? on Drug Company Compassionate Care programs

[Trish77]

For those who have made use of the Compassionate Care programs available via Schering-Plough and Hoffman LaRoche in the U.S. and Canada and elsewhere for that matter - or simply know how they work - can you tell me how much of the overall cost these programs have covered for people?  Do they cover everything the person's insurance company won't cover?  Any information on how these work would be much appreciated.  Thanks.

Trish

[blondie717]

   The pharma companies were recently called regarding one of your pies. (they said no break for people out of the U.S.. I dont think they can help folks out of the country. or should I say will help...Wishing you luck.

[Trish77]

Interesting.  Thanks Bill.

[Bill1954]

My barb about treatment was only in tease, Trish :o). Honesty, I don’t think they differentiate between insured and underinsured; I imagine they pick up the entire ball on both situations.

Someone that works in national advocacy recently told me that things were changing and they no longer cover the underinsured, so the landscape might be in flux. I haven’t verified any of this personally though, Trish.

Bill

[Trish77]

Funny. :)  You know I'm SVR - going for a 2 yr post SVR PCR soon and expect that will stay SVR so figuring (hoping) the answer to that is a no.

No...you also know I have my hand in different pies...always gathering different information for various reasons, usually on account of various people that have come into my life and on this one, looking to understand how these programs work so that I can leverage that information if possible in different ways for outcomes I'd like to see.  

Clear as mud or making sense?

As for the details of your own circumstance...interesting.  Do you know if they would cover the full cost if someone had no insurance?

Thanks Bill.

Trish

[Bill1954]

My experience was with Schering-Plough’s (Merck’s) Commitment to Care program, Trish. I had insurance, but couldn’t manage the copay. They covered 100% of costs; and even provided off-label dosing of the ribavirin. I’d receive monthly cold packs of drugs from their contract pharmacy from FedEx; it was a wonderful service.

Thinking of treating again :o)?

--Bill