Re: Humira Assistance Program // It's Easy!

[Guest guest]

Caarol,

That is wonderful. I am glad to hear it worked for someone. I tried to

apply for the drug assistance for enbrel and they turned me down cause I have

insurance. Problem is I have no income. I am waiting to get long term

disability. so I have to try and pay my $60 co-pay if I want to stay on enbrel.

My

meds are now $410.

So I finally gave up during the holidays and stopped all my meds when they

ran out! It was pretty pointless to keep taking all these expensive meds when

they were not doing anything! So I have been med free for 8 weeks. I have

another 6-8 weeks to go before I can even think about ordering more meds.

I did have some enbrel left over in the back of frig..about a two weeks

worth. figured I better use it before it expires. so I took a shot of it last

night. Darn stuff gave me a headache from heck! so that is headed for the

trashcan.

Shessh it would be nice if they can invent a med that I can take that does

not make me vomit, crap my pants, dizzy, give me headache from heck or may me

pyscho!

I guess that is asking too much. Well back to drawing board. I have been

looking at getting on the retuxin clinical trial but you have to be on MTX

inorder to participate and this is again another chemo drug. I think I will

pass.

I hate MTX makes me vomit and have terrible constand diarrhea.

Ok these drug engineers need to invent some meds that work!!

Toni

In a message dated 2/18/04 7:52:28 PM Central Standard Time,

writes:

> Message: 18

> Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 19:48:36 -0500

> From: " Carol " <carol@...>

> Subject: Humira Assistance Program // It's Easy!

>

> To anyone who is without insurance and has the RA diagnosis: I’m self

> insured (ie no insurance!) and my rheumy really wanted me on a biologic. I

> read about the Humira Assistance Program and asked him about it. Abbot

> labs is really generous about “sharing the wealth†and making Humira

> available to everyone. I filled out a half page form, my rheumy filled the

> other half and sent it in. I had to tell them my income, and because we’re

> self employed they were fine with an old bank statement as proof of income.

> As the customer svc rep said, “They’re very generous about accepting

> people.†I thought it would be harder than that. Once I was approved

> they sent me a great book about diet and RA, (worth $26) a nice insulated

> bag to carry my Humira in when I travel, and a video. They ship me three

> months at a time, and each three months they just ask if your income /

> insurance situation has changed. Each year you have to send them a new bank

> statement, 1040, etc. I’ve been really happy with the Humira, other than

> being depressed (which is almost certainly unrelated.) I wasn’t even able

> to wear my wedding band and engagement ring anymore because of swelling in

> my hands, but now I can wear them and they’re almost loose! The rheumy is

> happy with the results in my small joints, but I still have problems with my

> shoulders, hips, and ankles pretty regularly. He said he might increase my

> dosage to once a week, and that the assistance program will cover it. That

> would be $2600 worth of Humira per month! I’m certainly grateful to Abbot

> Labs. To anyone who doesn’t have coverage and needs a biologic, ask your

> rheumy about the Humira Assistance Program! I thought we made too much, but

> they were pretty liberal. After all, to afford a mortgage payment’s worth

> of med’s you’d have to be making quite a bit of money… Anyway, sorry I

> got

> off on an unrelated tangent, but I’ve been meaning to share this with the

> group for a month. If anyone has any questions, just ask me!

>

> Hugs to all,

> Carol

>