies to include additional off label uses for some cancers and I can't find it now.  IIt was a bulletin by the NCI, but I can't remember what it was called. hope you have found something out, because I have heard good things about the Avastin.  Good luck
Jan

[crecco]

I am on medicaid through public aid as I had no insurance when I was dx. They are currently paying for my Avastin treatments.
  Hopefully it will not be much longer until Avastin reaches full approval for the treatment of ovarian cancer. I really feel strongly about this as it is not fair that anyone be with held any treatment that might work for them. I hope that you will find an answer soon.
I wish you the best of luck!
  Chris

[nyc lady]

Allen - it has been a while.  There are organizations within the states can and will help pay for drugs, have you contacted the American Cancer Society?  Also, keep appealling to medicare.  Living in NY there are other programs such as EPIC, I don't know if they cover chemo, but, it might be worth looking into you.

Pam

[Tybear]

I live in Canada, and I have to pay out of pocket for Avastin. I've had my doctor appeal to the drug company themselves for more assistance with the enormous cost, but they just denied it. It is not indicated for use in ovarian cancer, so as far as they are concerned, I am taking it expierementally. I've talked to Cancer Care Ontario and they've told me I will not find coverage for it - it's just to expensive.
Your best bet is to try and find it through a clincial trial, because then it won't cost a thing. There are no trials available to me at the moment, so my family is paying nearly $6300 per treatment. The upside to this is that it has shrunk my tumors by nearly half after only 3 treatments - how do you put a price on that? I feel so stuck...
Good luck to you - I hope your able to at least try it. It doesn't work for everyone, but the side effects are minimal and it's worth a shot.
Becky

[ConcernedInNY]

They Medicare A&B- both of my parents are retired.  The Medicare pays 80% and they pay another insurance to get the 20% supplementary.  They live here in NY, but Im afraid that since Avastin is not yet approved specifically for Ovca, that the insurance might deny the claim.

Its bad enough women have to go through this nightmare, then on top of it, you have to worry about being able to afford certain medications.

Its just not right.

[alanpvegas]

It should be approved...but it will depend.  Is she on straight medicare, medicare HMO, or pay for service plan?  Also, if rejected, just appeal...most things can be overturned on appeal.

[Terrin2]

I have a friend on Avastin who is also on Medicare.   As far as I know she is covered, lives in NYC.