Recently I was looking the government site in Quebec - Harvoni and Holkira Pak are both approved. Some conditions about metavir level exist but it's possible to receive it by naive patients.
So I was searching the OHIP site and look what I found:
Harvoni and Holkira Pak are both accepted for exceptional access. March and June. I was wrong, it's possible in Ontario.
And here's the amount their reimburse: $797.6190 per tablet
Same for Holkira Pak: $665.0000 per combo pak of 4 tablets
Brian1412 said
Sep 24, 2015
Spot on qubecu. !!!!!!
Cinnamon Girl said
Sep 22, 2015
Hi Adam!
You could also consider Abbvie`s Holkira Pak treatment. The success rates are pretty much the same and we`re seeing some great results from our members who have been on this treatment. Here`s some information about it...
Keep taking good care of yourself and do keep in touch, we`re here to help whenever we can.
Best of luck!
malekula man said
Sep 21, 2015
Hi!
I'm from Quebec.
As I know OHIIP in Ontario and RAMQ in Quebec do not cover Harvoni. Only private insurance. However Sovaldi/Peg/Riba still works in QC for 1 and 4 genotypes.
In Quebec the priority goes to private insurance, so I applied to my company for both my treatments. Sovaldi/Peg/Riba was hard to approve but for Harvoni was signed in a blink of an eye.
I would recommend you tp find good gastroenterologist with 'liver' specialization and let him drive your case: the battles with OHIP or private insurances. If your diagnosys is well done it be the smoothest solution. You need many test to do: genotype, load, liver damage (fibroscan and biopsy), blood parameters - these are the things influencing the decision which type of the treatment you need.
Good luck.
P.S.: if you have more questions it will be my pleasure to find the right answer for you
wmlj1960 said
Sep 12, 2015
Hi Adam.
I can't do much to help with getting coverage worked out in Canada but it looks like Gracie has that under control. I do want to welcome you to the forum and help in any way I can. Have a look around the site and if you have a question on a particular subject you can try finding an answer using the 'search' function or if you don't see an answer just start a new thread on the subject. We have a great group of knowledgeable and helpful members that will be glad to answer any questions you have. You'll notice most members have a 'signature' that shows up below each of their post giving HCV pertinent information pertaining to their particular case. For some information on creating your own signature, if you like, and for a link to definitions of abbreviations used in many of them see this thread:
There's never been a better time to treat and cure rates are very good with these latest medications. I hope you get the coverage for your treatment worked out and get started soon.
Gracie said
Sep 12, 2015
Hi Adam,
I am in New Brunswick and am on my 11th week of harvoni through my private insurance company. I am wondering why you need government approval if you have private insurance. Have you had a fibroscan or liver biopsy? That is the kicker with the harvoni. You need to be stage F3 or F4 for most insurance companies to cover it. I had no issues once my fibroscan showed F4. In fact both insurances (my husbands and mine), approved it right away (instantly). I have Desjardin, and my husband has SUnlife. Gilead paid my co-pay which was over $3000 so I havent had to pay anything.
Your first step should be a fibroscan if you haven't had one yet. If your doctor hasn't signed you up for one and you don't want to wait, you can go to a private clinic and get one for $100 without a doctors referral. There are a few in Ontario not to far from you. Once you have those results, you'll know whether you need to start treatment right away (like I did), or if you can wait for a newer, less expensive treatment. My cost of drugs for 24 weeks is over $177,000, which is crazy!
Here is the link for the Fibrscan clinics in case you want to go that route and good luck!
http://www.liverscan.ca
Tig said
Sep 10, 2015
Hi Adam,
Welcome to the forum and thanks for your introduction, it's nice having you here. It has been difficult everywhere to obtain the newest treatments. Since you're in Canada, I can't provide you with personal insight into your approval process, but we have other Canadians here that will be able to better inform you on that. Gracie is well versed on Canadian information and I'm sure she will check in and help you get to the bottom of this. What you are experiencing isn't uncommon though. Waiting for approval can be an exasperating process to get through, but it'll happen, just don't give up trying.
I'm glad you're here and if I can provide you with any information or direction to things on the forum, just let me know. You have found a great group and will be hearing from the others soon. Please feel free to tell us a little about yourself. If you know your genotype, any blood work, etc, let us know. It helps us provide better informed opinions on treatments, etc.
spodek said
Sep 10, 2015
Hi Everybody
I am new to this forum and was diagnosed with HCV in 2009. Since it was no cure for the virus up to now I tried to maintain healthy lifestyle all these years (doing sports, not drinking...) and the virus did not bother me much. Now I am past 65 and applied for treatment covered by OHIP. Even though I have private insurance which would cover my treatment I have to wait for government decision first. I have been waiting nine weeks already and no word from the government yet. I wonder what is your experience with government coverage of the treatment in Ontario and other provinces. Thanks for the answer.
Recently I was looking the government site in Quebec - Harvoni and Holkira Pak are both approved. Some conditions about metavir level exist but it's possible to receive it by naive patients.
So I was searching the OHIP site and look what I found:
Harvoni and Holkira Pak are both accepted for exceptional access. March and June. I was wrong, it's possible in Ontario.
www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/drugs/odbf/odbf_except_access.aspx
And here's the amount their reimburse: $797.6190 per tablet
Same for Holkira Pak: $665.0000 per combo pak of 4 tablets
Spot on qubecu. !!!!!!
Hi Adam!
You could also consider Abbvie`s Holkira Pak treatment. The success rates are pretty much the same and we`re seeing some great results from our members who have been on this treatment. Here`s some information about it...
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ontario-approves-second-costly-drug-for-hepatitis-c
Keep taking good care of yourself and do keep in touch, we`re here to help whenever we can.
Best of luck!
I'm from Quebec.
As I know OHIIP in Ontario and RAMQ in Quebec do not cover Harvoni. Only private insurance. However Sovaldi/Peg/Riba still works in QC for 1 and 4 genotypes.
In Quebec the priority goes to private insurance, so I applied to my company for both my treatments. Sovaldi/Peg/Riba was hard to approve but for Harvoni was signed in a blink of an eye.
I would recommend you tp find good gastroenterologist with 'liver' specialization and let him drive your case: the battles with OHIP or private insurances. If your diagnosys is well done it be the smoothest solution. You need many test to do: genotype, load, liver damage (fibroscan and biopsy), blood parameters - these are the things influencing the decision which type of the treatment you need.
Good luck.
P.S.: if you have more questions it will be my pleasure to find the right answer for you
Hi Adam.
I can't do much to help with getting coverage worked out in Canada but it looks like Gracie has that under control. I do want to welcome you to the forum and help in any way I can. Have a look around the site and if you have a question on a particular subject you can try finding an answer using the 'search' function or if you don't see an answer just start a new thread on the subject. We have a great group of knowledgeable and helpful members that will be glad to answer any questions you have. You'll notice most members have a 'signature' that shows up below each of their post giving HCV pertinent information pertaining to their particular case. For some information on creating your own signature, if you like, and for a link to definitions of abbreviations used in many of them see this thread:
http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t58862021/forum-abbreviations-link-and-help-with-creating-your-signatu/
There's never been a better time to treat and cure rates are very good with these latest medications. I hope you get the coverage for your treatment worked out and get started soon.
Hi Adam,
I am in New Brunswick and am on my 11th week of harvoni through my private insurance company. I am wondering why you need government approval if you have private insurance. Have you had a fibroscan or liver biopsy? That is the kicker with the harvoni. You need to be stage F3 or F4 for most insurance companies to cover it. I had no issues once my fibroscan showed F4. In fact both insurances (my husbands and mine), approved it right away (instantly). I have Desjardin, and my husband has SUnlife. Gilead paid my co-pay which was over $3000 so I havent had to pay anything.
Your first step should be a fibroscan if you haven't had one yet. If your doctor hasn't signed you up for one and you don't want to wait, you can go to a private clinic and get one for $100 without a doctors referral. There are a few in Ontario not to far from you. Once you have those results, you'll know whether you need to start treatment right away (like I did), or if you can wait for a newer, less expensive treatment. My cost of drugs for 24 weeks is over $177,000, which is crazy!
Here is the link for the Fibrscan clinics in case you want to go that route and good luck!
http://www.liverscan.ca
Hi Adam,
Welcome to the forum and thanks for your introduction, it's nice having you here. It has been difficult everywhere to obtain the newest treatments. Since you're in Canada, I can't provide you with personal insight into your approval process, but we have other Canadians here that will be able to better inform you on that. Gracie is well versed on Canadian information and I'm sure she will check in and help you get to the bottom of this. What you are experiencing isn't uncommon though. Waiting for approval can be an exasperating process to get through, but it'll happen, just don't give up trying.
I'm glad you're here and if I can provide you with any information or direction to things on the forum, just let me know. You have found a great group and will be hearing from the others soon. Please feel free to tell us a little about yourself. If you know your genotype, any blood work, etc, let us know. It helps us provide better informed opinions on treatments, etc.
Hi Everybody
I am new to this forum and was diagnosed with HCV in 2009. Since it was no cure for the virus up to now I tried to maintain healthy lifestyle all these years (doing sports, not drinking...) and the virus did not bother me much. Now I am past 65 and applied for treatment covered by OHIP. Even though I have private insurance which would cover my treatment I have to wait for government decision first. I have been waiting nine weeks already and no word from the government yet. I wonder what is your experience with government coverage of the treatment in Ontario and other provinces. Thanks for the answer.