I contacted the makers of Incivek and got enrolled in their co-pay assistance program (took like 2 mins to enroll in) they pay my $50 co-pay for that drug and my insurance picks up the big part of that one.

And the Patient Advocate Foundation-Copay Relief Program www.copays.org has a program that if you qualify they cover up tosomething like $8,000/yr in Meds (plus they will back pay up to a year if you show cc statements or proof you paid for the meds prior to being enrolled with them.) That one took a couple of weeks to get enrolled in and you have to submit paycheck stubs and things like that. They cover the co-pays on my Interferon and Ribaviran.

SO I pay nothing out of pocket for the drugs. I do have to pay $50 each time I see the doc plus my lab fees and things like that, but no co-pays. May be worth a call to them. Hope that helps

Also, why won't your doc write a script for the triple therapy? Are you waiting on confirmation labs?Viral Load counts? Must you have the biopsy first to see level of Viral infection? Is there some specific reason your doc won't write the script? You need to find that out. As someone else said call and talk to a nurse if you can (the nurses in the office I go to are awesome!). If they are just taking your money and not giving you sufficient answers then it may be time to find a new doctor even if you have a bit of a drive to another nearby city to find a doctor you like. Let us know how it goes

Kelsy,

About your perscription, maybe it would help to call the nurse and have a short, frank conversation and remind her that you were just there to get the perscription, and that you can't afford to pay another $100 to get it changed, so could she just please let the pharmacy know it's ok?

It may not work, but it's worth a shot.  The nurses have a lot of power.

The clinic I go to is sliding scale fee. The meds I got from vertex and merk free..but I still had to have a doctor write the perscription.

I've never heard of a doctor's office that did have hep c meds in stock..ever.

Samples would do you more harm than good. They would make you immune if you weren't able to keep taking them.

Without insurance, you will probably just have to skip the liver biopsy.

It seems like getting the meds for treatment, would be more important than the vitamins?

 So what happened when I sent you to merk, and vertex?

 They more than likely said for you to fill out the pp, get your docs signature, along with perscriptions, and mail them in.

That's the way it works for anybody that gets free meds from them, or any other free med place.

If your doc doesn't want to write the perscriptions, it's time to find a different doctor.

 The other thing is if you have had hep c for less than 6 months, the docs may be waiting to see if you clear it on your own, or at the very least out of acute phase.

Many ( not all) of us here have had hep c for over 25 years.

We have gotten married, had babies ect all while having hep c.

It sounds like you are frieghtening yourself. There are people that never do treatment, and still live and die of old age.

Call center work is crap but anyone can do it and they are always hiring, and they offer benefits.

http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=Call+Center&l=KS&start=10

Just lie on your resume about having other call center jobs.  Call centers have way too much turnover to spend the time answering requests on the work history of former employees.

While you are still in the 2 horse town you are in, volunteer at a church and a charitable organization so you have a couple references.  If people think you're genuine they may even help you get relocated or know of some better work than call center work.

Hi there Kelsy.  That sounds really frustrating!!

Not sure, but hope that the following info might help.  It's the 'Partnership for Prescription Assistance'.  They might be able to advise you about how to get a prescription. 

http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t37880752/partnership-for-prescription-assistance-in-the-us/

This link might also help.

http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t31019057/financial-assistance-programs/

Also, i don't know much about how the system works in the US (sorry!!) but would it be possible for you to get another Doctor who might write you a prescription?  And/or arrange for a biopsy, or let you know how you might go about that?  

All the best.  Let us know how you get on.

Hugs

Heather xxx

Can someone please list ALL the drug companies, that have programs, to assist people who do not have insurance or cannot afford the med.

I went to Merck. And Vertex.

See.... I found a place that will pay for my hep medicine. BUT I cannot get a d*** dr to write me a RX of the medication that I need. She said Interferon. Thats all.... PLUS their office does NOT even carry hep c meds. Honestly. I think their all idiots. Because:

1. They do not accept insurance. None. Nada. zero.

2. Their office does not have samples.

3. They make you think that they are there to help. BS. They tell me, every time, that an office visit is $50-$100... it depends on how long you speak to the dr. Well.. its ALWAYS $100.

4. I got put on Wellbutrin, for my depression. I did not want the extended relase pill. I wanted the normal one. So I asked the pharmacy to call them, and change it. She would not change it. She told the pharmacist that I would have to make a apt, and come in to change it. LMAO.... WTF???? Can we say MONEY HUNGRY??? Its funny...they have mags everywhere.. Religion mags. And little posters, that they made, saying "Support our troops".... my point is--they are trying to appear, as something that they are not; they do not care about your well being-- just the $$$$.

Anyway... I was going to give up. It is so frustrating....trying to figure out why a dr will not write me a RX???? Thats all I need. The money part, is taken care of.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

AND.. how do I pay for a liver biospy???? ):

I feel hopeless....