Re: Looks like I'm going to have to give up Xolair due to cost

[Guest guest]

Did you look into the Access Solutions program?!

________________________________

From: Carol <floridabouvs@...>

Sent: Fri, August 20, 2010 3:16:09 PM

Subject: [ ] Looks like I'm going to have to give up Xolair due to

cost

I've been investigating what Xolair will cost me once I retire, maybe next year

or so. The best I can come up with is my drug costs will be $26,000 a year if I

stay on Xolair, or $2,400 a year if I give it up.

Since I'm not in the billionaire club yet, looks like I will have to give up

Xolair. Sad, since it's doing so well for me.

There is an organization that helps with 80% of the cost, but they won't cover

anyone on Medicare. Who thought that one up???

I know some of you are on Medicare and getting Xolair, but I've been researching

on line for days and haven't come up with a solution.

Maybe it's because I live in Florida. I know plans vary depending on state and

county.

Carol

[Guest guest]

Carol:  Have you talked to the finance person at your doctor's office?  You

might try that before you give up entirely.  And when you finally do retire,

re-investigate--have your doctor's office find out for you what will be

covered.  My doctor's nurse went to bat for me when I first told her I couldn't

afford it because my allergist will not give medicine that he has to purchase

first and then bill medicare for...He didn't have enough patients on xolair. 

So she referred me to the allergy clinic which has around 100 xolair patients. 

Have you tried calling several allergists office or is there an allergy clinic

in your city?  Just curious.....Of course, I don't know what medicare will look

like in two or three years, anyway. 

From: Carol <floridabouvs@...>

Subject: [ ] Looks like I'm going to have to give up Xolair due to

cost

Date: Friday, August 20, 2010, 2:16 PM

 

I've been investigating what Xolair will cost me once I retire, maybe next year

or so. The best I can come up with is my drug costs will be $26,000 a year if I

stay on Xolair, or $2,400 a year if I give it up.

Since I'm not in the billionaire club yet, looks like I will have to give up

Xolair. Sad, since it's doing so well for me.

There is an organization that helps with 80% of the cost, but they won't cover

anyone on Medicare. Who thought that one up???

I know some of you are on Medicare and getting Xolair, but I've been researching

on line for days and haven't come up with a solution.

Maybe it's because I live in Florida. I know plans vary depending on state and

county.

Carol

[Guest guest]

Hi Adah:

Definitely good suggestions. I will again ask my doctor's nurse, but in the past

she told me they wouldn't front the cost of the medicine.

I assume Xolair is covered under Part D -- but I'll admit I don't know anything

about Medicare-type insurances and it's very difficult to get answers. There may

be other doctors in larger cities near me and that would be worth pursuing. I

know the cost of the doctor's office administering the shot isn't the problem,

it's the cost of the medicine. I simply can't afford $20,000 a year.

I don't know about this Access Solution that someone else suggested. The one

organization I was told to call does not cover anyone who is on Medicare of any

kind. They suggested calling the company that manufactures Xolair, but I doubt

that will help. I won't fit any poverty model, but I definitely am not able to

afford costly drugs on the small savings and pension that I expect to receive.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Carol

Adah wrote:

Carol: Have you talked to the finance person at your doctor's office? You

might try that before you give up entirely. And when you finally do retire,

re-investigate- -have your doctor's office find out for you what will be

covered. My doctor's nurse went to bat for me when I first told her I couldn't

afford it because my allergist will not give medicine that he has to purchase

first and then bill medicare for...He didn't have enough patients on xolair. So

she referred me to the allergy clinic which has around 100 xolair patients.

Have you tried calling several allergists office or is there an allergy clinic

in your city? Just curious..... Of course, I don't know what medicare will look

like in two or three years, anyway. ..