Co-pay for Enbrel

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 03/22/2002 4:55:26 AM Eastern Standard Time,

tom21486@... writes:

> i pay a 20% co-pay for my enbrel because i was told it was an

> injectable.

Tom - I have Aetna US HealthCare and my co-pays are normally $10 for generic,

$15 brand, $30 non-formulary, and $0 for injectibles -

Check again with your insurance company - Sometimes if you order the

injectibles from them or their supplier, there is no co-pay. Also, if you do

have to pay a 20% co-pay, ask if there is a maximum out of pocket cost

annually and keep track of it.

Good luck,

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/22/2002 5:16:26 AM Eastern Standard Time,

rkba@... writes:

> I don't know what kind of medical insurance you have, but I have Blue

> Cross 500. It has a 20% co-pay for doctors visits and prescription

> drugs; HOWEVER, Blue Cross also has a mail in prescription program

> that is MUCH cheaper than getting your prescriptions from a local

> pharmacy. Instead of a 20% co-pay, if you mail your prescriptions in

> to Blue Cross' mail order pharmacy (Express Services), there is a

> flat rate of $15 for generics and $20 for name brand drugs for a

> THREE MONTH SUPPLY! That's only $5/month if you're getting generics.

> The trick is to have your doctor write the prescription for three

> months worth of drugs (with up to three refills), because they charge

> you the same $15 or $20 REGARDLESS of whether the prescription is for

> a one month supply or a three month supply - go figure(?)

>

You can asked the dr to give you a prescription for a 3 month supply. I do

that with mine and they do that at the local drugstore no questions. The

only thing I have problems with is my lodin (etodalec..generic..so cheeper)

and neuronton ($20 copay), and busparin (generic buspar) because of the 90

pill cap on how many you can get, but it works great for my clariton-D,

zyrtec, acifex, MTX (Injectible...but my dr had to appeal it out the wazoo to

get them to cover that), needles, folic acid, and all my inhalers (Flovent

and flonase) and whatnot else.

Smile,

Becky

[Guest guest]

Tom,

I don't know what kind of medical insurance you have, but I have Blue

Cross 500. It has a 20% co-pay for doctors visits and prescription

drugs; HOWEVER, Blue Cross also has a mail in prescription program

that is MUCH cheaper than getting your prescriptions from a local

pharmacy. Instead of a 20% co-pay, if you mail your prescriptions in

to Blue Cross' mail order pharmacy (Express Services), there is a

flat rate of $15 for generics and $20 for name brand drugs for a

THREE MONTH SUPPLY! That's only $5/month if you're getting generics.

The trick is to have your doctor write the prescription for three

months worth of drugs (with up to three refills), because they charge

you the same $15 or $20 REGARDLESS of whether the prescription is for

a one month supply or a three month supply - go figure(?)

I would assume the same thing applies to injectables, although I

don't know since I don't self inject anything (yet). Blue Cross

doesn't advertise their mail order prescription program very much

(for obvious reasons), but I suggest you check with your own medical

insurance company to see if perhaps they have a similar program.

-- Ron

> i pay a 20% co-pay for my enbrel because i was told it was an

> injectable. i'm gratefull to get the drug but because of some

> complications i hav'nt been able to work for a few months and

> now am concerned about costs.are there resources out there?

> is this a common practice of ins. co.? any feedback would be

> appreciated

> thanks,

> tom

[Guest guest]

I am lucky. With my insurance (Aetna HMO) I have no co-pay at all for my

Enbrel. They said it was because it is an injectable. I couldn't believe it.

I deserve it though after all the money I have wasted on expensive medications

that didn't work. They even sent me the insulin syringes and a huge sharps box

for free. Best part is I get it delivered to my home overnight (takes a couple

of days for processing a refill though). With my old insurance (united

healthcare) I ordered it from Merck Medco. I paid 20 bucks for a 3 month

supply. I have not paid shipping charges with either companies. You might

check into any studies that are going on. Call the Enbrel hotline to see if

there is any other way to obtain the medication.

>>> tom21486@... 03/21/02 11:40PM >>>

i pay a 20% co-pay for my enbrel because i was told it was an

injectable. i'm gratefull to get the drug but because of some

complications i hav'nt been able to work for a few months and now am

concerned about costs.are there resources out there? is this a common

practice of ins. co.? any feedback would be appreciated

thanks,

tom

[Guest guest]

Hi Tom...Since last June when I started Enbrel it has only been a $10 co-pay. I

am on United Healthcare PPO. In July the company providing the benefit is

changing their plan because of a buy out. It will still be a United Healthcare

PPO but I will have to pay 20%. Not only that. I will have to pay for the drug

out of pocket and submit for re-embersment within 90 days. The situation s*cks

but what can you do. I am seriously considering having an attorney research the

policy. RGDS RE

[ ] co-pay for enbrel

i pay a 20% co-pay for my enbrel because i was told it was an

injectable. i'm gratefull to get the drug but because of some

complications i hav'nt been able to work for a few months and now am

concerned about costs.are there resources out there? is this a common

practice of ins. co.? any feedback would be appreciated

thanks,

tom

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/22/2002 1:23:37 PM Eastern Standard Time,

lesliesa@... writes:

> With my insurance (Aetna HMO) I have no co-pay at all for my Enbrel. They

> said it was because it is an injectable. I couldn't believe it.

- I was shocked there was no co-pay too - but I'm not complaining!!

Do you find that when they call you about a new shipment, they sometimes

forget to send it?? I've had this happen twice. Luckily, when I called and

told them I didn't get it as scheduled, they overnighted it. I also get it

delivered to work because someone has to sign for it. They were very willing

to do that.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 03/27/2002 6:09:18 PM Eastern Standard Time,

pdboltja@... writes:

> The only drawback is that right now I am in

> Florida and will be driving home. I will need a new supply before I leave

> but I don't want to order it and have to travel for three or four days in a

> car with a three month supply of Enbre that I am trying to keep at a

> constant temperature.

>

Call Enbrel and ask what they suggest - I think dry ice would keep it cold

that long, but not sure where you can get dry ice or if the Enbrel people

think that would be ok.

[Guest guest]

I received a letter today from my insurance company that my co-pay for

Enbrel will increase from $25 to $40 for a 34-day supply. Actually I

get only a 28-day supply, because I don't think the company will send

part of a box. It's still a bargain, though, so I guess I shouldn't

complain. I might just call and ask them just what do they consider a

34-day supply.

Sue