[desertrodent]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by desertrodent on Tue Feb 22, 2011 5:52 am

kaygcromie wrote :
> I'm just curious if anyone has been on Revlimid and what the cost of the
> drug has been for you, or should I say for the Insurance Company. I am
> starting Revlimid tomorrow for the first time and I have to tell you I'm
> blown away by the cost of this drug, $10,000 for 28 pills. I was in a
> state of shock when I opened the envelope and saw the cost of it. I can't
> believe the drug companies can get away with charging these outrageous
> prices!!

Wow! I knew that myeloma treatment was expensive, but the cost of those pills is outrageous. Now I know why doctors keep lying to me and saying that I do no need treatment yet. I have an HMO that probably would never pay for myeloma payments unless SUED. Does anyone else on here have an HMO? Thank you.

[Londa]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by Londa on Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:22 am

I'm sorry to here that you have this terrible disease. I was diagnose Oct. 14, 2010 at age 41, now 42. I started Revlimid and Dex. on Nov. 1, 2010. I have to say that yes Revlimid is very expensive $8,000.00 for 21 pills for me, but, I have great insurance through my husbands job I only have to pay $10.00. Thank God! There are sites to help with the cost of your medicine. I pray that you get the help that you need. Just remember to make it through this we have to stay strong and stay positive! Multiple Myeloma won't beat us!

[Anonymous]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by Anonymous on Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:10 pm

MBrennan wrote :
> I would like to begin Revlimid, my insurance does not cover it, and I am
> trying to persue any options. Any suggestions please?
Ask your Doctor if you could take Velcade. It is an alternative to Revlimid, some consider it to be better if your responsive, and the big help for you may be that since it is given in IV, health insurance covers it and not your prescription plan.

Hugh

[ejs752]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by ejs752 on Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:50 pm

I am starting a Revlimid/Dexamethasone treatment plan while enrolled in a clinical trial at the MSKCC. I was told by the supplier that the 21day supply of 25mg Revlimid would cost $18000 if I was not in a clinical trial. This is craziness to the extreme.

[katiemcastellanos]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by katiemcastellanos on Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:00 pm

I am fairly new to the forum. My husband who is only 40 years old was diagnosed in January. As you can imagine we were are are still in sort of a state of shock. My husband had severe back and shoulder pain and had been suffering for quite some time. By chance he had an MRI and that is when we opened this can of worms. All I can say is that yes, Revlimid is very expensive. But it is because of Revlimid that I have my husband back. My husband feels better than he has in a long time. Thanks to the Good Lord he has not had any side effects and is back coaching my 6 year olds tee ball team. I have heard a lot of people complaining about this medication and yes, you are all correct in that it is very expensive. I for one think that it is a small price to pay to have my husband back. I am thankful for this medication, because without it, who knows where we'd be. Please look at the bright side of things. At lease there is medication that can help us or our loved ones, this my friends, is PRICELESS!

[pete10k]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by pete10k on Fri May 13, 2011 10:27 am

When confronted with the outrageous price of Revlimid 10 mg ($10,000 per month) and the number of online canadian pharmacies selling lenalidomide for $400 per month, our oncologist said that he had a number of patients who were ordering it online from canada and "doing quite well."

We are not able to get Medicare Part D PDP until the next enrollment period in October. until then we plan to buy online from Canada. Is anyone else doing this?

[maria1224]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by maria1224 on Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:01 am

My mother was prescribed Revlimid after experiencing too many side effects from Velcade. The process seems to start with her doctor starting the paperwork. Within a few days, we received a phone call from a pharmacy in FL. They informed us that her medicare RX drug plan covered all but $2250. The information they asked was: What was her income/social security monthly, How many people living in household, What did she think she could afford. At this point we told them $100/month. Within a few days, we were approved for that amount. I wish I had been more prepared to answer the last question because it is hard to predict how long someone will need this drug and so many expenses have come up since being diagnosed with multiple myloma. My next research will be in November when she can change Rx drug plans, I doubt there is a plan that covers this drug, but I will try to seek it out.

[nancy524]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by nancy524 on Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:34 pm

If you do not have insurance you can get Revlimid FREE if you qualify.
I have Medicaid and have an $841 a month spend down, and got my Revlimid at no cost.
Talk with your doctor they should be able to take care of it for you.
My doctor got hold of Celgene and they sent forms for me to fill out, you need to give them your total gross income a month. I make about $2000 gross a month if this helps anyone.
You can find out more information on the Celgene website, and you can also apply there or call them.

[dubll]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by dubll on Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:57 pm

After my SCT I entered a protocal where I received Revlimid free to me. Eleven months later the drs. noticed I had an elevation of .2 in my M-spike and should not have been put into the protocol. I worked with a patient coordinator from Celgene, the manufacturer, and found I could only qualify, due to our income, for help from LLS. So in Jan of this year LLS paid all my expenses not covered by my presc. coverage. I have a supplemental policy and am on medicare. LLS fiscal year begins in July. When I reapplied I was told I did noy financially qualify. Celgene worked with me to find out what happened. Our income is too high--believe me we do not have a high income, but we just don't have the $10000 out of pocket to go it alone. Last year LLS was making exceptions, this year they are not. I am grateful for the help I received which got me into catastrophic coverage and for the rest of this year I have a $100 copay per month. If my multiple myeloma stays stable and I am still on Revlimid in 2012 my oncologist suggested Canadian drugs, which for 10 mg I can get for about $400 per month. Will be costly, but better than doing my copay. I would suggest anyone needing help to check out LLS and Chronic Disease Fund for help. Good Luck. Linda
Dx 2007, Igg Kappa

[drdiller]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by drdiller on Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:06 pm

I've been on 10mg/month Revlimid and 25mg/month Revlimid. My insurance company pays the $7000 or the $10,000 fees. At one point my insurance company denied pharmaceutical coverage because they changed the deffinition of treatment from chemotherapy to patient traditional treatment. They said because of this change, my maximum dollar amount covered was exceeded. The new Obamacare guidelines prevents new policies from setting a maximum amount covered. I changed the amount of my deductible, thus forcing a new inaurance policy to be written. I now have no maximum dollar ceiling in my drug coverage. The Obamacare guidelines also prevent insurance companies from denying new policies to people with existing medical condition. I suggest you look into opening a new insurance policy by changing companies or changing the "terms" of your existing policy. I know in the long run, all of our insurance costs will rise because of what I did. That is not good. But, being caught in the middle and not being able to pay these prices, it was the only way I could receive a life saving drug.