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Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
I have Aetna insurance and have a $5K out of pocket each year along with a 20% copay for drugs with a max copay of $250. My 28 pills of REV cost me $250 a month plus the $5K in copays for office visits etc. So this disease cost me about $8K a year. Hopefully my wife stays healthy or we'll be living under a bridge. Jerry.
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JBarnes - Name: Jerry Barnes
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Aug 17, 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
My co-pay is $17.
I haven't seen the full cost yet, my insurance provider is REAL SLOW about providing cost information. I don't expect to see anything for at least another 2 months.
I am of two minds about the cost of drugs. It takes years and years and hundreds of millions of dollars to get a drug to market. I fault most of this on the government. The government and their rules have drove most of the drug makers in this country out of business. That is why some drugs are at nearly the black market point. The companies deserve to get a return on their investment and turn a profit. Generally that profit is used to research and produce new drugs.
NO I do not work for or represent and drug company.
As far as testing of blood work and labs tests. They are all a bunch of crooks and over charge you to death. For some reason starting this year the four different labs and hospitals I use do not keep my insurance info on file and I spend hours on the phone and web site each week getting each silly little (and over priced) lab test billed to my insurance provider.
I haven't seen the full cost yet, my insurance provider is REAL SLOW about providing cost information. I don't expect to see anything for at least another 2 months.
I am of two minds about the cost of drugs. It takes years and years and hundreds of millions of dollars to get a drug to market. I fault most of this on the government. The government and their rules have drove most of the drug makers in this country out of business. That is why some drugs are at nearly the black market point. The companies deserve to get a return on their investment and turn a profit. Generally that profit is used to research and produce new drugs.
NO I do not work for or represent and drug company.
As far as testing of blood work and labs tests. They are all a bunch of crooks and over charge you to death. For some reason starting this year the four different labs and hospitals I use do not keep my insurance info on file and I spend hours on the phone and web site each week getting each silly little (and over priced) lab test billed to my insurance provider.
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Old37 - Name: Jim
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May2-13
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
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?
There are many foundations that will help with the cost of Revlimid. Contact Celgene directly to get information. Celgene may even provide help. good luck.
Janjohn
> I would like to begin Revlimid, my insurance does not cover it, and I am
> trying to persue any options. Any suggestions please?
There are many foundations that will help with the cost of Revlimid. Contact Celgene directly to get information. Celgene may even provide help. good luck.
Janjohn
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Janjohn
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
I have low risk MDS and have been getting transfusions for several years. I have been on a number of chemo therapy treatments but the only one that helped for 4 months was Cytoxin.
This past winter/spring I was averaging around 11 days between transfusions. On 2/11 my Dr at MD Anderson suggested Revlimid 10 based on a recent BMB he completed. I started Revlimid on 3/9/2013. I had 4 transfusions after that date, the last being 5/7/2013. My HGL then went to 9.9 and has remained there +/- a few ticks. The only problem I have had is that my platelets went down to 12 on 7/31. I went straight to a platelet transfusion that afternoon . On 8/2 they were 41; 8/8, 26; and 8/12, 55. The day of my transfusion I stopped Revlimid and Caumidin and then started up again taking my dose every other day on 8/12. Tomorrow (8/19) I will get my weekly cbc and see what is happening. On Wednesday 8/21 it will be 12 weeks since my last RB transfusion. If your platelets go below 30, you should stop Revlimid!!
I am 78 y/o and have been under Dr. care for 5 years. I had a procedure for an A Fib problem a year ago and now feel great especially after that "fix" a year ago.I'm on Medicare. I ajlso have a private plan and thus have no cost for the medicine. Good luck to everyone and I hope Revlimid is a magic bullet we are all looking for.
John L.
This past winter/spring I was averaging around 11 days between transfusions. On 2/11 my Dr at MD Anderson suggested Revlimid 10 based on a recent BMB he completed. I started Revlimid on 3/9/2013. I had 4 transfusions after that date, the last being 5/7/2013. My HGL then went to 9.9 and has remained there +/- a few ticks. The only problem I have had is that my platelets went down to 12 on 7/31. I went straight to a platelet transfusion that afternoon . On 8/2 they were 41; 8/8, 26; and 8/12, 55. The day of my transfusion I stopped Revlimid and Caumidin and then started up again taking my dose every other day on 8/12. Tomorrow (8/19) I will get my weekly cbc and see what is happening. On Wednesday 8/21 it will be 12 weeks since my last RB transfusion. If your platelets go below 30, you should stop Revlimid!!
I am 78 y/o and have been under Dr. care for 5 years. I had a procedure for an A Fib problem a year ago and now feel great especially after that "fix" a year ago.I'm on Medicare. I ajlso have a private plan and thus have no cost for the medicine. Good luck to everyone and I hope Revlimid is a magic bullet we are all looking for.
John L.
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Janjohn
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
I have two (2) incurable cancers. I am currently taking Afinitor for the tumor in my pancreas/liver. My co-payment is $2700 for 28 pills.
I'm on Medicare and have a Prescription Plan. Medicare will not pay for Oral chemo.
I've been on three (3) different chemos for Multiple Myeloma. Had problems with all of them. My Oncologist recommends Revlimid but my co-payment would be even higher than the Afinitor. I would be looking at probably $5 or $6K a month. I'm not wealthy but my IRA income disqualifies me for any assistance.
It's hard enough living with Cancer but not to be able to afford the drug is simply criminal.
Pat
North Andover, Ma.
I'm on Medicare and have a Prescription Plan. Medicare will not pay for Oral chemo.
I've been on three (3) different chemos for Multiple Myeloma. Had problems with all of them. My Oncologist recommends Revlimid but my co-payment would be even higher than the Afinitor. I would be looking at probably $5 or $6K a month. I'm not wealthy but my IRA income disqualifies me for any assistance.
It's hard enough living with Cancer but not to be able to afford the drug is simply criminal.
Pat
North Andover, Ma.
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EmmaCat
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
I have received help with my Revlimid costs from 2 foundations: Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) and Patient Assistance Network (PAN). They each will provide up to $10,000 for chemotherapy based on income qualifications. Up to now this has saved us as our deductible has been $10,000 of which most has been chemotherapy.
While it's wonderful that drug companies are propping up the U.S. GNP, something needs to shift. Recent news report on NPR around the lack of research being done in the area of antibiotics due to these drugs not being profitable, while drug companies focus on maintenance drugs (like Revlimid) where they can charge "an arm and a leg" in our "free" market is more than frustrating. And then to know what this drug goes for in Australia, the UK, China ....
While it's wonderful that drug companies are propping up the U.S. GNP, something needs to shift. Recent news report on NPR around the lack of research being done in the area of antibiotics due to these drugs not being profitable, while drug companies focus on maintenance drugs (like Revlimid) where they can charge "an arm and a leg" in our "free" market is more than frustrating. And then to know what this drug goes for in Australia, the UK, China ....
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
I pay $55 per month. Insurance pays the rest.
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wesley - Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July, 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
My co pay is 8 bucks per month. I'm very fortunate that the VA covers all meds, labs, etc since this is covered under Agent Orange exposure. I was amazed when I found how expensive Revlimid is. I read somewhere that Zometa was around $3400.00 per infusion. Could that be true? With labs and other drugs (dex etc) treatment cost must approach 20 K per month.
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Waldopepper - Name: Wayne m
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 64
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
Emmacat-
I also have Medicare and a part D prescription plan. My initial copay for Revlimid was $4000+ which put me in and out of the donut hole in the one prescription. Then my copay has been about $450 per prescription. I qualified for a grant from the Chronic Disease Fund to pay for my Revlimid and haven't had to pay any of the amount of it for the 6 months this year that I have been on Medicare.
Have you applied for assistance from any of the funds that give grants for medical costs for cancer/Multiple Myeloma treatment? Most of them have fairly good income levels to qualify. It's worth checking them out even if the end you don't qualify, you never know. Also, have you called the drug company patient service departments to inquire about a grant for helping to pay for the medications that you take from their companies. I have heard that the manufacturer of Revlimid often helps people out.
It sounds like either you don't understand your prescription plan or you purchased one that isn't very good. It is really worth your while to learn all of the ins and outs of the plans that you look at. For Revlimid, and I would bet your other cancer drug, your doctor will have to apply for a authorization for the plan to pay for the drug. Revlimid is a tier 5 drug and is handled differently from other drugs. You also need to look at the drug formulary for what drugs are on it for your prescription plan. If Revlimid, and/or your other drug aren't in the formulary, then you should consider switching to a prescription plan that has them both in their formulary. That is a critical piece of information to have.
Hopefully this information helps you with finding a prescription plan that serves you better.
Nancy in Phila
I also have Medicare and a part D prescription plan. My initial copay for Revlimid was $4000+ which put me in and out of the donut hole in the one prescription. Then my copay has been about $450 per prescription. I qualified for a grant from the Chronic Disease Fund to pay for my Revlimid and haven't had to pay any of the amount of it for the 6 months this year that I have been on Medicare.
Have you applied for assistance from any of the funds that give grants for medical costs for cancer/Multiple Myeloma treatment? Most of them have fairly good income levels to qualify. It's worth checking them out even if the end you don't qualify, you never know. Also, have you called the drug company patient service departments to inquire about a grant for helping to pay for the medications that you take from their companies. I have heard that the manufacturer of Revlimid often helps people out.
It sounds like either you don't understand your prescription plan or you purchased one that isn't very good. It is really worth your while to learn all of the ins and outs of the plans that you look at. For Revlimid, and I would bet your other cancer drug, your doctor will have to apply for a authorization for the plan to pay for the drug. Revlimid is a tier 5 drug and is handled differently from other drugs. You also need to look at the drug formulary for what drugs are on it for your prescription plan. If Revlimid, and/or your other drug aren't in the formulary, then you should consider switching to a prescription plan that has them both in their formulary. That is a critical piece of information to have.
Hopefully this information helps you with finding a prescription plan that serves you better.
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
"They" are threatening to put me on Revlimid as a maintenance drug after I get 'over' my recent SCT. (I'm 61 days out).
Thank heavens for Kaiser Permanente.. I know I have some problems with doctor choice, but I can deal with that when my prescriptions have a $5 copay.
Now all I have to do is hope that Obamacare doesn't mess me up when I have to switch to Kaiser's 'Senior Advantage' program along with Medicare next August.
Thank heavens for Kaiser Permanente.. I know I have some problems with doctor choice, but I can deal with that when my prescriptions have a $5 copay.
Now all I have to do is hope that Obamacare doesn't mess me up when I have to switch to Kaiser's 'Senior Advantage' program along with Medicare next August.
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63