The saga contines-Please guide me

[charm27]

Just got notified it will cost me 500.00 per month for meds thru my insurance company. I am paying for my medical insurance out of pocket since I lost my job in August.(paying 220.00 for health insurance monthly.)
I cannot possibly swing this..do I have options? I am very freaked out-not that Im surprised I know all of you are paying a fortune. Just thought  Iwould get lucky and perhaps it would be 250.00 a month vs. the 500.00.

Will drug manufacturers give me free meds since I do have medical insurance.
Im confused, stressed and very lost right now.
I never lose my cool ..but Im losing it now.
Thank you all.

[R Glass]

My Health Care Provider is Bl Cross my Prescription Drug Provider is Caremark

[alagirl]

I have bcbs too, but my copay is 30 bucks a month for both drugs together I think. Or fifty tops.  I feel so bad that I have it this good.  My insurance signed off in about a light second too.  I know just what they were thinking, "Aww man, there is SO much wrong her and now she has hepc too?!  We HAVE to approve this or we'll be paying huge bills for her for years if she doesn't SVR..."

Well ok.  that's the conversation they had in MY HEAD.  It was probably just an automatic thing.  I am on a $325 per month cobra version of bcbs and when it runs out I'll hop back onto one of the chicken plants plans that I contract with, likely the one I have the cobra through now.  I'm kind of an independent contractor but the plants have been pretty great about working me in and out of their insurance programs so I can stay on bcbs.

[R Glass]

My main problem is, Blue Cross and the policy I have with them. Are you stuck with the $1,260.00 until your insurance gives you their Blessing?

[autumnhope]

Insurance told me my part was $1,260.00. I freaked. Someone here sugested Pagassist. I am not on the program but I did call them and they called insurance and found out my meds were only $160.00 a month with a specific mail order pharmacy!!!!! I had talked to insurance atleast 5 times and nothing.
Hope this helps
Pegassist 1 866 247 5084

[nygirl7]

Commitment to Care was so incredibly GREAT to me that I can't imagine what happened!  Since it's the wrong med call Pegassist and talk to them. The programs are fantastic.  If the $500 isn't feasible then drop it.

I think your problem is that you DO have insurance and it is a program for people that do NOT have insurance.

Anyway - is it Cobra you are paying for every month?  If so I think it would be well worth ditching the Cobra policy to get C2C a letter saying you have no insurance.  Treatment in total can cost up to $100,000 opr $200,000 believe it or not.

Good luck!

[GrandmaA]

We have to fight this virus and it's dispicable that many of us also have to fight for our meds when we don't feel well. What a terrible system. I feel sad for everyone going through this.

[orphanedhawk]

I thought I wouldn't be eligible for assistance because of assets I have in the bank.( I don't have insurance.) They didn't care about my assets, they only cared about my income.
I went through peggassist and they were great. I've found out there is a lot of help out there BUT you have to ask about it.You don't need to take out a loan or be broke! Its hard when you aren't feeling clear headed.
Even Quest, the lab, offers assistance.
Good luck, but be persistent.

[wyntre9]

I really feel for everyone going through this

I had the same problem; almost $700 per month health ins. co-pay once my FLMA ran out, not to mention the several hundreds in med co-pays.  It's the reason I sold my house - so i could finance my tx.  Fortunately for me (looks like I got lucky in one area) I applied for and was retroactively granted state teacher DB retirement after 20 years in the classroom.

Now my meds and TX are 100% covered (as long as i get on the phone every couple of months and scream bloody murder at the script company or insurance carrier).

It stinks.  i personally find it all very humiliating, the thought that we have to fight tooth and nail for (temporary) assistance from a system many of us have paid into for decades.  

I was soooooo stressed out when i was wondering whether or not I was gonna get a meds shipment the week after I finally reached UND (18 months into TX) . . .

The very best of luck to everyone fighting this battle.   I understand how hard it is but DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!  You are WORTH it!!!

wyntre

[charm27]

Call Pegassist too like I did  if the need be they were fantastic!  I heard great things about C of C- unfortunately I just hit the wrong person today. My doc prescribed pegasys for me anyway..I was just trying to cover all the bases since my ins. co, didnt work for me.

Were just stressed ..a sneak preview of whats ahead maybe.
The Co-pay is not feesible for me-

Good luck with your tx!!

[R Glass]

I am going through the exact same dilemma right now. My monthly co-pay will be $549.37(which I can not afford) I am calling every number I get my hands on. So far “Survey Says”, if I am willing to quit my job, loose everything I have, and become dysfunctional, they will crawl out of the wood work to help me. I will keep a close eye on this thread for more information.If I cannot resolve this issue in a few days, I guess I will take a loan out and go further in debt.

[charm27]

I will do that. I actually just called them on the spur of the moment and just received an uninfomative person on the other end. I will fill out app on-line.

Thanks Alot.

[Proactive]

Charm commitment to care has a website with app posted in a pdf file if you want to take a look..I had a pretty good experience with them on the phone. But sounds like you had a better conversation and feel more comfortable with Pegasys...so go for it and good luck, I'm sure they will help you out..

[charm27]

They didnt mention one thing from the above post. The only info they offered me was sending me an application. I attempted twice to ask them and they cut me short and said I will  have app in mail within seven business days. So be it.


Speaking to the rep at Pegasys was completly informative and was a human being too.
Thanks alot for that info-
Wish they could have been more helpful.:}

[Proactive]

"Commmit. To Care were not very nice nor professional? The girl had such an attitude. I shouldnt be surprised I know. Anyway they do a bank acct check, so on and so forth.which is fine but she said I would have to pay out of pocket for awhile before they would cover meds..so that wont work."
I think you may have misunderstood commitment to cares financial policy...I'm sure since you are covered by your insurance policy (at a $500 copay?) they will wheel and deal with your insurance co.this is from the app
Schering’s COMMITMENT TO CARE Program:
• Copy of Rx (if applicable)
• Medicaid Eligibility Denial Letter (if applicable)
• Copies of Insurance Cards Front and Back (if applicable)
• Proof of Gross Monthly Household Income In One of the forms listed below:
o W-2s or Tax Returns (if not available, please provide one of the following):
• Checking Account Statements (3 months worth)
• Pay Stubs
• Social Security Benefit Award Letter
• If Zero Income:
• Notarized Letter of Support from Family or
• Zero Income Letter from Physician
**My opinion is it's cheaper for them to give you drugs than enroll participants in studies for study. Drugs for data. (G) ---also from the app
"Finally,nonidentifiable information from all program participants may be summarized for statistical or other purposes, but your identity cannot be determined from this summary information.

[FloridaMouse]

Keep us  posted.

Mouse
Genotype 1a, Stage 3 Grade 3
finished tx 4/2007
relapsed 9/2007

[mremeet]

I've never used the committment to care program, but I've read countless posts from people who have. And I'm almost certain they'll give you the drugs you need either for free, or at a drastically reduced price. Pick up the phone and givem a call, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[charm27]

Commmit. To Care were not very nice nor professional? The girl had such an attitude. I shouldnt be surprised I know. Anyway they do a bank acct check, so on and so forth.which is fine but she said I would have to pay out of pocket for awhile before they would cover meds..so that wont work.

I then called Peg.Assist. went well and they dont check savings and I did meet the salary requirement ...however it has to go thru approval dept and have to dig out last years tax return and other items. I think this will work. ( Dear God).

thank you for your guidance.
I cant believe how stressed I am-I shocked myself!  :}FM

If approved I will know in 3 days-they could ship meds overnight in about 10 days. Fingers crossed.

[FloridaMouse]

get in touch with pegassist.com and beincharge.com. (commitmenttocare.com) It certainly won't hurt to try and I bet they can help you.  From what I understand they are not overly stringent when it comes to providing assistance.

Mouse
Genotype 1a, Stage 3, Grade 3
finished tx 4/2007
relapsed 9/2007