Re: Re: Assistance question

[Guest guest]

When I applied for the assistance program, I did not have to go through that.

They had called me the year before and I did not understand what they were

talking about. I went through Access Solutions. I was given a $4000 MasterCard

to last through 2031. This year when my insurance changed and my copay was $5900

the MEDCO pharmacy was able to get another one to give me $4000 per year. I have

to pay about $900 more to get my deductible down so I can actually afford the

medicine. My insurance deductible is $3000 so I have paid over $2000 since the

beginning of the year. The last time I checked my deductible is down to $4900.

A few more refills and the assistance will cover the copay. I cannot wait. We

are among the working poor. We make to much for most assistance program but we

still cannot afford the copays.

----- Original Message -----

From: Carol Corley <floridabouvs@...>

xolair users < >

Sent: Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:35:53 -0000 (UTC)

Subject: [ ] Re: Assistance question

I live in the States.

Carol

Question..do you live in " the states " or Canada?!

____________ _________ _________ __

From: Carol Corley <floridabouvs>

Sent: Thursday, March 3, 2011 1:05 PM

Subject: [ ] Assistance question

I have been sent paperwork for the Xolair assistance program since my co-pay

went up to $850 every 3 months. They require an income and savings statement,

and I'm afraid I'm going to end up being one of those people who has too much

money to justify assistance, but not enough money to be able to afford the shots

-- the Middle Class squeezed from all directions.

My husband and I just retired this year, and they want last year's tax return

from when we were both employed full-time. Now retired, we count on our IRA

money to live on.

Does anyone have an idea how this all works? How restrictive are they in

considering savings?

Thanks,

Carol

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Has anyone ever been started on Xolair by their GP or have you all been put on

it by a Specialist?

Sheila

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone

-----Original Message-----

From: Gwendolyn Rafter <gwen5052@...>

Sender:

Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 19:59:50

xolair users< >

Reply-

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Assistance question

When I applied for the assistance program, I did not have to go through that.

They had called me the year before and I did not understand what they were

talking about. I went through Access Solutions. I was given a $4000 MasterCard

to last through 2031. This year when my insurance changed and my copay was $5900

the MEDCO pharmacy was able to get another one to give me $4000 per year. I have

to pay about $900 more to get my deductible down so I can actually afford the

medicine. My insurance deductible is $3000 so I have paid over $2000 since the

beginning of the year. The last time I checked my deductible is down to $4900.

A few more refills and the assistance will cover the copay. I cannot wait. We

are among the working poor. We make to much for most assistance program but we

still cannot afford the copays.

----- Original Message -----

From: Carol Corley <floridabouvs@...>

xolair users < >

Sent: Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:35:53 -0000 (UTC)

Subject: [ ] Re: Assistance question

I live in the States.

Carol

Question..do you live in " the states " or Canada?!

________________________________

From: Carol Corley <floridabouvs>

Sent: Thursday, March 3, 2011 1:05 PM

Subject: [ ] Assistance question

I have been sent paperwork for the Xolair assistance program since my co-pay

went up to $850 every 3 months. They require an income and savings statement,

and I'm afraid I'm going to end up being one of those people who has too much

money to justify assistance, but not enough money to be able to afford the shots

-- the Middle Class squeezed from all directions.

My husband and I just retired this year, and they want last year's tax return

from when we were both employed full-time. Now retired, we count on our IRA

money to live on.

Does anyone have an idea how this all works? How restrictive are they in

considering savings?

Thanks,

Carol

[Guest guest]

I have that too, which is why I asked if Carol lives in the States or Canada.

My Xolair is close to $8k. and I also have MEDCO as my pharmacy. Now my co-pay

is down to $100! So Carol, my suggestion to you is to contact the Access

Solutions people and ask them about the Xolair Debit Card program. It may be a

lot less complicated/demanding/stressful for you to apply for.

________________________________

From: Gwendolyn Rafter <gwen5052@...>

xolair users < >

Sent: Friday, March 4, 2011 2:59 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Assistance question

When I applied for the assistance program, I did not have to go through that.

They had called me the year before and I did not understand what they were

talking about. I went through Access Solutions. I was given a $4000 MasterCard

to last through 2031. This year when my insurance changed and my copay was $5900

the MEDCO pharmacy was able to get another one to give me $4000 per year. I have

to pay about $900 more to get my deductible down so I can actually afford the

medicine. My insurance deductible is $3000 so I have paid over $2000 since the

beginning of the year. The last time I checked my deductible is down to $4900.

A few more refills and the assistance will cover the copay. I cannot wait. We

are among the working poor. We make to much for most assistance program but we

still cannot afford the copays.

----- Original Message -----

From: Carol Corley <floridabouvs@...>

xolair users < >

Sent: Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:35:53 -0000 (UTC)

Subject: [ ] Re: Assistance question

I live in the States.

Carol

Question..do you live in " the states " or Canada?!

____________ _________ _________ __

From: Carol Corley <floridabouvs>

Sent: Thursday, March 3, 2011 1:05 PM

Subject: [ ] Assistance question

I have been sent paperwork for the Xolair assistance program since my co-pay

went up to $850 every 3 months. They require an income and savings statement,

and I'm afraid I'm going to end up being one of those people who has too much

money to justify assistance, but not enough money to be able to afford the shots

-- the Middle Class squeezed from all directions.

My husband and I just retired this year, and they want last year's tax return

from when we were both employed full-time. Now retired, we count on our IRA

money to live on.

Does anyone have an idea how this all works? How restrictive are they in

considering savings?

Thanks,

Carol

[Guest guest]

Hi Gwen,

Sorry to hear about your delimina..

Can I ask how high your IgE was? If you're taking 3 vials every 2 weeks,

that's 3X the amount I am taking. I have 2 vials per month... at a cost of

$1,250 for each vial. Xolair is paying 80% of my deductible (which is

$150.00)... I pay $30.00 per visit along with the $50.00 co-pay for the

specialist office visit so my payments are $80.00 per month.

I had my first injection 2 weeks ago and was almost completely hive free

right after. Now the hives are coming back. I'm wondering if I need to have

the injections every 2 weeks.... but my physician said my IgE wasn't high

enough ALTHOUGH Curascript (my speciality pharmacy for Xolair) already

shipped the next 2 vials to my doctor!

Best of luck to you!!!!!!!

xo,

shannon

In a message dated 3/6/2011 1:24:36 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

gwen5052@... writes:

I think you have a clear understanding of how the plans work that cover

Xolair. I am trying to whittle away at my $3000 deductible so I can afford to

get my Xolair. When I miss taking it, I just start to itch all over. It

almost drove me crazy. I do not know how I will ever get through life without

it full time. So far, I have paid enough in co pays this year that my copay

is down from $5900 to $4700. Once I get it down to $4000 then I can get

use my patient assistance card of $4000. I am so ready to get this behind me.

Instead of taking the full 3 vials every two weeks, I may have to try

stretching what I have to get it to last longer.

----- Original Message -----

From: mister_manganese <_barryb@..._

(mailto:barryb@...) >

xolair users <_ _

(mailto: ) >

Sent: Sun, 06 Mar 2011 07:05:35 -0000 (UTC)

Subject: [ ] Re: Assistance question

I suspect getting finacial help for Xolair as a senior is like walking

through a mine field. So I offer advice that may or may not hold true ... my

understanding is that there are two types of assistance. The first is if you

don't have insurance and need help paying for the whole cost. The second

is if you have insurance but need help with the co-pays.

And it's my understanding (though poorly founded) that when you need help

for the entire cost, because you don't have insurance, you have to jump

through hoops and divulge your entire financial soul but if you are going the

co-pay assistance route the hassels are much less.

Look at it this way ... IMHO the pharmaceutical companies are out to make

money, not keep you from going broke. So they want paid (fair enough). Now

if you have no insurance, they want you to cough up your life savings if

need be. If you're truly broke, they may help you with the whole cost.

Otherwise, they want your money. But if you have insurance, they're happy with

the insurance money, and if helping you with the co-pay opens the insurance

money valve, they'll step in to help with less hassle.

Now I also understand that there are organizations set up to help you with

co-pays only and they are funded by donations from the pharmaceutical

companies (please, no flames if I've got this wrong). They will not help the

un-insured, only the insured that struggle with co-pays. These independent

organizations are not required to favor the products of any particular

pharmaceutical company but you don't think they're going to bite the hand that

feeds them, do you (again, please, no flames)?

So if you have insurance, try applying to a third party organization that

helps with co-pays. Ask your primary drug insurer, which is probably a

specialty pharmacy in the case of Xolair, who they recommend you go to for help

with co-pays.

Both the pharmaceutical company and the pharmacy want you to be funded for

this expensive medication because if not, and you can't afford it, or just

won't pay for it, they lose the sale and you lose treatment. That's a

lose-lose situation. So harness our great capitalistic system to work for you

and hopefully get you the treatment you need.

And I appreciate anyone else helping me to clarify and/or correct

everything I've said, because like I say, we're probably walking through a mine

field.

Finally, I also understand medications like Xolair can be handled in some

situations as a pharmaceutical (ie a drug), whereby you attempt to get your

drug insurance plan to pay, and there may be situations where Xolair is

handled as a treatment, like chemotherapy, whereby you attempt to get your

medical insurance plan to pay. So if one approach isn't working, try to take

the other approach. Be your own advocate and discuss these two approaches

with your doctor and your insurance sources.

I really hate to see seniors (or anyone) be denied Xolair because they

can't get good jobs with good medical insurance, or have to cough up their

limited life savings because of the Medicare donut hole, so lets keep this

thread going with peoples' experiences navigating through the Xolair cost mine

field.

I have a vested interest in this because I'll probably soon go on Medicare

and there's no way I afford getting thrown into the donut hole with

Xolair. I'll have to throw in the towel and go back to suffering and struggling

to breath and hit prednisone big time and hang out at the ER with broken

bones.

>

> I have been sent paperwork for the Xolair assistance program since my

co-pay

> went up to $850 every 3 months. They require an income and savings

statement,

> and I'm afraid I'm going to end up being one of those people who has too

much

> money to justify assistance, but not enough money to be able to afford

the shots

> -- the Middle Class squeezed from all directions.

> My husband and I just retired this year, and they want last year's tax

return

> from when we were both employed full-time. Now retired, we count on our

IRA

> money to live on.

> Does anyone have an idea how this all works? How restrictive are they in

> considering savings?

> Thanks,

> Carol

>

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Guest guest]

I think you have a clear understanding of how the plans work that cover Xolair.

I am trying to whittle away at my $3000 deductible so I can afford to get my

Xolair. When I miss taking it, I just start to itch all over. It almost drove me

crazy. I do not know how I will ever get through life without it full time. So

far, I have paid enough in co pays this year that my copay is down from $5900 to

$4700. Once I get it down to $4000 then I can get use my patient assistance card

of $4000. I am so ready to get this behind me. Instead of taking the full 3

vials every two weeks, I may have to try stretching what I have to get it to

last longer.

----- Original Message -----

From: mister_manganese <barryb@...>

xolair users < >

Sent: Sun, 06 Mar 2011 07:05:35 -0000 (UTC)

Subject: [ ] Re: Assistance question

I suspect getting finacial help for Xolair as a senior is like walking through

a mine field. So I offer advice that may or may not hold true ... my

understanding is that there are two types of assistance. The first is if you

don't have insurance and need help paying for the whole cost. The second is if

you have insurance but need help with the co-pays.

And it's my understanding (though poorly founded) that when you need help for

the entire cost, because you don't have insurance, you have to jump through

hoops and divulge your entire financial soul but if you are going the co-pay

assistance route the hassels are much less.

Look at it this way ... IMHO the pharmaceutical companies are out to make money,

not keep you from going broke. So they want paid (fair enough). Now if you

have no insurance, they want you to cough up your life savings if need be. If

you're truly broke, they may help you with the whole cost. Otherwise, they want

your money. But if you have insurance, they're happy with the insurance money,

and if helping you with the co-pay opens the insurance money valve, they'll step

in to help with less hassle.

Now I also understand that there are organizations set up to help you with

co-pays only and they are funded by donations from the pharmaceutical companies

(please, no flames if I've got this wrong). They will not help the un-insured,

only the insured that struggle with co-pays. These independent organizations

are not required to favor the products of any particular pharmaceutical company

but you don't think they're going to bite the hand that feeds them, do you

(again, please, no flames)?

So if you have insurance, try applying to a third party organization that helps

with co-pays. Ask your primary drug insurer, which is probably a specialty

pharmacy in the case of Xolair, who they recommend you go to for help with

co-pays.

Both the pharmaceutical company and the pharmacy want you to be funded for this

expensive medication because if not, and you can't afford it, or just won't pay

for it, they lose the sale and you lose treatment. That's a lose-lose

situation. So harness our great capitalistic system to work for you and

hopefully get you the treatment you need.

And I appreciate anyone else helping me to clarify and/or correct everything

I've said, because like I say, we're probably walking through a mine field.

Finally, I also understand medications like Xolair can be handled in some

situations as a pharmaceutical (ie a drug), whereby you attempt to get your drug

insurance plan to pay, and there may be situations where Xolair is handled as a

treatment, like chemotherapy, whereby you attempt to get your medical insurance

plan to pay. So if one approach isn't working, try to take the other approach.

Be your own advocate and discuss these two approaches with your doctor and your

insurance sources.

I really hate to see seniors (or anyone) be denied Xolair because they can't get

good jobs with good medical insurance, or have to cough up their limited life

savings because of the Medicare donut hole, so lets keep this thread going with

peoples' experiences navigating through the Xolair cost mine field.

I have a vested interest in this because I'll probably soon go on Medicare and

there's no way I afford getting thrown into the donut hole with Xolair. I'll

have to throw in the towel and go back to suffering and struggling to breath and

hit prednisone big time and hang out at the ER with broken bones.

>

> I have been sent paperwork for the Xolair assistance program since my co-pay

> went up to $850 every 3 months. They require an income and savings statement,

> and I'm afraid I'm going to end up being one of those people who has too much

> money to justify assistance, but not enough money to be able to afford the

shots

> -- the Middle Class squeezed from all directions.

> My husband and I just retired this year, and they want last year's tax return

> from when we were both employed full-time. Now retired, we count on our IRA

> money to live on.

> Does anyone have an idea how this all works? How restrictive are they in

> considering savings?

> Thanks,

> Carol

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Have u tried Health Well Foundation?

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

-----Original Message-----

From: Gwendolyn Rafter <gwen5052@...>

Sender:

Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2011 17:47:58

xolair users< >

Reply-

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Assistance question

I think you have a clear understanding of how the plans work that cover Xolair.

I am trying to whittle away at my $3000 deductible so I can afford to get my

Xolair. When I miss taking it, I just start to itch all over. It almost drove me

crazy. I do not know how I will ever get through life without it full time. So

far, I have paid enough in co pays this year that my copay is down from $5900 to

$4700. Once I get it down to $4000 then I can get use my patient assistance card

of $4000. I am so ready to get this behind me. Instead of taking the full 3

vials every two weeks, I may have to try stretching what I have to get it to

last longer.

----- Original Message -----

From: mister_manganese <barryb@...>

xolair users < >

Sent: Sun, 06 Mar 2011 07:05:35 -0000 (UTC)

Subject: [ ] Re: Assistance question

I suspect getting finacial help for Xolair as a senior is like walking through

a mine field. So I offer advice that may or may not hold true ... my

understanding is that there are two types of assistance. The first is if you

don't have insurance and need help paying for the whole cost. The second is if

you have insurance but need help with the co-pays.

And it's my understanding (though poorly founded) that when you need help for

the entire cost, because you don't have insurance, you have to jump through

hoops and divulge your entire financial soul but if you are going the co-pay

assistance route the hassels are much less.

Look at it this way ... IMHO the pharmaceutical companies are out to make money,

not keep you from going broke. So they want paid (fair enough). Now if you

have no insurance, they want you to cough up your life savings if need be. If

you're truly broke, they may help you with the whole cost. Otherwise, they want

your money. But if you have insurance, they're happy with the insurance money,

and if helping you with the co-pay opens the insurance money valve, they'll step

in to help with less hassle.

Now I also understand that there are organizations set up to help you with

co-pays only and they are funded by donations from the pharmaceutical companies

(please, no flames if I've got this wrong). They will not help the un-insured,

only the insured that struggle with co-pays. These independent organizations

are not required to favor the products of any particular pharmaceutical company

but you don't think they're going to bite the hand that feeds them, do you

(again, please, no flames)?

So if you have insurance, try applying to a third party organization that helps

with co-pays. Ask your primary drug insurer, which is probably a specialty

pharmacy in the case of Xolair, who they recommend you go to for help with

co-pays.

Both the pharmaceutical company and the pharmacy want you to be funded for this

expensive medication because if not, and you can't afford it, or just won't pay

for it, they lose the sale and you lose treatment. That's a lose-lose

situation. So harness our great capitalistic system to work for you and

hopefully get you the treatment you need.

And I appreciate anyone else helping me to clarify and/or correct everything

I've said, because like I say, we're probably walking through a mine field.

Finally, I also understand medications like Xolair can be handled in some

situations as a pharmaceutical (ie a drug), whereby you attempt to get your drug

insurance plan to pay, and there may be situations where Xolair is handled as a

treatment, like chemotherapy, whereby you attempt to get your medical insurance

plan to pay. So if one approach isn't working, try to take the other approach.

Be your own advocate and discuss these two approaches with your doctor and your

insurance sources.

I really hate to see seniors (or anyone) be denied Xolair because they can't get

good jobs with good medical insurance, or have to cough up their limited life

savings because of the Medicare donut hole, so lets keep this thread going with

peoples' experiences navigating through the Xolair cost mine field.

I have a vested interest in this because I'll probably soon go on Medicare and

there's no way I afford getting thrown into the donut hole with Xolair. I'll

have to throw in the towel and go back to suffering and struggling to breath and

hit prednisone big time and hang out at the ER with broken bones.

>

> I have been sent paperwork for the Xolair assistance program since my co-pay

> went up to $850 every 3 months. They require an income and savings statement,

> and I'm afraid I'm going to end up being one of those people who has too much

> money to justify assistance, but not enough money to be able to afford the

shots

> -- the Middle Class squeezed from all directions.

> My husband and I just retired this year, and they want last year's tax return

> from when we were both employed full-time. Now retired, we count on our IRA

> money to live on.

> Does anyone have an idea how this all works? How restrictive are they in

> considering savings?

> Thanks,

> Carol

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Are you on any other meds? What was your IgE level?

Sheila

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone

-----Original Message-----

From: heartabrasions@...

Sender:

Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2011 13:32:38

< >

Reply-

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Assistance question

Hi Gwen,

Sorry to hear about your delimina..

Can I ask how high your IgE was? If you're taking 3 vials every 2 weeks,

that's 3X the amount I am taking. I have 2 vials per month... at a cost of

$1,250 for each vial. Xolair is paying 80% of my deductible (which is

$150.00)... I pay $30.00 per visit along with the $50.00 co-pay for the

specialist office visit so my payments are $80.00 per month.

I had my first injection 2 weeks ago and was almost completely hive free

right after. Now the hives are coming back. I'm wondering if I need to have

the injections every 2 weeks.... but my physician said my IgE wasn't high

enough ALTHOUGH Curascript (my speciality pharmacy for Xolair) already

shipped the next 2 vials to my doctor!

Best of luck to you!!!!!!!

xo,

shannon

In a message dated 3/6/2011 1:24:36 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

gwen5052@... writes:

I think you have a clear understanding of how the plans work that cover

Xolair. I am trying to whittle away at my $3000 deductible so I can afford to

get my Xolair. When I miss taking it, I just start to itch all over. It

almost drove me crazy. I do not know how I will ever get through life without

it full time. So far, I have paid enough in co pays this year that my copay

is down from $5900 to $4700. Once I get it down to $4000 then I can get

use my patient assistance card of $4000. I am so ready to get this behind me.

Instead of taking the full 3 vials every two weeks, I may have to try

stretching what I have to get it to last longer.

----- Original Message -----

From: mister_manganese <_barryb@..._

(mailto:barryb@...) >

xolair users <_ _

(mailto: ) >

Sent: Sun, 06 Mar 2011 07:05:35 -0000 (UTC)

Subject: [ ] Re: Assistance question

I suspect getting finacial help for Xolair as a senior is like walking

through a mine field. So I offer advice that may or may not hold true ... my

understanding is that there are two types of assistance. The first is if you

don't have insurance and need help paying for the whole cost. The second

is if you have insurance but need help with the co-pays.

And it's my understanding (though poorly founded) that when you need help

for the entire cost, because you don't have insurance, you have to jump

through hoops and divulge your entire financial soul but if you are going the

co-pay assistance route the hassels are much less.

Look at it this way ... IMHO the pharmaceutical companies are out to make

money, not keep you from going broke. So they want paid (fair enough). Now

if you have no insurance, they want you to cough up your life savings if

need be. If you're truly broke, they may help you with the whole cost.

Otherwise, they want your money. But if you have insurance, they're happy with

the insurance money, and if helping you with the co-pay opens the insurance

money valve, they'll step in to help with less hassle.

Now I also understand that there are organizations set up to help you with

co-pays only and they are funded by donations from the pharmaceutical

companies (please, no flames if I've got this wrong). They will not help the

un-insured, only the insured that struggle with co-pays. These independent

organizations are not required to favor the products of any particular

pharmaceutical company but you don't think they're going to bite the hand that

feeds them, do you (again, please, no flames)?

So if you have insurance, try applying to a third party organization that

helps with co-pays. Ask your primary drug insurer, which is probably a

specialty pharmacy in the case of Xolair, who they recommend you go to for help

with co-pays.

Both the pharmaceutical company and the pharmacy want you to be funded for

this expensive medication because if not, and you can't afford it, or just

won't pay for it, they lose the sale and you lose treatment. That's a

lose-lose situation. So harness our great capitalistic system to work for you

and hopefully get you the treatment you need.

And I appreciate anyone else helping me to clarify and/or correct

everything I've said, because like I say, we're probably walking through a mine

field.

Finally, I also understand medications like Xolair can be handled in some

situations as a pharmaceutical (ie a drug), whereby you attempt to get your

drug insurance plan to pay, and there may be situations where Xolair is

handled as a treatment, like chemotherapy, whereby you attempt to get your

medical insurance plan to pay. So if one approach isn't working, try to take

the other approach. Be your own advocate and discuss these two approaches

with your doctor and your insurance sources.

I really hate to see seniors (or anyone) be denied Xolair because they

can't get good jobs with good medical insurance, or have to cough up their

limited life savings because of the Medicare donut hole, so lets keep this

thread going with peoples' experiences navigating through the Xolair cost mine

field.

I have a vested interest in this because I'll probably soon go on Medicare

and there's no way I afford getting thrown into the donut hole with

Xolair. I'll have to throw in the towel and go back to suffering and struggling

to breath and hit prednisone big time and hang out at the ER with broken

bones.

--- In_ _ (mailto: )

, Carol Corley <floridabouvs@...> wrote:

>

> I have been sent paperwork for the Xolair assistance program since my

co-pay

> went up to $850 every 3 months. They require an income and savings

statement,

> and I'm afraid I'm going to end up being one of those people who has too

much

> money to justify assistance, but not enough money to be able to afford

the shots

> -- the Middle Class squeezed from all directions.

> My husband and I just retired this year, and they want last year's tax

return

> from when we were both employed full-time. Now retired, we count on our

IRA

> money to live on.

> Does anyone have an idea how this all works? How restrictive are they in

> considering savings?

> Thanks,

> Carol

>

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Guest guest]

I just got the bill from curascript and an EOB from Anthem....my insurance paid,

genetech paid 120 and my part was 30...

It says 1,254.00 x 2, actually.....

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

On Mar 6, 2011 3:44 PM, Cleptisvirgo & lt;cleptisvirgo@... & gt; wrote:

& nbsp;

$1250 a vial?! Is anyone else paying that much? I thought it was $500 a vial.

& gt;

& gt; Hi Gwen,

& gt;

& gt; Sorry to hear about your delimina..

& gt;

& gt; Can I ask how high your IgE was? If you're taking 3 vials every 2 weeks,

& gt; that's 3X the amount I am taking. I have 2 vials per month... at a cost

of

& gt; $1,250 for each vial. Xolair is paying 80% of my deductible (which is

& gt; $150.00)... I pay $30.00 per visit along with the $50.00 co-pay for the

& gt; specialist office visit so my payments are $80.00 per month.

& gt;

& gt; I had my first injection 2 weeks ago and was almost completely hive free

& gt; right after. Now the hives are coming back. I'm wondering if I need to

have

& gt; the injections every 2 weeks.... but my physician said my IgE wasn't high

& gt; enough ALTHOUGH Curascript (my speciality pharmacy for Xolair) already

& gt; shipped the next 2 vials to my doctor!

& gt;

& gt; Best of luck to you!!!!!!!

& gt;

& gt; xo,

& gt;

& gt; shannon

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;

[Guest guest]

$1950 for 375 units. Thank God for insurance and Healthwell Corp.

Mike McBride

Like the apple of Thine eye preserve me, O Lord God; defend me and beneath Thy

wings shelter me from temptations.

St. Ephraim the Syrian

________________________________

From: Cleptisvirgo <cleptisvirgo@...>

Sent: Sun, March 6, 2011 10:20:59 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: Assistance question

$1250 a vial?! Is anyone else paying that much? I thought it was $500 a vial.

>

> Hi Gwen,

>

> Sorry to hear about your delimina..

>

> Can I ask how high your IgE was? If you're taking 3 vials every 2 weeks,

> that's 3X the amount I am taking. I have 2 vials per month... at a cost of

> $1,250 for each vial. Xolair is paying 80% of my deductible (which is

> $150.00)... I pay $30.00 per visit along with the $50.00 co-pay for the

> specialist office visit so my payments are $80.00 per month.

>

> I had my first injection 2 weeks ago and was almost completely hive free

> right after. Now the hives are coming back. I'm wondering if I need to have

> the injections every 2 weeks.... but my physician said my IgE wasn't high

> enough ALTHOUGH Curascript (my speciality pharmacy for Xolair) already

> shipped the next 2 vials to my doctor!

>

> Best of luck to you!!!!!!!

>

> xo,

>

> shannon

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have been on Xolair so long until I do not remember what my IgE levels were.

I am over weight and I thought that was the cause of my large number of vials.

At the time I started taking the shots I was so sick until I may not have heard

all he was saying. I am so afraid of not taking my shots later. I cannot take

the itching that I go through when my shots are not on time. I sometimes take

hydroxizine for the itching but the shots take it away and I do not need the

little pills. I hope to have my $3000 behind me by then. I always heard the

vials were $500 each. If they have gone up to $1200 that is over double what

they use to be. I know the lady at Medco told me once that I had to be home to

get my shipment because they were over $14000 each because they send me 18 vials

at a time.

----- Original Message -----

From: heartabrasions@...

xolair users < >

Sent: Sun, 06 Mar 2011 18:32:38 -0000 (UTC)

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Assistance question

Hi Gwen,

Sorry to hear about your delimina..

Can I ask how high your IgE was? If you're taking 3 vials every 2 weeks,

that's 3X the amount I am taking. I have 2 vials per month... at a cost of

$1,250 for each vial. Xolair is paying 80% of my deductible (which is

$150.00)... I pay $30.00 per visit along with the $50.00 co-pay for the

specialist office visit so my payments are $80.00 per month.

I had my first injection 2 weeks ago and was almost completely hive free

right after. Now the hives are coming back. I'm wondering if I need to have

the injections every 2 weeks.... but my physician said my IgE wasn't high

enough ALTHOUGH Curascript (my speciality pharmacy for Xolair) already

shipped the next 2 vials to my doctor!

Best of luck to you!!!!!!!

xo,

shannon

In a message dated 3/6/2011 1:24:36 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

gwen5052@... writes:

I think you have a clear understanding of how the plans work that cover

Xolair. I am trying to whittle away at my $3000 deductible so I can afford to

get my Xolair. When I miss taking it, I just start to itch all over. It

almost drove me crazy. I do not know how I will ever get through life without

it full time. So far, I have paid enough in co pays this year that my copay

is down from $5900 to $4700. Once I get it down to $4000 then I can get

use my patient assistance card of $4000. I am so ready to get this behind me.

Instead of taking the full 3 vials every two weeks, I may have to try

stretching what I have to get it to last longer.

----- Original Message -----

From: mister_manganese <_barryb@..._

(mailto:barryb@...) >

xolair users <_ _

(mailto: ) >

Sent: Sun, 06 Mar 2011 07:05:35 -0000 (UTC)

Subject: [ ] Re: Assistance question

I suspect getting finacial help for Xolair as a senior is like walking

through a mine field. So I offer advice that may or may not hold true ... my

understanding is that there are two types of assistance. The first is if you

don't have insurance and need help paying for the whole cost. The second

is if you have insurance but need help with the co-pays.

And it's my understanding (though poorly founded) that when you need help

for the entire cost, because you don't have insurance, you have to jump

through hoops and divulge your entire financial soul but if you are going the

co-pay assistance route the hassels are much less.

Look at it this way ... IMHO the pharmaceutical companies are out to make

money, not keep you from going broke. So they want paid (fair enough). Now

if you have no insurance, they want you to cough up your life savings if

need be. If you're truly broke, they may help you with the whole cost.

Otherwise, they want your money. But if you have insurance, they're happy with

the insurance money, and if helping you with the co-pay opens the insurance

money valve, they'll step in to help with less hassle.

Now I also understand that there are organizations set up to help you with

co-pays only and they are funded by donations from the pharmaceutical

companies (please, no flames if I've got this wrong). They will not help the

un-insured, only the insured that struggle with co-pays. These independent

organizations are not required to favor the products of any particular

pharmaceutical company but you don't think they're going to bite the hand that

feeds them, do you (again, please, no flames)?

So if you have insurance, try applying to a third party organization that

helps with co-pays. Ask your primary drug insurer, which is probably a

specialty pharmacy in the case of Xolair, who they recommend you go to for help

with co-pays.

Both the pharmaceutical company and the pharmacy want you to be funded for

this expensive medication because if not, and you can't afford it, or just

won't pay for it, they lose the sale and you lose treatment. That's a

lose-lose situation. So harness our great capitalistic system to work for you

and hopefully get you the treatment you need.

And I appreciate anyone else helping me to clarify and/or correct

everything I've said, because like I say, we're probably walking through a mine

field.

Finally, I also understand medications like Xolair can be handled in some

situations as a pharmaceutical (ie a drug), whereby you attempt to get your

drug insurance plan to pay, and there may be situations where Xolair is

handled as a treatment, like chemotherapy, whereby you attempt to get your

medical insurance plan to pay. So if one approach isn't working, try to take

the other approach. Be your own advocate and discuss these two approaches

with your doctor and your insurance sources.

I really hate to see seniors (or anyone) be denied Xolair because they

can't get good jobs with good medical insurance, or have to cough up their

limited life savings because of the Medicare donut hole, so lets keep this

thread going with peoples' experiences navigating through the Xolair cost mine

field.

I have a vested interest in this because I'll probably soon go on Medicare

and there's no way I afford getting thrown into the donut hole with

Xolair. I'll have to throw in the towel and go back to suffering and struggling

to breath and hit prednisone big time and hang out at the ER with broken

bones.

>

> I have been sent paperwork for the Xolair assistance program since my

co-pay

> went up to $850 every 3 months. They require an income and savings

statement,

> and I'm afraid I'm going to end up being one of those people who has too

much

> money to justify assistance, but not enough money to be able to afford

the shots

> -- the Middle Class squeezed from all directions.

> My husband and I just retired this year, and they want last year's tax

return

> from when we were both employed full-time. Now retired, we count on our

IRA

> money to live on.

> Does anyone have an idea how this all works? How restrictive are they in

> considering savings?

> Thanks,

> Carol

>

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Guest guest]

I never ask about my IgE levels. I guess I need to. I have been on it so long

until I just get the meds and give myself the shots. I was tired of the copays

for the dr. office and they closed the office near me and trained me and my

husband to do the shots.

----- Original Message -----

From: sheilabiss@...

xolair users < >

Sent: Sun, 06 Mar 2011 19:08:16 -0000 (UTC)

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Assistance question

Are you on any other meds? What was your IgE level?

Sheila

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone

-----Original Message-----

From: heartabrasions@...

Sender:

Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2011 13:32:38

< >

Reply-

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Assistance question

Hi Gwen,

Sorry to hear about your delimina..

Can I ask how high your IgE was? If you're taking 3 vials every 2 weeks,

that's 3X the amount I am taking. I have 2 vials per month... at a cost of

$1,250 for each vial. Xolair is paying 80% of my deductible (which is

$150.00)... I pay $30.00 per visit along with the $50.00 co-pay for the

specialist office visit so my payments are $80.00 per month.

I had my first injection 2 weeks ago and was almost completely hive free

right after. Now the hives are coming back. I'm wondering if I need to have

the injections every 2 weeks.... but my physician said my IgE wasn't high

enough ALTHOUGH Curascript (my speciality pharmacy for Xolair) already

shipped the next 2 vials to my doctor!

Best of luck to you!!!!!!!

xo,

shannon

In a message dated 3/6/2011 1:24:36 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

gwen5052@... writes:

I think you have a clear understanding of how the plans work that cover

Xolair. I am trying to whittle away at my $3000 deductible so I can afford to

get my Xolair. When I miss taking it, I just start to itch all over. It

almost drove me crazy. I do not know how I will ever get through life without

it full time. So far, I have paid enough in co pays this year that my copay

is down from $5900 to $4700. Once I get it down to $4000 then I can get

use my patient assistance card of $4000. I am so ready to get this behind me.

Instead of taking the full 3 vials every two weeks, I may have to try

stretching what I have to get it to last longer.

----- Original Message -----

From: mister_manganese <_barryb@..._

(mailto:barryb@...) >

xolair users <_ _

(mailto: ) >

Sent: Sun, 06 Mar 2011 07:05:35 -0000 (UTC)

Subject: [ ] Re: Assistance question

I suspect getting finacial help for Xolair as a senior is like walking

through a mine field. So I offer advice that may or may not hold true ... my

understanding is that there are two types of assistance. The first is if you

don't have insurance and need help paying for the whole cost. The second

is if you have insurance but need help with the co-pays.

And it's my understanding (though poorly founded) that when you need help

for the entire cost, because you don't have insurance, you have to jump

through hoops and divulge your entire financial soul but if you are going the

co-pay assistance route the hassels are much less.

Look at it this way ... IMHO the pharmaceutical companies are out to make

money, not keep you from going broke. So they want paid (fair enough). Now

if you have no insurance, they want you to cough up your life savings if

need be. If you're truly broke, they may help you with the whole cost.

Otherwise, they want your money. But if you have insurance, they're happy with

the insurance money, and if helping you with the co-pay opens the insurance

money valve, they'll step in to help with less hassle.

Now I also understand that there are organizations set up to help you with

co-pays only and they are funded by donations from the pharmaceutical

companies (please, no flames if I've got this wrong). They will not help the

un-insured, only the insured that struggle with co-pays. These independent

organizations are not required to favor the products of any particular

pharmaceutical company but you don't think they're going to bite the hand that

feeds them, do you (again, please, no flames)?

So if you have insurance, try applying to a third party organization that

helps with co-pays. Ask your primary drug insurer, which is probably a

specialty pharmacy in the case of Xolair, who they recommend you go to for help

with co-pays.

Both the pharmaceutical company and the pharmacy want you to be funded for

this expensive medication because if not, and you can't afford it, or just

won't pay for it, they lose the sale and you lose treatment. That's a

lose-lose situation. So harness our great capitalistic system to work for you

and hopefully get you the treatment you need.

And I appreciate anyone else helping me to clarify and/or correct

everything I've said, because like I say, we're probably walking through a mine

field.

Finally, I also understand medications like Xolair can be handled in some

situations as a pharmaceutical (ie a drug), whereby you attempt to get your

drug insurance plan to pay, and there may be situations where Xolair is

handled as a treatment, like chemotherapy, whereby you attempt to get your

medical insurance plan to pay. So if one approach isn't working, try to take

the other approach. Be your own advocate and discuss these two approaches

with your doctor and your insurance sources.

I really hate to see seniors (or anyone) be denied Xolair because they

can't get good jobs with good medical insurance, or have to cough up their

limited life savings because of the Medicare donut hole, so lets keep this

thread going with peoples' experiences navigating through the Xolair cost mine

field.

I have a vested interest in this because I'll probably soon go on Medicare

and there's no way I afford getting thrown into the donut hole with

Xolair. I'll have to throw in the towel and go back to suffering and struggling

to breath and hit prednisone big time and hang out at the ER with broken

bones.

--- In_ _ (mailto: )

, Carol Corley <floridabouvs@...> wrote:

>

> I have been sent paperwork for the Xolair assistance program since my

co-pay

> went up to $850 every 3 months. They require an income and savings

statement,

> and I'm afraid I'm going to end up being one of those people who has too

much

> money to justify assistance, but not enough money to be able to afford

the shots

> -- the Middle Class squeezed from all directions.

> My husband and I just retired this year, and they want last year's tax

return

> from when we were both employed full-time. Now retired, we count on our

IRA

> money to live on.

> Does anyone have an idea how this all works? How restrictive are they in

> considering savings?

> Thanks,

> Carol

>

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]