Forums
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
Hello All, I'm on 21 days Revlimid a month, costs $10,000. My health insurance picks up all but $300, and Chronic Disease Fund the $300, since I am not working now after recent stem cell transplant (SCT). Thank God for the help, since I would not be able to afford the drug. Hope it works!! Best wishes to all of you, Carol
-
CarolY - Name: Carol
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 10/09
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
My Revlimid was ordered through the oncologist - when I received 14 tab for $4,850, I was floored. I'm paying more than you. What drug company do you deal with?
-
anejotwo2
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
I just heard from my friend in Vancouver BC. The cost for a years treatment is 100,000 CDN Dollars.
This is just so greedy of the drug company, as this drug is simply Thalidomide that would cost approximately $0.25 a pill. They get so rich off our terrible sicknesses. Shame on them.
This is just so greedy of the drug company, as this drug is simply Thalidomide that would cost approximately $0.25 a pill. They get so rich off our terrible sicknesses. Shame on them.
-
Khobbs
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
I would like to begin Revlimid, my insurance does not cover it, and I am trying to persue any options. Any suggestions please?
-
MBrennan
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
MBrennan,
If you are in the United States, probably the best thing to do is contact Celgene Patient Support using the information at this website, http://www.celgenepatientsupport.com/ . It gives the following number to call to get information on how the company might be able to help you: 800-931-8691.
Also, be really, really sure your insurance doesn't cover Revlimid. It may just be that they require your physician to fill out a form to get approval for you to receive Revlimid. Don't give up too easy!
R.
If you are in the United States, probably the best thing to do is contact Celgene Patient Support using the information at this website, http://www.celgenepatientsupport.com/ . It gives the following number to call to get information on how the company might be able to help you: 800-931-8691.
Also, be really, really sure your insurance doesn't cover Revlimid. It may just be that they require your physician to fill out a form to get approval for you to receive Revlimid. Don't give up too easy!
R.
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
My insurance covered Revlimid, but because it was a brand drug I had to pay the 40% co-pay which was $2400 a month.
I have had to fight since April to 1. Get this drug while my multiple myeloma is spinning out of control 2. Find a way to get on Revlimid because nothing else was working and 3. Fight for my third SCT but an allogeneic because of a tiny little one line sentence in my insurance policy (I've had two autos previously)
This fight was enough to take me down. The red tape I had to go through, paperwork, I had to dig deep to find everything I needed to get on MD Anderson's program, meanwhile, I felt like the multiple myeloma was eating me away. Finally September 30, 2010 everything was approved. I've been on REV/DEX for one 21 day dosage and on my second 21 day dosage. At the end of my first 21 days, my blood tests proved success. My Iga and others all dropped by half.
In the back of my mind I have to wonder what would have happened if these types of programs were not available. It's like the movie "The Shoot Horses Don't They" I would have been done in for sure. I have to ask myself is this right or fair? It's a hard question to ask, because there is so much that is wrong in this world and especially the United States and the F/U'd drug companies and insurance companies when ultimately the bottom line are their profits.
My focus is not on the negative trek I've had to take to get where I want to go, my allo is scheduled for January 7, 2011. I know there are many more out there experiencing the same or worse. I am not hungry, I have a beautiful grandson, I have the ability to figure my own problems out (even though I believe the meds are getting to me a little mentally). I have two beautiful children and I live where it is warm in the winter. Gosh so much has changed in my life. Definitely not the same person I was prior to my diagnosis in March 2009.
I wish all who are suffering the red tape syndrome much success. Tricia
I have had to fight since April to 1. Get this drug while my multiple myeloma is spinning out of control 2. Find a way to get on Revlimid because nothing else was working and 3. Fight for my third SCT but an allogeneic because of a tiny little one line sentence in my insurance policy (I've had two autos previously)
This fight was enough to take me down. The red tape I had to go through, paperwork, I had to dig deep to find everything I needed to get on MD Anderson's program, meanwhile, I felt like the multiple myeloma was eating me away. Finally September 30, 2010 everything was approved. I've been on REV/DEX for one 21 day dosage and on my second 21 day dosage. At the end of my first 21 days, my blood tests proved success. My Iga and others all dropped by half.
In the back of my mind I have to wonder what would have happened if these types of programs were not available. It's like the movie "The Shoot Horses Don't They" I would have been done in for sure. I have to ask myself is this right or fair? It's a hard question to ask, because there is so much that is wrong in this world and especially the United States and the F/U'd drug companies and insurance companies when ultimately the bottom line are their profits.
My focus is not on the negative trek I've had to take to get where I want to go, my allo is scheduled for January 7, 2011. I know there are many more out there experiencing the same or worse. I am not hungry, I have a beautiful grandson, I have the ability to figure my own problems out (even though I believe the meds are getting to me a little mentally). I have two beautiful children and I live where it is warm in the winter. Gosh so much has changed in my life. Definitely not the same person I was prior to my diagnosis in March 2009.
I wish all who are suffering the red tape syndrome much success. Tricia
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
The cost of Revlimid just went up 4.5%. It's now about $85,000 per year, according to this article from Dow Jones posted at the NASDAQ stock market website.
Highlights from the article:
"Celgene Corp. (CELG) raised the price for its flagship blood cancer drug Revlimid by about 4.5% in the U.S. last week, bringing its cost to about $85,000 per year."
"Revlimid is given on a 28-day cycle that now costs about $6,500, a Celgene spokesman said."
"The company has stopped providing updated information on the average time that patients stay on the drug, with its last update putting the duration at about a year."
Highlights from the article:
"Celgene Corp. (CELG) raised the price for its flagship blood cancer drug Revlimid by about 4.5% in the U.S. last week, bringing its cost to about $85,000 per year."
"Revlimid is given on a 28-day cycle that now costs about $6,500, a Celgene spokesman said."
"The company has stopped providing updated information on the average time that patients stay on the drug, with its last update putting the duration at about a year."
-
Terry
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
If you are not able to get insurance to cover the cost, check with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for Co-pay assistance. In addition, many drug companies such as Celgene offer assistance for patients who cannot afford the cost of their drugs.
-
blustein - Name: Richard Blustein
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
$408.33 per 25mg pill...ouch! My insurance covers, but I have to pay the first $1500.
-
AZScott - Name: AZ Scott
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Dec 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
Wow, after reading these responses I'm feeling quite grateful that I am in a Phase 3 clinical trial in which the trial is paying for my Revlimid and Velcade. I'm also taking dexamethasone which I do have to pay for but that's just a $10 co-pay.
The trial is for 8 cycles (I just finished cycle 1) and includes a "maintenance therapy" period : it says that "after your first six months of treatment, you will begin maintenance chemotherapy of LLD [dex. and lenalidomide] given identically as it is described above during induction. You will continue to receive maintenance treatment for as long as your myeloma is not getting worse or the side-effects are not getting to be too extreme, or until you decide to stop treatment therapy."
Then under "post-progression treatment" it says that "If your disease gets worse, your treatment will be decided by you and your study doctor. However, it is recommended that you proceed to treatment with BLLD [bortezomib, dex. and lenalidomide]...and/or transplant depending on your original plans. If you choose to continue with BLLD therapy, the drugs and related costs will not be provided by the NCI or drug company any longer since you are not on this experimental treatment therapy any longer. You will be responsible for these costs."
Not sure how this would apply in my case since I happened to get put in the "arm" of the study that incorporates the Velcade along with the dex/Revlimid right off the bat. But at any rate, it looks like as long as I don't progress, the study will keep paying for the drugs, although they say later on that it most likely won't be for more than three years. Hm. Anyway, it will be interesting to see how much I'll have to pay once I do have to go through my prescription plan. It's a good plan-most of our co-pays are $10--but none of us have ever had to take a drug nearly this expensive before.
Karen
The trial is for 8 cycles (I just finished cycle 1) and includes a "maintenance therapy" period : it says that "after your first six months of treatment, you will begin maintenance chemotherapy of LLD [dex. and lenalidomide] given identically as it is described above during induction. You will continue to receive maintenance treatment for as long as your myeloma is not getting worse or the side-effects are not getting to be too extreme, or until you decide to stop treatment therapy."
Then under "post-progression treatment" it says that "If your disease gets worse, your treatment will be decided by you and your study doctor. However, it is recommended that you proceed to treatment with BLLD [bortezomib, dex. and lenalidomide]...and/or transplant depending on your original plans. If you choose to continue with BLLD therapy, the drugs and related costs will not be provided by the NCI or drug company any longer since you are not on this experimental treatment therapy any longer. You will be responsible for these costs."
Not sure how this would apply in my case since I happened to get put in the "arm" of the study that incorporates the Velcade along with the dex/Revlimid right off the bat. But at any rate, it looks like as long as I don't progress, the study will keep paying for the drugs, although they say later on that it most likely won't be for more than three years. Hm. Anyway, it will be interesting to see how much I'll have to pay once I do have to go through my prescription plan. It's a good plan-most of our co-pays are $10--but none of us have ever had to take a drug nearly this expensive before.
Karen
-
Karen - Name: Karen
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 51