Re: Multiple subjects from new /old member

[Guest guest]

Lou,

What a terrible situation that you are in!

I have no idea how it works, but my rheummy told me that she has

coupons that helps pay for Enbrel. Does anyone know about this? I

have insurance but she said it was still an option if my co-pays

were high.

Sorry that I am no help to you. Please know that it concerns me

greatly when I read these post and know that people are doing

without. My thoughts and prayers for an answer are with you.

Shirley

>

> I have been reading and rarely posting here for 3-4 yrs. ( good

to

> see you back Tawny). I am one of those with a family history( my

> father had mild RA--treated with cecil's serum( very old time

remedy

> from one of the first physicians to treat RA) & gold shots. I

> experienced exteme stess when my husband killed himself and his

> family chose to go totally weird and acuse me of murder, stalk me,

> and contest the will for 2 years. I developed symptoms soon after.

> I have been on Plaquinil( bad side effects), Methotrexate,

Arava,

> and humira. The arava caused liver enzyme elevation--Humira did

> nothing at all. Methotrexate helped some. I am now on Enbrel(

about

> two years) which has improved life considerably. Here's the

question--

> how do those of you like me on Medicare afford the co-pays and

the "

> donut hole " full pay?? I received disability and finally got

medicare

> in June. I'm paying for the best I could find supplement

insurance;

> but the co-pay is 33%! That's about 480.00 a month for me. I got

help

> thru Healthwell foundation( $2800.00); but that was used up pretty

> fast. I am now in the 'gap " --so to get Enbrel next month would

cost

> me 1478.00. Not even close to possible. When i called Enliven

they

> said since i have medicare Rx coverage I am not eligible for

help. "

> Just pay for it for 2 months and you will be at the catastrophic

> level and only owe 5% " Needless to say , that was not only

> aggrevating but useless. So---sorry this is so long; but I can't

> believe i am going to loose the drug that has made life bearable

> I am not eligible for medicaid or any stae assistance due to

> my " too high " income. Thanks for any suggestions--and welcome to

> the numerous new members. lou

>

[Guest guest]

Lou,

I'm really sorry you are in this situation.

Would you consider Remicade (infliximab) instead? Under your

circumstances, It may be more affordable for you.

Not an MD

On Tue, Sep 2, 2008 at 8:53 PM, louwheres <louwheres@...> wrote:

> I have been reading and rarely posting here for 3-4 yrs. ( good to

> see you back Tawny). I am one of those with a family history( my

> father had mild RA--treated with cecil's serum( very old time remedy

> from one of the first physicians to treat RA) & gold shots. I

> experienced exteme stess when my husband killed himself and his

> family chose to go totally weird and acuse me of murder, stalk me,

> and contest the will for 2 years. I developed symptoms soon after.

> I have been on Plaquinil( bad side effects), Methotrexate, Arava,

> and humira. The arava caused liver enzyme elevation--Humira did

> nothing at all. Methotrexate helped some. I am now on Enbrel( about

> two years) which has improved life considerably. Here's the question--

> how do those of you like me on Medicare afford the co-pays and the "

> donut hole " full pay?? I received disability and finally got medicare

> in June. I'm paying for the best I could find supplement insurance;

> but the co-pay is 33%! That's about 480.00 a month for me. I got help

> thru Healthwell foundation( $2800.00); but that was used up pretty

> fast. I am now in the 'gap " --so to get Enbrel next month would cost

> me 1478.00. Not even close to possible. When i called Enliven they

> said since i have medicare Rx coverage I am not eligible for help. "

> Just pay for it for 2 months and you will be at the catastrophic

> level and only owe 5% " Needless to say , that was not only

> aggrevating but useless. So---sorry this is so long; but I can't

> believe i am going to loose the drug that has made life bearable

> I am not eligible for medicaid or any stae assistance due to

> my " too high " income. Thanks for any suggestions--and welcome to

> the numerous new members. lou

[Guest guest]

My doctors office gave me an enbrel quick assist card which helps

more when you first start enbrel, but co-pays shouldn't be more than

$75. When I signed up for it though they did ask if I was on

medicare or medicaid so I don't know if you can get it if your on one

of them. I work as a RN at a hospital outpatient infusion center and

I know many of our patients are on medicare and have better luck with

them paying for Remicaide and some patients are able to get it

practically free from the company. I know its a pain and a lot of

paperwork but its worth it, might be something to look into.

Good luck

Diane

> >

> > I have been reading and rarely posting here for 3-4 yrs. (

good

> to

> > see you back Tawny). I am one of those with a family history( my

> > father had mild RA--treated with cecil's serum( very old time

> remedy

> > from one of the first physicians to treat RA) & gold shots. I

> > experienced exteme stess when my husband killed himself and his

> > family chose to go totally weird and acuse me of murder, stalk

me,

> > and contest the will for 2 years. I developed symptoms soon after.

> > I have been on Plaquinil( bad side effects), Methotrexate,

> Arava,

> > and humira. The arava caused liver enzyme elevation--Humira did

> > nothing at all. Methotrexate helped some. I am now on Enbrel(

> about

> > two years) which has improved life considerably. Here's the

> question--

> > how do those of you like me on Medicare afford the co-pays and

> the "

> > donut hole " full pay?? I received disability and finally got

> medicare

> > in June. I'm paying for the best I could find supplement

> insurance;

> > but the co-pay is 33%! That's about 480.00 a month for me. I got

> help

> > thru Healthwell foundation( $2800.00); but that was used up

pretty

> > fast. I am now in the 'gap " --so to get Enbrel next month would

> cost

> > me 1478.00. Not even close to possible. When i called Enliven

> they

> > said since i have medicare Rx coverage I am not eligible for

> help. "

> > Just pay for it for 2 months and you will be at the catastrophic

> > level and only owe 5% " Needless to say , that was not only

> > aggrevating but useless. So---sorry this is so long; but I can't

> > believe i am going to loose the drug that has made life bearable

> > I am not eligible for medicaid or any stae assistance due to

> > my " too high " income. Thanks for any suggestions--and welcome

to

> > the numerous new members. lou

> >

>