Cost of meds

[YayaMommie]

How much do your monthly ms meds cost you out of pocket?

[Lor301]

Forgot to say I'm on Tecfidera...

[Lor301]

I pay nothing... I'm very lucky to qualify for the Biogen copay assistance program

[YayaMommie]

Thank you all for the information.  It has calmed my nerves a bit.  

[EJNILB]

I'm on Tecfidera. After insurance there is a $300 co-insurance which is covered by the co-pay assistance program. So, I don't pay anything. Of course, I am always concerned that will change.

[HVAC]

Yayamommie,
        The National MS Society is working to make laws to get rid of the tier system state to state. I just went to my state legislature last week talking about this to my legislators. People with MS need to have these drugs be affordable. Many insurance companies are looking at the tier system for the future.

Alex

[YayaMommie]

Alex
My insurance put the meds on tiers 3 and 4 which means I have to pay a large chunk of it.  (They are really vague about percentages etc  because I know they have deals worked out with manufacturers to pay less than "retail" so they just literally quote a price for me to pay.)  Nothing is under $1,000 a month copay for me.    
I'm hoping that I can get something worked out with the manufacturer like the MS Society recommends.  This is a ridiculous runaround.  

[HVAC]

My insurance charges $150 a month. Some insurance charge a percentage of the cost of the drugs. That is what we are fighting against in NC.

Alex

[doublevision1]

I pay nothing for my employer drug plan (I'm on LTD now) that covers most of my medication, and I pay about $30/month in premiums for a plan that bills the provincial government for the balance. No co-pays. I have no other out of pocket costs because physician appointments, MRIs, hospital care, and all other medically necessary care is covered by provincial health care in Canada.

[firerescue9]

Good insurance and help with the copay from another plan has allowed me to have no out of pocket expenses at this time.  As it is possible that I may have to change DMD's in the near future this may change.

[Artanis12]

My insurance changes in less than a month now, but at present, I'm paying $60 for the Tecfidera, and maybe $20 total, per month, for a few others.  I have alerted my neuro to the change and he and the pharmaceutical reps are  prepared to do the legwork with the new insurer, but it's scary to think my new insurance might not cover my med.  We'll see.

And yes, I read your other post about the insane cost, and like you, I'm livid about it. The taxpayers, insurance companies, and especially us - the patients - are getting massively ripped off, stressed out, and in many cases, thrown under the bus. There is simply no way that pricing a med at nearing twice the national median income, is justifiable.  No way.

If I was younger and in better health, I'd be moving out of the US, quite simply. (No one would have me at this point)  I'm tired of the attitudes here, towards a lot of things, but especially healthcare.

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/05/25/408021704/multiple-sclerosis-patients-stressed-out-by-soaring-drug-costs

[immisceo]

Sorry. Didn't see you'd reposted! I'm on a drug study. The investigational drug and all hospital tests and visits are covered and travel costs are reimbursed.