TO MEMBERS ON MEDICARE RE: REMICADE

[Guest guest]

FOR ALL OF US WHO ARE ON MEDICARE A & B, MEDICATIONS THAT ARE GIVEN IV IN A DOCTOR'S OFFICE ARE COVERED AND PAID FOR BY MEDIARE PART B

Judy, Be careful with this advise. What the rep is thinking is that you're talking about an injection of Vit B, or hormones, or flu vaccine, etc. He is not thinking about Remicade-- which is a 2hr infusion that can be done in a doctor's office (usually the Rheumatologist) but normallly they refer you out to an Infusion Center at the local Oncology or Cancer Center.

For me, and I do have Medicare A & B, the Center's fee is covered 80/20 by my Medicare and private insurance. The medication would be covered by Part B if the Facility provides it, but you could have a 20% copay. That could be equal to about $600 per infusion.

The good news is that if you have Part D coverage-- or have Medicare/MediCaid (Medical in California)-- that you may be able to get the medication from your Part D coverage-- if they offer mail order svc-- you might be able to get a 90 day dose(s) for the price of a single or double copay. For example, if you can order a 90 day supply of any medication and pay $25 for that amount-- you may be able to utilize this service. I pay $96 for each 3month supply-- 3 infusions- at least that was what it was last year. 2008 has a whole new program- we'll see if I can stay on it financially.

Let me know what secondary coverage you have-- and we'll get it figured out for you.

Blessings,

Tracie

NS Co-owner/moderatorStart the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

[Guest guest]

I LEFT A MESSAGE FOR A MEDICARE REPRESENTATIVE TO CALL ME WHICH HE

DID THIS MORNING.

FOR ALL OF US WHO ARE ON MEDICARE A & B, MEDICATIONS THAT ARE GIVEN

IV IN A DOCTOR'S OFFICE ARE COVERED AND PAID FOR BY MEDIARE PART B

I SEE THE NEW REHUMATOLOGIST NEXT MONTH HOPEFULLY SHE WILL BE

AGREEABLE WITH GIVING ME THE REMICADE AS dR. bAUGHMAN SUGGESTED

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT DURING MY LAST BIT OF EXTRA

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. i AM MUCH BETTER ANDi COULD HEAR MOTHER TRACY

KINDLY GIVING ME HER SUPPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE WENT TO THE MOVIES SUNDAY AND SAW NATIONAL TREASIRE WITH NICHOLAS

CAGE. IT WAS AN O'KAY MOVIE BUT JUSYT GETTING OUT WAS GOOD FOR ME.

WE ALSO STOPED AT GABRIEL BROTHERS, THEY HAVE NOTS OF ODDS AND ENDS,

OVER STOCK ITEMS FROM OTHER PLACES AND THEIR PRICES ARE TERRIFIC.

DECIDED I NEEDED A PICK ME UP, FOUND A BRIGHT RED SHOWER CURTAIN MADE

OF CORDORY THE BRAND WAS TOMMY HILFINGER, IT HAD BEEN GOING FOR $200

BUT THEY WERE SELLING IT FOR $17, THEN I SAW SOME ACCCESSORIES THAT

WENT WITH THE SHOWER CURTAIN SO NOW I HAVE A BRIGHT CHEERY

COORDINATED BATHROOM. THEN I FOUND A QUILT THAT THEY SAID WAS HAND

CRAFTED, WHAT EVER THAN MEANS, IT WAS MARKED $200 AT THE STORE IT

CAME FROM AND THEY WERE SELLING IT FOR $17. WE HAVE A KING SIZED BED

AND THIS QUILT GOES ALWAY TO THE FLOOR IN ALL DIRECTIONS, i HAVE

NEVER SEEN ONE SO BIG.

ANYWAY, I AM FEELING MUCH BETTER. HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT PAIN FREE

DAY TOMORROW.

GLAD TO HEAR YOU HAD A GREAT VACATION, HAPPY ANNIVERSERY.

JUDY IN PA