Medicare

[Guest guest]

Yes, they will cover it if you get it I believe 50mg dose and then you can dilute it.************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

Would be funny if it were not so true

My father-in-law had prostate surgery.

We brought him to the hospital at 7:30 a.m., and he was operated on at eight.

We were amazed when the hospital called at noon to tell us he could go home.

Two months later our beagle, Bo, also had prostate surgery. When I brought him in, I asked the veterinarian what time I should pick him up.

The vet told me Bo would remain overnight.

'Overnight?' I said 'My father-in-law came home the same day.'

The vet looked at me and said, 'Bo's not on Medicare!'

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[Guest guest]

Hi Sherry,

There is good news and bad news regarding Part D paying for Enbrel. Good news is

yes they will pay two thirds of it. Bad news is most of the companies your

doctor will have to fight with to get it approved. I have mine through AARP's

policy and it wasn't covered unless my doctor proved I needed it. That took

almost two months. Then they would only pay two thirds of it, leaving a third

for the patient to pick up. And a third of it is still pricey.

My rheumy's office got me approved through the Healthwell Foundation for extra

help picking up that remaining third. Getting approved through them takes a

couple of months also. So see if your rheumy can get you on that.

Also, if you qualify for extra help paying your Part D co-pays, that would knock

the price for you down to what ever the cap is through your Part D policy. My

co-pay for name brands is $6.30. Just something else for you to think about.

If all else fails the company that makes Enbrel also has a program to help with

the cost of it. You can find that information on their website www.enbrel.com.

Good luck and gentle hugs,

Dalene

[Guest guest]

My experience with part D:

I called the Enbrel insurance people in December when we get to choose the

private company we have to use for pt. D and asked which was best for Enbrel

coverage.  The answer was they're pretty much all the same.  They all require

special authorization every year and they all have quantity limits.  My rheumy

hates the paperwork even though it's his nurse who does it all. I feel sorry for

her - she's on my second appeal this year.   These are private for-profit

companies and biologics are expensive so it profits them to throw up delays and

barriers in hopes we will just give up and go away without our meds.  There was

a recent article saying Medicare B will cover the total cost of a cancer

biologic, provenge,  which is several times more expensive than Enbrel but pt.

B is original government Medicare, not privatized pt. D. 

I got help with Enbrel from the company when I had my employer's insurance but

they dropped me the minute I went on Medicare.  They said they'd refer me to

some charities like Healthwell but they do not have a program for Medicare

recipients.

Janette in Indiana