Guest guest Posted November 15, 2010 Report Share Posted November 15, 2010 Kate, the VA can't help me. If I did try to use one of their doctors, I'd have to drive to Dallas and still would be in the same position I'm in now. They can't offer me much of anything, either. Veterans in this area are really raising a stink about the neglect the local VA is showing. I was in Thailand supporting the war, not in Viet Nam, maintaining a communications center for the bombers. The only exposure I had was to a huge explosion when about 1,000 750 pound bombs went off in a storage bunker and threw detonators all over the beach and shrapnel for more than 10 clicks in all directions. All I could claim would be shellshock. ;< P Sue, I tried Arava and it nearly put me in the hospital. It was bad for me. Remicade will cost me $307.14 per month and the cost of infusion and the trip to the hospital. The cheapest of all is Rituxamab at $88.31, still too high for me. And things will get worse since we won't get raises for the foreseeable future. We'll have to tighten our belts and try to get on at WalMart.... Dennis in eastexas On Mon, Nov 15, 2010 at 7:42 PM, Kate Fair <kalfoley@...> wrote: > > > Dennis, what is the latest with your VA care? I believe you had enrolled? > And if you deployed to Vietnam you might consider filing a request for an > Agent Orange (along w the other defoliants) exam. Kate F > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Nov 15, 2010, at 6:53 PM, marysue <marysue@...<marysue%40triad.rr.com>> > wrote: > > > Oh, Dennis, that's such a shame. Their policies don't make any sense. > > It would be hard for a lot of people to pay $250-300 per month. My co- > > pay is $300 for a 3-month supply, and that's quite enough. > > > > Have you tried any of the infusion type meds like Orencia or Remicade, > > or would you have to pay the 20% that Medicare wouldn't pay? > > > > Have you ever tried Arava? That worked very well for me, but > > unfortunately it continued the decline in my white blood cell count > > that MTX had already started. > > > > It would be cheaper for insurance companies to cover whatever drugs it > > takes to stop the joint destruction that RA can cause than it would to > > fix it later. Their bottom line is always money. > > > > I hope you reach a solution soon. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2010 Report Share Posted November 15, 2010 Bummer, Dennis, all the way around. I know you must be frustrated and disgusted. What does your rheumy tell you? Sue On Nov 15, 2010, at 9:19 PM, Dennis W wrote: > Kate, the VA can't help me. If I did try to use one of their > doctors, I'd > have to drive to Dallas and still would be in the same position I'm > in now. > They can't offer me much of anything, either. Veterans in this area > are > really raising a stink about the neglect the local VA is showing. I > was in > Thailand supporting the war, not in Viet Nam, maintaining a > communications > center for the bombers. The only exposure I had was to a huge > explosion when > about 1,000 750 pound bombs went off in a storage bunker and threw > detonators all over the beach and shrapnel for more than 10 clicks > in all > directions. All I could claim would be shellshock. ;< P > > Sue, I tried Arava and it nearly put me in the hospital. It was bad > for me. > Remicade will cost me $307.14 per month and the cost of infusion and > the > trip to the hospital. The cheapest of all is Rituxamab at $88.31, > still too > high for me. And things will get worse since we won't get raises for > the > foreseeable future. We'll have to tighten our belts and try to get > on at > WalMart.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2010 Report Share Posted November 15, 2010 My Rummy? He's only a poor choice to replace the one that was going to force me off Prednisone by prescribing less! This one gave me a list of the biologics to choose from and get funding for, then tell him what I decided and he will write the script. I'm just winging it, he won't be any help at all. It's like the spine doc. I have bad discs and Scoliosis and he only wants to burn nerves, and got his feelings hurt because I wanted an opinion from a surgeon. He's sending me a TENS unit in place of everything else. I don't see how that will help either but will give it a try. I really don't know what to do with any of it... Dennis in eastexas On Mon, Nov 15, 2010 at 10:16 PM, marysue <marysue@...> wrote: > > > Bummer, Dennis, all the way around. I know you must be frustrated and > disgusted. > > What does your rheumy tell you? > > Sue > > > On Nov 15, 2010, at 9:19 PM, Dennis W wrote: > > > Kate, the VA can't help me. If I did try to use one of their > > doctors, I'd > > have to drive to Dallas and still would be in the same position I'm > > in now. > > They can't offer me much of anything, either. Veterans in this area > > are > > really raising a stink about the neglect the local VA is showing. I > > was in > > Thailand supporting the war, not in Viet Nam, maintaining a > > communications > > center for the bombers. The only exposure I had was to a huge > > explosion when > > about 1,000 750 pound bombs went off in a storage bunker and threw > > detonators all over the beach and shrapnel for more than 10 clicks > > in all > > directions. All I could claim would be shellshock. ;< P > > > > Sue, I tried Arava and it nearly put me in the hospital. It was bad > > for me. > > Remicade will cost me $307.14 per month and the cost of infusion and > > the > > trip to the hospital. The cheapest of all is Rituxamab at $88.31, > > still too > > high for me. And things will get worse since we won't get raises for > > the > > foreseeable future. We'll have to tighten our belts and try to get > > on at > > WalMart.... > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 2010 Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 Hey Dennis. I have an out of pocket max of $2800 per year. Rituxan has a " Rituxan Experience " card that is worth $4000. It covered my Out of Pocket max and I have some left over for next year. The card is good for 1 year and then renewable. You may want to go to www.rituxan.com and check it out. I get my Rituxan infusion once every 5 months. Hope this helps. in MN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 2010 Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 Hi, there has been a program that your doc has to enroll you in but in the program, the entire expense of the drug is paid for, I only had to pay for the infusion expense. If you would like to know more, just email me & I'll look up the info for you! in SC Sent from my iPhone On Nov 16, 2010, at 11:26 AM, Rice <onlymomrice1@...> wrote: > Hey Dennis. > > I have an out of pocket max of $2800 per year. Rituxan has a " Rituxan > Experience " card that is worth $4000. It covered my Out of Pocket max and I > have some left over for next year. The card is good for 1 year and then > renewable. You may want to go to www.rituxan.com and check it out. I get my > Rituxan infusion once every 5 months. > > Hope this helps. > in MN > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 2010 Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 Nice try, , but this one won't work for me either. One item in qualifications of all the biologics I've looked at is: " Not using any state or federally funded health care program (eg, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid or TRICARE) " Since I've been using Medicare for 20 years, I can't qualify for any of the in-house programs. I don't know what it has to do with anything, but apparently there is cause for concern that they can lose funding or pay back money they've already got from the government. Whatever it is, it causes a number of us to lose out. Does anyone know what the real reason is? I was given the options of: Enbrel, Simponi, Cimzia, Rituximab, and Remicade. Which one should I choose and why? TIA for anything, Dennis in eastexas On Tue, Nov 16, 2010 at 10:26 AM, Rice <onlymomrice1@...> wrote: > > > Hey Dennis. > > I have an out of pocket max of $2800 per year. Rituxan has a " Rituxan > Experience " card that is worth $4000. It covered my Out of Pocket max and I > > have some left over for next year. The card is good for 1 year and then > renewable. You may want to go to www.rituxan.com and check it out. I get > my > Rituxan infusion once every 5 months. > > Hope this helps. > in MN > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2010 Report Share Posted November 17, 2010 Sorry to hear that Dennis. I don't know what the reason would be. As for which med to choose, I went thru Enbrel and Humira before taking Rituan. It all depends which one would work for you. It is one of those trial and error things. If I was in your shoes I would go for the one that would cost you the less money. It is a shame when money has to be the deciding factor but sometimes it all comes down to that. in MN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.