Guest guest Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 Hey everyone. I need some help. Recently I had to change insurance coverage, the new insurance does not pay much on my Gleevec. I can't afford to get it. I have applied for patient assistance, not sure I'll be approved. Any other suggestions. I have been out of medicaine for a little over 2 weeks. Thanks for any suggestions you might have. Amy B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 Thanks so much. I have called Novartis and hope they can help with the copay. Ive been on Gleevec for 6 years, so far haven't had a problem. I can't believe that insurance companies get away with this. I will definintely be more aware from now on and start my own little band wagon in this town. With all the healthcare reform issues, this should be looked at. Heck I think I'll start with the local news. As this is a local insurance company. hmmmmm Amy B. > > > > Hey everyone. I need some help. Recently I had to change insurance coverage, the new insurance does not pay much on my Gleevec. I can't afford to get it. I have applied for patient assistance, not sure I'll be approved. Any other suggestions. I have been out of medicaine for a little over 2 weeks. Thanks for any suggestions you might have. > > > > Amy B. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2009 Report Share Posted September 16, 2009 Please let me suggest that you immediately check with PSI (Patient Services Inc.). PSI is a non profit that helps thousands of chronically ill patients pay for their life saving medications. They only deal with a select group of illnesses and CML is one of them. They have paid all of my share of costs, including the donut hole, since I've been on Medicare. They are much easier to qualify with than any of the government aid plans. Patient Services Inc. P.O. Box 1602 Midlothian, VA 23113 Ph. 800-366-7741 www.uneedpsi.org On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 1:26 PM, aimesc31 <aimesc31@...> wrote: > > > Hey everyone. I need some help. Recently I had to change insurance > coverage, the new insurance does not pay much on my Gleevec. I can't afford > to get it. I have applied for patient assistance, not sure I'll be approved. > Any other suggestions. I have been out of medicaine for a little over 2 > weeks. Thanks for any suggestions you might have. > > Amy B. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Hi All. In case you aren't informed, I want to let you know that a generic Gleevec will be available soon. Some doctors feel that there is a slight change in ingredients in generic drugs. This change will make Gleevec more expensive, and insurance companies will prefer the generic. What are your thoughts on it? My daughter, Robyn, takes Gleevec. Someone in our group used a doctor whose name started with a T. This doctor moved recently to New York. Does anyone remember the name? Sandi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 > > Hi All. > In case you aren't informed, I want to let you know that a generic Gleevec will be available soon. Some doctors feel that there is a slight change in ingredients in generic drugs. This change will make Gleevec more expensive, and insurance companies will prefer the generic. > What are your thoughts on it? My daughter, Robyn, takes Gleevec. > Someone in our group used a doctor whose name started with a T. This doctor moved recently to New York. Does anyone remember the name? > Sandi ________________________________ Hi Sandi, This was brought up on Jerry's Mayfield's cml list and there was some discussion that this is NOT true, that the patent for Gleevec has a number of more years before it runs out (maybe something like 2015 or later). There presently is a generic for Gleevec in India but it is not available elsewhere. When a patient from that area wrote to Dr. Druker and asked him about the generic and it's effectiveness, he wrote back that the generic had the same active ingredients (which I believe is true of all generics). Where did you get your information about a generic being available soon? C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Hi all. I did some further investigation on generic Gleevec. The source of information came from a friend of my daughter's who lives in another state. is correct. Novartis has a numberof year before the patent runs out. Perhaps my daughter's friend was referring to the generic in India. ? > > Sandi > ________________________________ > > Hi Sandi, > This was brought up on Jerry's Mayfield's cml list and there was some discussion that this is NOT true, that the patent for Gleevec has a number of more years before it runs out (maybe something like 2015 or later). There presently is a generic for Gleevec in India but it is not available elsewhere. When a patient from that area wrote to Dr. Druker and asked him about the generic and it's effectiveness, he wrote back that the generic had the same active ingredients (which I believe is true of all generics). > > Where did you get your information about a generic being available soon? > > C. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Hello All, Since I have recently reached my lifetime pharmacy maximum with my health insurer I have spent a lot of time lately researching this issue and here is what I have found. According to a press release from Sun Pharmaceuticals in Mumbai,in November 2009 the USFDA granted tentative approval to an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for generic Gleevec®, imatinib mesylate tablets. I have also read that their generic will be available in the US sometime this year. I'd love to hear if any of you have more information on this. I'm beginning to feel a bit desperate as I try to figure out how I will pay the $4500 a month for Gleevec. My husband's salary is too high to let us qualify for any assistance, but not so much that we have an extra $54,000 a year! Thanks, > > > > Hi All. > > In case you aren't informed, I want to let you know that a generic Gleevec will be available soon. Some doctors feel that there is a slight change in ingredients in generic drugs. This change will make Gleevec more expensive, and insurance companies will prefer the generic. > > What are your thoughts on it? My daughter, Robyn, takes Gleevec. > > Someone in our group used a doctor whose name started with a T. This doctor moved recently to New York. Does anyone remember the name? > > Sandi > ________________________________ > > Hi Sandi, > This was brought up on Jerry's Mayfield's cml list and there was some discussion that this is NOT true, that the patent for Gleevec has a number of more years before it runs out (maybe something like 2015 or later). There presently is a generic for Gleevec in India but it is not available elsewhere. When a patient from that area wrote to Dr. Druker and asked him about the generic and it's effectiveness, he wrote back that the generic had the same active ingredients (which I believe is true of all generics). > > Where did you get your information about a generic being available soon? > > C. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 , Many of us need help paying for Gleevec (or any of the other CML drugs) when health insurance dumps us out. There is a non-profit organization in VA that will pay for your Gleevec. They are Patient Services Inc., go to www.uneedpsi.org for information and an application. They are generous so, unless you are really wealthy, they will probably pick you up. They work with CMLers and people with other chronic illnesses who have expensive medications. They have helped me for 4 years now. Everyone here knows that I support major health care reform... this is a classic case in support of the need. Sorry, I don't know about the possibility of a generic Gleevec just yet, Novartis has time left on the patent, I don't see how it can be done. Once the patent runs out they will tweak the medication and extend it again. Troxel On Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 6:15 PM, kdmeranda <kdmeranda@...> wrote: > > > Hello All, > > Since I have recently reached my lifetime pharmacy maximum with my health > insurer I have spent a lot of time lately researching this issue and here is > what I have found. > > According to a press release from Sun Pharmaceuticals in Mumbai,in November > 2009 the USFDA granted tentative approval to an Abbreviated New Drug > Application (ANDA) for generic Gleevec®, imatinib mesylate tablets. I have > also read that their generic will be available in the US sometime this year. > > I'd love to hear if any of you have more information on this. I'm beginning > to feel a bit desperate as I try to figure out how I will pay the $4500 a > month for Gleevec. My husband's salary is too high to let us qualify for any > assistance, but not so much that we have an extra $54,000 a year! > > Thanks, > > > > > > > > > Hi All. > > > In case you aren't informed, I want to let you know that a generic > Gleevec will be available soon. Some doctors feel that there is a slight > change in ingredients in generic drugs. This change will make Gleevec more > expensive, and insurance companies will prefer the generic. > > > What are your thoughts on it? My daughter, Robyn, takes Gleevec. > > > Someone in our group used a doctor whose name started with a T. This > doctor moved recently to New York. Does anyone remember the name? > > > Sandi > > ________________________________ > > > > Hi Sandi, > > This was brought up on Jerry's Mayfield's cml list and there was some > discussion that this is NOT true, that the patent for Gleevec has a number > of more years before it runs out (maybe something like 2015 or later). There > presently is a generic for Gleevec in India but it is not available > elsewhere. When a patient from that area wrote to Dr. Druker and asked him > about the generic and it's effectiveness, he wrote back that the generic had > the same active ingredients (which I believe is true of all generics). > > > > Where did you get your information about a generic being available soon? > > > > C. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Hi , I'm pretty sure that the patent on Gleevec doesn't expire until 2015 in the US. We had a discussion on the press release a couple months ago on another list and I think it was determined that a company can apply for approval for a generic but it doesn't mean they can sell it yet. I wish it were true that it would be soon, but I don't think that is the case. I think your best bet is to check with PSI or Novartis directly. I think PSI gets funding from Novartis to help patients pay for Gleevec so Novartis may send you to PSI. You can also ask your doctor to look for alternative funding for Gleevec--often their offices handle this. Best wishes, Dorothy On Feb 17, 2010, at 9:15 PM, kdmeranda wrote: > Hello All, > > Since I have recently reached my lifetime pharmacy maximum with my > health insurer I have spent a lot of time lately researching this > issue and here is what I have found. > > According to a press release from Sun Pharmaceuticals in Mumbai,in > November 2009 the USFDA granted tentative approval to an Abbreviated > New Drug Application (ANDA) for generic Gleevec®, imatinib mesylate > tablets. I have also read that their generic will be available in > the US sometime this year. > > I'd love to hear if any of you have more information on this. I'm > beginning to feel a bit desperate as I try to figure out how I will > pay the $4500 a month for Gleevec. My husband's salary is too high > to let us qualify for any assistance, but not so much that we have > an extra $54,000 a year! > > Thanks, > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 Hi Walt, Sorry to hear of your wife' job loss and the difficulties it brings. There are a variety of resources to help, most based on hardship and financial need, of which I think your situation would qualify. Here are a few links that might be beneficial, some of which you may already know: uneedpsi.com (Patient Services, Inc.), mycmlcircle.com (Gleevec PAP). I am happy to assist you if I may be of service. I'm sure others on our group will respond with a wealth of information to help get over this hurdle. Let us know how we can help. Greg > > Hi, > My wife recently lost her job and we cannot afford insurance and I am on a daily dose of Gleevec of which I cannot afford as the over the counter cost is over $4000.00 per month. Any suggestions as to how I might be able to continue with the medication. > > I am a 15 year survivor of a Autologous bone marrow transplant for CML. I was on a experimental drug for a few years post transplant. The test now show a slight activity of the CML and if I should stop taking the Gleevec, I am sure it will rapidly become more advanced. > > Your suggestions are welcomed! > > Thank You > Walt > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 Hi Walt, You could try the Novartis PAP (Patient Assistance Program). They will provide Gleevec free of charge if your income is less than $45000 annually. Over $45,000 it is reduced proportionally until $100,000. Zavie Zavie (age 71) 67 Shoreham Avenue Ottawa, Canada, K2G 3X3 dxd AUG/99 INF OCT/99 to FEB/00, CHF No meds FEB/00 to JAN/01 Gleevec since MAR/27/01 (400 mg) CCR SEP/01. #102 in Zero Club 2.8 log reduction Sep/05 3.0 log reduction Jan/06 2.9 log reduction Feb/07 3.6 log reduction Apr/08 3.6 log reduction Sep/08 3.7 log reduction Jan/09 3.8 log reduction May/09 3.8 log reduction Aug/09 4.0 log reduction Dec/09 e-mail: zmiller@... Tel: 613-726-1117 Fax: 613-482-4801 Cell: 613-282-0204 ID: zaviem _____ From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of walt0749 Sent: April 21, 2010 11:04 AM Subject: [ ] Gleevec Hi, My wife recently lost her job and we cannot afford insurance and I am on a daily dose of Gleevec of which I cannot afford as the over the counter cost is over $4000.00 per month. Any suggestions as to how I might be able to continue with the medication. I am a 15 year survivor of a Autologous bone marrow transplant for CML. I was on a experimental drug for a few years post transplant. The test now show a slight activity of the CML and if I should stop taking the Gleevec, I am sure it will rapidly become more advanced. Your suggestions are welcomed! Thank You Walt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 Walt! I am sorry for your situation. I have used Patient Services, Inc. in the past. They have been really good to me!! Good Luck and I will be praying for you. Blessings, Jo-Dee From: walt0749 <walt0749@...> Subject: [ ] Gleevec Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 11:03 AM  Hi, My wife recently lost her job and we cannot afford insurance and I am on a daily dose of Gleevec of which I cannot afford as the over the counter cost is over $4000.00 per month. Any suggestions as to how I might be able to continue with the medication. I am a 15 year survivor of a Autologous bone marrow transplant for CML. I was on a experimental drug for a few years post transplant. The test now show a slight activity of the CML and if I should stop taking the Gleevec, I am sure it will rapidly become more advanced. Your suggestions are welcomed! Thank You Walt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 Hi Walt, I want to dito what Zavie says here. PSI has been great for me too. The hardest thing I had to do was get over my shyness about asking for help. But think about this, Gleevec and the other CML medications are " outrageously " priced... no one can afford them! Until all this reform becomes effective... and tweaked and adjusted, we are going to need this help. Don't wait, go straight to their website and get the process started. www.uneedpsi.org <cid:part1.09050709.02060301@...> On 4/21/2010 8:33 AM, Zavie wrote: > > Hi Walt, > > You could try the Novartis PAP (Patient Assistance Program). They will > provide Gleevec free of charge if your income is less than $45000 > annually. > Over $45,000 it is reduced proportionally until $100,000. > > Zavie > > Zavie (age 71) > 67 Shoreham Avenue > Ottawa, Canada, K2G 3X3 > dxd AUG/99 > INF OCT/99 to FEB/00, CHF > No meds FEB/00 to JAN/01 > Gleevec since MAR/27/01 (400 mg) > CCR SEP/01. #102 in Zero Club > 2.8 log reduction Sep/05 > 3.0 log reduction Jan/06 > 2.9 log reduction Feb/07 > 3.6 log reduction Apr/08 > 3.6 log reduction Sep/08 > 3.7 log reduction Jan/09 > 3.8 log reduction May/09 > 3.8 log reduction Aug/09 > 4.0 log reduction Dec/09 > e-mail: zmiller@... <mailto:zmiller%40sympatico.ca> > Tel: 613-726-1117 > Fax: 613-482-4801 > Cell: 613-282-0204 > ID: zaviem > > _____ > > From: <mailto:%40> > [mailto: <mailto:%40>] On Behalf Of > walt0749 > Sent: April 21, 2010 11:04 AM > <mailto:%40> > Subject: [ ] Gleevec > > > Hi, > My wife recently lost her job and we cannot afford insurance and I am on a > daily dose of Gleevec of which I cannot afford as the over the counter > cost > is over $4000.00 per month. Any suggestions as to how I might be able to > continue with the medication. > > I am a 15 year survivor of a Autologous bone marrow transplant for CML. I > was on a experimental drug for a few years post transplant. The test now > show a slight activity of the CML and if I should stop taking the > Gleevec, I > am sure it will rapidly become more advanced. > > Your suggestions are welcomed! > > Thank You > Walt > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 No worries, Walt. Novartis will supply you with Gleevec at low or no cost. They will ask you to fill out a form, half of which your doctor completes, and attach proof of your current income, which would include a layoff notice or some such. The usually OK a year at a time. Log onto http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/about-us/our-patient-caregiver-resources/paf-e\ nrollment.jsp?usertrack.filter_applied=true & NovaId=4029461973938546595 Getting the process rolling can take a bit of patience but after that it runs like clockwork. Good luck, and don't worry. in San Francisco On Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 8:03 AM, walt0749 <walt0749@...> wrote: > > > Hi, > My wife recently lost her job and we cannot afford insurance and I am on a > daily dose of Gleevec of which I cannot afford as the over the counter cost > is over $4000.00 per month. Any suggestions as to how I might be able to > continue with the medication. > > I am a 15 year survivor of a Autologous bone marrow transplant for CML. I > was on a experimental drug for a few years post transplant. The test now > show a slight activity of the CML and if I should stop taking the Gleevec, I > am sure it will rapidly become more advanced. > > Your suggestions are welcomed! > > Thank You > Walt > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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