Both Incivek and Ribavirin have co-pay assistance programs on their websites. Mindlessly easy to use and there is NO income qualification. The only caveat of both is they are only for those with private insurance (not medicare, etc). I have not checked for my Interferon.
-- Edited by Sunrise747 on Sunday 26th of February 2012 01:00:18 AM
deny_zoo29 said
Feb 25, 2012
Definitely check in to copay assistance. I have paid $0 towards any of my dugs throughout treatment. I would have had $150/month in copays but they took care of them all. So I only have to pay my lab fees, and doctor visit copays (which is plenty on a tight budget).
Caryn said
Feb 21, 2012
Thanks! This does help and I appreciate your feedback! I think my out of pocket is less, but I am going to look in to it. Reply to your reply anytime!
Isiscat2011 said
Feb 21, 2012
Isiscat2011 wrote:
Fortunately, my policy also has an annual out-of-pocket 5K maximum so once that is met all drugs cost nothing.
P.S. I should add that the 5K out-of-pocket max pertains to prescriptions alone. There is a separate out-of-pocket for medical expenses. I think the separate out-of-pockets are common for medical insurance policies.
P.P.S. Is it weird to quote myself and then respond to myself?
Isiscat2011 said
Feb 21, 2012
My insurance only pays 50% of what they call specialty drugs so the total cost would have been about 8K per month for the incivek alone. Fortunately, my policy also has an annual out-of-pocket 5K maximum so once that is met all drugs cost nothing.
kiwi said
Feb 20, 2012
im bloody lucky. in new zealand peg/riba is subsidized. otherwise the cost to me would be 2190 per month ( thats the drugs alone let alone the tests and appts) .... thank god for decent healthcare
davesf said
Feb 20, 2012
I have UHC but all plans can be different depending on the individual contract with the employer. We might both have the same type of UHC plan and one could have much better benefits depending on what your employer chose to spend. That being said...my plan utilizes Medco as their partner pharmacy. My copay is $80 each for a month of interferon and Incivek (Telepravir). My copay is $40 for two months of Ribavarin. I called UHC a couple of months before I started and they were able to tell me what my copays would be. Give them a call and they should be able to help you.
Caryn said
Feb 18, 2012
All of this information helps. I will have to inquire more about this with my Dr. How did you do with the side effects on the treatment? I am so green to all of this, so this board has been an excellent resource.
Shaun said
Feb 18, 2012
Caryn wrote:
Does anyone have United Health Care that is currently on treatment? I will start Pegasys, Ribavirin, and Incivek soon and I am wondering about the out of pocket cost.
Depends what your copay and your deductible are. A nurse at my GI's office found a non profit that pays copays and another non profit that pays deductibles. My total cost for $100,000 treatment was $100 out of pocket.
Our copay on new drugs is 50%, our deductible is $2600 per year. I could not have afforded it without those non profits. If you cannot afford treatment at all, the drug company that makes Incivek provides the drug for free. There are several people on this board who have been helped by the company.
Caryn said
Feb 17, 2012
Thanks for the responses! I would start tomorrow, but I have a child about to graduate high school and fear being sick and not being able to watch her walk. The waiting is killing me - I would rather start now and get it done! Well, I am looking at mid summer or fall of 2012 to start. Thanks again for all of the help!
Suzanneaz said
Feb 17, 2012
Hi, I get the financial assistance and pay nothing. I was told the ceiling for assistance is an annual 100,000.00 income so most qualify. They are quick to process the paperwork, if your provider wont print it for you, they give you the info to call and order for the meds your taking. I will be on Victrellis that was a seperate application, and they requested a copy of last years tax returns, where are Pegasys did not. They only ask a few questions. You fill them in, give them to the Dr and they fax when they are completed. Make sure you give the Drs office the address where you want it shipped. I didnt and that held up the paperwork. Anyhow, good luck on that, and hopefully they will accept you. I had insurance the first time but since it didnt cover the meds 100% per cent they were approving it even though I had full insurance.
krowdog said
Feb 17, 2012
Hi Caryn.
I have United Healthcare here in vegas. My co-pays for the 3 drugs would have been about $470.00/month for the first 3 months, then about 400.00 a month
My meds are dispensed through Walgreens Infusion services, who said the Phamaceutical manufacturers of Incivek and Pegasys have a co-pay assistance program that was pretty easy to get, and they were going to set that up with/for me.
In my case, I have double insurance coverage so my secondary insurance picked up the copay.
You probably have United Heath Care National, but your costs may depend on whether you have a PPO or HMO plan.
I believe there is info on this forum about the copay assistance programs. Also, once your prescription is written, you can talk to the pharmacy(s) who are going to supply your meds, and ask them about the assitance programs.
Good luck, hope to see you on TX soon!
Brad
(Geno 1a, UND @ 4,8,12 weeks. In week 18 of 24)
Tio said
Feb 17, 2012
I don't have that insurance. I would think it depends on what plan you have with them and what the deductable limit is.
Caryn said
Feb 17, 2012
Does anyone have United Health Care that is currently on treatment? I will start Pegasys, Ribavirin, and Incivek soon and I am wondering about the out of pocket cost.
Both Incivek and Ribavirin have co-pay assistance programs on their websites. Mindlessly easy to use and there is NO income qualification. The only caveat of both is they are only for those with private insurance (not medicare, etc). I have not checked for my Interferon.
-- Edited by Sunrise747 on Sunday 26th of February 2012 01:00:18 AM
Definitely check in to copay assistance. I have paid $0 towards any of my dugs throughout treatment. I would have had $150/month in copays but they took care of them all. So I only have to pay my lab fees, and doctor visit copays (which is plenty on a tight budget).
Thanks! This does help and I appreciate your feedback! I think my out of pocket is less, but I am going to look in to it. Reply to your reply anytime!
P.S. I should add that the 5K out-of-pocket max pertains to prescriptions alone. There is a separate out-of-pocket for medical expenses. I think the separate out-of-pockets are common for medical insurance policies.
P.P.S. Is it weird to quote myself and then respond to myself?
My insurance only pays 50% of what they call specialty drugs so the total cost would have been about 8K per month for the incivek alone. Fortunately, my policy also has an annual out-of-pocket 5K maximum so once that is met all drugs cost nothing.
im bloody lucky. in new zealand peg/riba is subsidized. otherwise the cost to me would be 2190 per month ( thats the drugs alone let alone the tests and appts) .... thank god for decent healthcare
I have UHC but all plans can be different depending on the individual contract with the employer. We might both have the same type of UHC plan and one could have much better benefits depending on what your employer chose to spend. That being said...my plan utilizes Medco as their partner pharmacy. My copay is $80 each for a month of interferon and Incivek (Telepravir). My copay is $40 for two months of Ribavarin. I called UHC a couple of months before I started and they were able to tell me what my copays would be. Give them a call and they should be able to help you.
All of this information helps. I will have to inquire more about this with my Dr. How did you do with the side effects on the treatment? I am so green to all of this, so this board has been an excellent resource.
Depends what your copay and your deductible are. A nurse at my GI's office found a non profit that pays copays and another non profit that pays deductibles. My total cost for $100,000 treatment was $100 out of pocket.
Our copay on new drugs is 50%, our deductible is $2600 per year. I could not have afforded it without those non profits. If you cannot afford treatment at all, the drug company that makes Incivek provides the drug for free. There are several people on this board who have been helped by the company.
Hi, I get the financial assistance and pay nothing. I was told the ceiling for assistance is an annual 100,000.00 income so most qualify. They are quick to process the paperwork, if your provider wont print it for you, they give you the info to call and order for the meds your taking. I will be on Victrellis that was a seperate application, and they requested a copy of last years tax returns, where are Pegasys did not. They only ask a few questions. You fill them in, give them to the Dr and they fax when they are completed. Make sure you give the Drs office the address where you want it shipped. I didnt and that held up the paperwork. Anyhow, good luck on that, and hopefully they will accept you. I had insurance the first time but since it didnt cover the meds 100% per cent they were approving it even though I had full insurance.
Hi Caryn.
I have United Healthcare here in vegas. My co-pays for the 3 drugs would have been about $470.00/month for the first 3 months, then about 400.00 a month
My meds are dispensed through Walgreens Infusion services, who said the Phamaceutical manufacturers of Incivek and Pegasys have a co-pay assistance program that was pretty easy to get, and they were going to set that up with/for me.
In my case, I have double insurance coverage so my secondary insurance picked up the copay.
You probably have United Heath Care National, but your costs may depend on whether you have a PPO or HMO plan.
I believe there is info on this forum about the copay assistance programs. Also, once your prescription is written, you can talk to the pharmacy(s) who are going to supply your meds, and ask them about the assitance programs.
Good luck, hope to see you on TX soon!
Brad
(Geno 1a, UND @ 4,8,12 weeks. In week 18 of 24)
I don't have that insurance. I would think it depends on what plan you have with them and what the deductable limit is.
Does anyone have United Health Care that is currently on treatment? I will start Pegasys, Ribavirin, and Incivek soon and I am wondering about the out of pocket cost.