Neupogen will cost me $1800 per month. What should I do?

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I feel like I have been on an emotional roller coaster the last few days and I

just want it to

end. As I have shared in my posts before, I have been struggling with low blood

counts

especially Neutrophils.

My doctor prescribed Neupogen to help them bump up so I can get back on Gleevec.

He

thought my insurance would cover it even though it required a special

application. I didn't

worry too much about it and I began the injections. Since then all my counts

have been

slowly recovering. I was elated as they have been descending ever since I went

on Gleevec

which was July 06. Now I found out today that my insurance will not cover it. I

don't know

what to do. It costs $1800 a month and that is half my pay check. I also have 3

small

children to provide for--I don't know what they expect me to do, I don't have

many

options left.

My local pharmacy said they would cover the cost until the paper work went

through but

now the request has been rejected and so I will have to cough up the $1800 for

the month

I have already been taking the drug. I really can't afford this. Does anyone

(especially in

Canada, or anyone in Alberta know of any other way I can get this drug

subsidized or

anything else I can take to help raise my blood counts?

Thanks for your help.

Cam