Cost of Tx

[daniel2u]

I am counting my blessings this morning.  My Pegasys plus ribavirin Tx is paid for.  I am wondering how much this Tx would have cost me.  
Daniel

[mike716]

Thanks a lot. I'll try and contact them.

[can-do-man]

Mike, during my tx when i reached 48 weeks i was unsure if my insurance would pay to to extend tx meds for 72 weeks, while waiting i called SP. Told them of my not knowing if insurance would cover.

The lady i spoke with was very nice and told me only our earned income would count. They didn't care about my rental income or other assets i had. My income alone was over 30k a year, my wife also was working (but does not carry insurance) I was lucky and my insurance gave me no problems but i was told by SP they would cover the meds if they did. Their commitment to care is very liberal.... Best to you

Bill, been a while, i take it your still on your LOOOONG tx. journey??? Sounds like you still got it together. Hope all is well with you.

can

[Bill1954]

HI Mike,

I can’t directly answer your question regarding their income cut-off point. They seem to hold that fairly close to their chest; I can’t tell you why. I CAN tell you that this assistance is not designed solely for the indigent population; it’s set up for the working poor in this country as well. A wild guess would be around 30K yearly, but it might vary substantially.

While I believe SP’s Ready-Pen delivery system requires refrigeration, the old-style vial-and-syringe does not. Both are commercially available; although SP *may* only dispense the vial-and syringe product through their PAP.

I bring up the refrigeration issue because one product might be more amenable to overseas shipping than the other, if you get my drift :o).

Hmm, contacting them might pose a problem. They have a toll-free number (1-800-521-7157), but I doubt that number connects with overseas calls. You can sure try, though. Here is a little more from HCV advocate:

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/PAP.pdf

I also seem to recall an online registration form available in PDF; you might be able to fill and fax to Commitment to Care, but I imagine at least some phone correspondence will be needed.

Let us know how things go.

Take care—

Bill

[mike716]

Thanks very much for your help with this, Bill.

Well, I'm a U.S. citizen and have an address in New York, so I could always come back home to qualify.

Let me see if I've got this right. Schering-Plough, if not Roche, will provide all the meds (or at least the two principal ones) to someone whose income last year was low?

Do you happen to know what the cut-off is? I have a very low income for a retired American, which is why I ended up coming to Argentina for dental work. But last year I cashed in some annuities in order to reinvest them and pay the dentist. If Schering only looks at last year, that might disqualify me. Sounds like a bad system.

But it's worth a try. Can't hurt to ask them. Is there an info service at Commitment To Care? How do I contact them?

Mike

[Bill1954]

Hi Mike,

I can’t speak for Roche, but Schering-Plough’s program is income based, rather than asset based; i.e. Bill Gates might qualify if he’d had an off year.

They never questioned my assets, nor was I asked to fill out any financial statements, other than to provide the last year’s federal income tax info.

However, you probably have to reside in the U.S. to receive the meds; this needs to be verified with Commitment to Care, though.

Best to you—

Bill  

[mike716]

Wouldn't I have to give them what I've saved up for my retirement first?

Mike