Aa
new guy, same story, cost of bx???
I,m 53 and have been in great health my whole life, or so I thought. Had some pain,(gall bladder) was given a blood test, then the shocker!! Hep C 1a, 35 years. You've heard, (experienced) the story. I am self employed and under insured, 10k deductable then 70% My question is does anyone have an idea how much a bx cost? fibroscan? thanks ps I have never posted on anything before so forgive any dumbness.
Thanks guys, ps born in New Orleans, live near Atlanta. Checking on a valopicitabine trial.
If you are from New Orleans there are many facilities there, if I remember right. Many College Medical Units and they practice out of most of the hospital facilities. You should be able to get plenty of help. Don't give up, just keep searching each one of them.
Sorry you have to go through this, but remember you are not alone.
If you are fixing up properties there, treatment can make you very tired. We have some that have managed to continue working; but in construction it is not going to be easy. So, make your decision wisely according to finishing the properties or have someone that can back you up on bad days. Don't get me wrong in some cases it can be done, just slower.
Good Luck,
Cajun
Sorry you have to go through this, but remember you are not alone.
If you are fixing up properties there, treatment can make you very tired. We have some that have managed to continue working; but in construction it is not going to be easy. So, make your decision wisely according to finishing the properties or have someone that can back you up on bad days. Don't get me wrong in some cases it can be done, just slower.
Good Luck,
Cajun
I just want to add that I didn't get a biopsy due to my ascites. I asked my MD if his advice to me regarding tx would be any different if I did have a biopsy and he said, no.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Sorry for your news. We've all been there. Most of us had NO idea we had it and know that shock all too well.
You did the totally right thing posting on this forum. People here have all the practical advice because they've lived it.
My insurance cut me off at 48 weeks, but I am doing 72 weeks of treatment. I took Kalio's advice...called Commitment to Care and voila - they are paying for all my meds with no deductible, nothing. And it did not require me to be broke (I still work fulltime) nor did they ask for assets or anything. They just simply ASKED me what I made - that was IT.
it would definitely be worth calling them. While I don't have any advice on the biopsy I'm sure someone will....but I wanted to say WELCOME - I'm sorry for your news but....if you have to have a disease this is at least a good one to have. Usually very slowly progressing and there is a cure for it, even though the treatment is hard it is doable to maintain a life while on it.
You did the totally right thing posting on this forum. People here have all the practical advice because they've lived it.
My insurance cut me off at 48 weeks, but I am doing 72 weeks of treatment. I took Kalio's advice...called Commitment to Care and voila - they are paying for all my meds with no deductible, nothing. And it did not require me to be broke (I still work fulltime) nor did they ask for assets or anything. They just simply ASKED me what I made - that was IT.
it would definitely be worth calling them. While I don't have any advice on the biopsy I'm sure someone will....but I wanted to say WELCOME - I'm sorry for your news but....if you have to have a disease this is at least a good one to have. Usually very slowly progressing and there is a cure for it, even though the treatment is hard it is doable to maintain a life while on it.
Dont worry about the assets. It is not an asset based program. I have a few rentals too and they only go by after tax income. They didnt even askabout assets. Qith two handicapped kids you should qualify easily to get your drugs free of cost. I have BCBS too and they were terrible, dont worry! The COmmitment to Care program has provided all my drugs to me, what a blessing that is.
Speak to the doctor about your limited insurance, they often will "adjust" the costs for patients but you need to discuss it with him. Good luck try not to worry too much. Also discuss the need for the biopsy with the doctor, are you having symptoms? How does your bloodwork look?
Speak to the doctor about your limited insurance, they often will "adjust" the costs for patients but you need to discuss it with him. Good luck try not to worry too much. Also discuss the need for the biopsy with the doctor, are you having symptoms? How does your bloodwork look?
FYI I believe the contacts others have given you - commitment to care - and others for rescue drugs (Procrit and neupogen) have very generous income requirements, I seem to remember someone saying you had to make less than 70,000. even with rental property the actual income from that can be partially written off for upkeep. These are drug companies not welfare and do not have anywhere near the restrictions. They really do help too. On treatment some people become anemic, when that happens Procrit is prescribed and that is somewhere between 1700 and 2000 each shot. this is a weekly shot. So it really is worth looking in to and even getting all st up before you start treatment.
I am so sorry for your recent news and situation. I also was very suprised to find out I have Hep C (sexual assault) and I too DO NOT have health insurance (living out of US for over 2 years). Unlike you, because of the incident and my acute symptoms, they diagnosed the illness almost immediately, so I did NOT have to do a biopsy. The health insurance issue was a BIG one for me. I almost stayed abroad to get the meds for free (socialized medicine). Instead I took the risk, returned and got help from Roche's patient assistance program (1-877-734-2797). I DO pay for Dr.'s expenses out of pocket, but I explained to them my situation, and, since the initial visit, I see the Hepatologist Specialist Nurse Practitioner, which costs a lot less than the Dr.. Your situation, with your wife and 2 handicapped children to support, being self-employed, being geno 1 (me too) and not having health insurance sounds very scary. I shared my story with you to give you hope and an actual experience of things working out for someone who was also in a scary situation. I read the responses from the other Forum members, and it sounds like you got some GREAT feedback about some possible options for yourself. I wish you all the best. You, and your family, will be in my prayers. Aiuta
Does the name Orleans mean you live in New Orleans?
I got my Biopsy paid for by Schering-Plough because I was in a clinical trial sponsored by the company. Go to this site and find out if there are any clinical trials going on in your area.
---> http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct
Also call some of the University Hospitals in your area. Ask for the Hepatology Dept., tell them your story and ask if they have any programs or clinical trials you would qualify for. They will want all your lab results from your Doctor and if you have had Hepatitis A or B in the past or any kind of blood transfusion. Because you are "treatment naive" (meaning never been treated for HepC )
you should qualify for loads of these trials. They will pay for all the drugs,biopsy,labs and sometimes pay for transportation. They will also followup labs for six months.
Good luck to you.
Sharon
I got my Biopsy paid for by Schering-Plough because I was in a clinical trial sponsored by the company. Go to this site and find out if there are any clinical trials going on in your area.
---> http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct
Also call some of the University Hospitals in your area. Ask for the Hepatology Dept., tell them your story and ask if they have any programs or clinical trials you would qualify for. They will want all your lab results from your Doctor and if you have had Hepatitis A or B in the past or any kind of blood transfusion. Because you are "treatment naive" (meaning never been treated for HepC )
you should qualify for loads of these trials. They will pay for all the drugs,biopsy,labs and sometimes pay for transportation. They will also followup labs for six months.
Good luck to you.
Sharon
i'm self employed and have BCBS with a $2500 deductable for meds and i called roche for assistance thinking i made to much and had to many assets but i figured i would give it a try and much to my susprise i was approved. i told them about the deductable and thought maybe they would pick up the difference but they covered the whole thing. the application was one page filled out and returned with previous year tax form. nothing asked about assests, bank accounts, etc. i think the yearly income limit is around 65K. best of luck
I have BCBS and they told me the meds will be 35 dollars a month.
I was happy to hear that!
I was happy to hear that!
1a, ofcourse,2.1 vl Is $2000 enough to cover everything to do with the bx? I can scrape that up, yeah for visa. Once I meet my $10k deductable I might can get some other stuff done. I have BCBS. They may not help much with the meds. I think you have to get approved or beg or something, at most they would cover only 60%. As a carpenter,working nites and weekends, I have managed to fix up a couple of rental properties. I'm afraid they may want me to sell them before I can get any help. I have 0 retirement and very little SSN built up. With the odds so poor <50% and cost so high I'm not sure I can treat without leaving my wife and 2 handicaped children impoverished and alone. Like many others, I hope to be able to hold out for the better meds.
Try checking out local hospitals, medical centers or
universities that may do research work. I know Pacific Medical center in San Francisco has a program where you can apply for assistance and get free care including labs, MD., tx, etc. They don't advertise it and you can't find out about it on-line. Try making a few phone calls.
Besides the program from Roche for Pegasys there is also one from Schering-Plough for thier interferon. They'll cover the meds but not MD, labs, etc.
Good luck
universities that may do research work. I know Pacific Medical center in San Francisco has a program where you can apply for assistance and get free care including labs, MD., tx, etc. They don't advertise it and you can't find out about it on-line. Try making a few phone calls.
Besides the program from Roche for Pegasys there is also one from Schering-Plough for thier interferon. They'll cover the meds but not MD, labs, etc.
Good luck
the biopsy is around $2000 or you can get a fibrosure test like myown posted. the fibrosure blood test is around $300.
Hi Orleans,
Sorry to hear of your insurance problems. you're not alone with that problem, several on forum have been in same situation and have received help from the programs that kalio has mentioned to you.
You may want to ask the doctor for a fibrosure blood test in the mean time. Biopsy is considered the gold standard, but since you will be waiting to hear from assistance programs, you may want to take this test during your wait.
I had a fibrosure test and it showed that I have 0 fibrosis. The doctor will tell you that this test is only reliable on the low end, (such as my result) or the high end such as with cirrohsis.
Its done as a simple blood test. I had gone to a leading hepatologist and he told me that because mine showed 0 damage, in that case, it is actually more accurate than the biopsy. This was new news to me and some others also.
It can't hurt to have the test,,but remember if the scores fall in the middle ranges, as my doctor told me, they would not rely on them.
I would discuss this with your doctor and follow his advice.Wish you the best. Wish you the best and let us know how things work out for you.
Sorry to hear of your insurance problems. you're not alone with that problem, several on forum have been in same situation and have received help from the programs that kalio has mentioned to you.
You may want to ask the doctor for a fibrosure blood test in the mean time. Biopsy is considered the gold standard, but since you will be waiting to hear from assistance programs, you may want to take this test during your wait.
I had a fibrosure test and it showed that I have 0 fibrosis. The doctor will tell you that this test is only reliable on the low end, (such as my result) or the high end such as with cirrohsis.
Its done as a simple blood test. I had gone to a leading hepatologist and he told me that because mine showed 0 damage, in that case, it is actually more accurate than the biopsy. This was new news to me and some others also.
It can't hurt to have the test,,but remember if the scores fall in the middle ranges, as my doctor told me, they would not rely on them.
I would discuss this with your doctor and follow his advice.Wish you the best. Wish you the best and let us know how things work out for you.
You might try the patient assistance programs offered by the drug companies that make the treatment drugs if you decide to treat. Commitment to Care is 800 521 7157. They supply PegIntron. The Pegassist.com site is the program for Pegasys. If you can find a reasonably priced doctor or clinic to write the scrip. they can help you with the drug costs by supplying he drugs for free.
I believe Fibroscan can only be had through a few doctors involved in the trial and I don't know what the cost is or if there is a cost, one in Miami and one in Boston. What state are you in?
I was told a biopsy runs at least several thousand dollars. It is a good idea to have one, but many patients start treatment without them, the thinking being the biopsy is not needed to make the decision to treat or not because you have decided to treat. I'd get one if I could, but if you can't and want to treat don't let not having a biopsy stop you.
Welcome to the board, glad you found it. We all know the feeling of finding out about having this virus so you aren't alone.
Do you know any of the specifics yet? Like your genotype or viral load? How about your liver function tests readings? AST/ALT?
I believe Fibroscan can only be had through a few doctors involved in the trial and I don't know what the cost is or if there is a cost, one in Miami and one in Boston. What state are you in?
I was told a biopsy runs at least several thousand dollars. It is a good idea to have one, but many patients start treatment without them, the thinking being the biopsy is not needed to make the decision to treat or not because you have decided to treat. I'd get one if I could, but if you can't and want to treat don't let not having a biopsy stop you.
Welcome to the board, glad you found it. We all know the feeling of finding out about having this virus so you aren't alone.
Do you know any of the specifics yet? Like your genotype or viral load? How about your liver function tests readings? AST/ALT?
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