Guest guest Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 Hi Maggie, My name's Kathy and I've been on methotrexate and remicade for several years now. I've experienced the best and longest relief from this combination. Remicade is administered in the doctor's office, usually by a nurse. It is an IV infusion which lasts approximately 2 hours. After your first three treatments, they are administered once every 8 weeks. I too am not a big fan of needles and have had trouble from time to time having them find a vein. But with the relief I have found, it is more than worth it. As far as whether your insurance company would cover it, your best bet is to call them and ask. Prior to Medicare, I had two different kinds of insurance and both paid for remicade with only an MD's co-payment ($10.00). Remicade isn't cheap by any stretch of the imagination. However, if your insurance company will cover it, it is a well worthwhile option. Good luck! Kathy in Illinois Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Hello Maggie, I take remicaid its giveing by IV and a RN , i did take it at the hospital but when our insurance changed the only way i could get it was by home health but its still a RN that comes to my house to give it to me im not sure of my part there but the remiciad is very coastly its like $15,000.00 a treatment for 600 miligram a milliliter i think it is my other insurance was only 35.00 copay of that dont no how this one will work out yet ? as for helping me it does some i'm in much pain allways and it takes a while to start for me then stops before my 6 weeks is up but only side effects i have with it is tiredness the day i take it . hope this helps you , as mtx i now take 6 pills on saturday ive been up to 8 and down to 4 but we desided to stay at 6 they make me tired to sleep very much after them and they bother my skin problems but thats about all . later john Maggie <meshouse@...> wrote: Hi everyoneI had an appointment with my rheumatologist today. He seems to think I'm at an impasse with MTX and prednisone. He's upped the MTX to 8/ 2.5 mg pills a week and has taken the prednisone down to 5mgs a week. I've gotten the feeling he's not a big fan of prednisone :-\ I've suffered a severe flare up last night and this morning...it seems to be better this afternoon, but even last month's bloodwork shows a high RA factor. . Anyway, he asked me about going on an experimental drug program for a TNF drug like Remicade and Humira . Don't know if I want to do this or not yet...but he's also given me papers to read on Remicade and Humira. I was wondering if anyone can tell me about their experience with Humira and Remicade? How is it adminsitered? I'm not crazy about needles but can handle it if need be, don't know if I can do it myself tho. What is the cost and do most insurance companies cover it? We have United Healthcare. If so about what is your monthly cost for it?Has anyone had any severe side effects?Does it work well for you?I'm assuming he's going to keep me on MTX with the TNF drugs whichever I choose to try out.Arrggggggggh, don't know what to do so I'm just going to research and I'm asking for your input. Thanks! -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Maggie http://www.4HockeyFans.com http://www.4FloridaHockey.com MSN: Maggies1429 AOL: Maggies85 Sports Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Hi Maggie, I have been on Humira for about a year now, I take it once every two weeks and I inject it myself. I was freaked out too but one of the nurses showed me how to inject myself and it wasn't too hard to get the hang of it. I am truly blessed that I can work and have good health insurance. It comes out of my major medical and it costs me nothing. (Hmmm, maybe if medicare and others paid for everyone's meds, they would be able to work and go off aid? What a novel thought!) I have not had any major side effects but everyone is different and some people wind up not being able to take this class of drugs. Humira has worked so well for me that even my new Rheumy can't tell that I have RA. Good luck, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Hi- I have been on Remicaid for several years. It was a miracle for me straight away and has been very helpful especially for the first few years. I have built up a tolerance to it, and so am taking MTX along with it. Its not working that well anymore and I really hate needles so am trying not to go on humira if I can help it. I go to an infusion center and get an IV for 3 hours and then leave. Its given every 8 weeks. I prefer that to sticking myself. Its fast and convenient. My RD has started me on Arava in addition to MTX for the time being, I see him at the end of the month and hope the new Interukin 6 will be out before too long. I hope my input will help. Yours, Deborah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I'm on Remicade and have been for a couple of years. I get 6 mg/kg and with my 220 pound weight they give me 7 vials and that costs about $8,500 every 8 weeks. I have United Health Care and Medicare. UHC covers 80% of the bill but they will not duplicate the payments from Medicare so they pay nothing until my costs get to $2,200 for the year and then they pay everything. UHC does write a lot of different policies so you need to find out what yours will cover. I was on 25 mg Prednisone when I added the Remicade to the Methotrexate I take and when we increased the Remicade slowly from 3 mg/kg to 6 mg/kg I was able to get off Prednisone completely. Prednisone does a lot of bad things to us so I'm very glad to be off it. You need to check carefully about what any of the biologics cost and what your insurance will pay. Cost may be the biggest factor in deciding what medication to take. God bless. ----- Original Message ----- From: Maggie Rheumatoid_Arthritisgroups (DOT) Com Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 3:28 PM Subject: TNF Questions Hi everyoneI had an appointment with my rheumatologist today. He seems to think I'm at an impasse with MTX and prednisone. He's upped the MTX to 8/ 2.5 mg pills a week and has taken the prednisone down to 5mgs a week. I've gotten the feeling he's not a big fan of prednisone :-\ I've suffered a severe flare up last night and this morning...it seems to be better this afternoon, but even last month's bloodwork shows a high RA factor. . Anyway, he asked me about going on an experimental drug program for a TNF drug like Remicade and Humira . Don't know if I want to do this or not yet...but he's also given me papers to read on Remicade and Humira. I was wondering if anyone can tell me about their experience with Humira and Remicade? How is it adminsitered? I'm not crazy about needles but can handle it if need be, don't know if I can do it myself tho. What is the cost and do most insurance companies cover it? We have United Healthcare. If so about what is your monthly cost for it?Has anyone had any severe side effects?Does it work well for you?I'm assuming he's going to keep me on MTX with the TNF drugs whichever I choose to try out.Arrggggggggh, don't know what to do so I'm just going to research and I'm asking for your input. Thanks! -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Maggie http://www.4HockeyFans.com http://www.4FloridaHockey.com MSN: Maggies1429 AOL: Maggies85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Thanks everyone for the replies so far. I am reading all of them and it's helping me out :-) , I am afraid of taking 8 MTX pills a week...not long ago I was on 4 being afraid to go up to 5...hopefully it won't be long and I can decrease those and get off of the prednisone. Harold, I will call United Healthcare and see if they can give me some info on the costs. That will be a factor for me as my husband's business has been slow this year. I don't know how people can afford these meds at those high prices. Another question, does anyone take Actonel? The doctor also prescribed the once a week dose today. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Maggie http://www.4HockeyFans.com http://www.4FloridaHockey.com MSN: Maggies1429 AOL: Maggies85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 ----- Original Message ----- From: " Maggie " <meshouse@...> > I don't know how people can afford these meds at those high prices. Some of us don't, we just do without. > Another question, does anyone take Actonel? The doctor also prescribed the once a week dose today. My rheumy prescribed it for me. But I have Barrett's Esophagus and it caused so much pain, I never took any but the first pill. Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I hear ya Nina...that may be a factor for me....we'll see. Currently all my RA meds run less that $40. a month. It seems easier to stay on MTX and prednisone sometimes! Yuck, I hope that the Actonel doesn't mess with my stomach...some days it's sick enough with getting used to taking more MTX. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Maggie http://www.4HockeyFans.com http://www.4FloridaHockey.com MSN: Maggies1429 AOL: Maggies85 Nina wrote: ----- Original Message ----- From: "Maggie" <meshouse@...> I don't know how people can afford these meds at those high prices. Some of us don't, we just do without. Another question, does anyone take Actonel? The doctor also prescribed the once a week dose today. My rheumy prescribed it for me. But I have Barrett's Esophagus and it caused so much pain, I never took any but the first pill. Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Regarding treatment options and insurance - I worked for a major health insurance company so thought I would suggest a few things. If you are employed, it depends on what your " group " (employer) purchases for one. Every group can have a different benefit. So even though you may have the same ins co. - it doesn't mean your coverage will pay the same as someone else on here. You should ask your doc about different treatment options and call your insurance company and ask them what it will cost. Enbrel, Humira and Remicade are very expensive drugs but in my opinion probably the best for R.A. patients, as it helps protect the joints from getting permanently damaged. Remicade could fall under your medical benefit at a different copay level, than the Enbrel and Humira, as it generally falls under your pharmacy benefit, since they are self-injectables, that's why if your doctor suggests one of the above you may want to ask about the cost on at least 2. Also check to see if your insurance has a mail order benefit and if you can get your meds thru that way. It's usually a better deal. PSI, Inc. - located in Pennsylvania is a great patient assistance program for people with R.A. You could always call the drug company and ask them if they have a patient assistance program as well. What the government needs to do is put a ceiling on what drug company's can charge for drugs! That's the real problem. Most people can't even remotely afford these drugs if they didn't have coverage and most can't afford it with coverage! I left the ins co. and got better benefits someplace else. So I didn't have to sell my home after all. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Congratulations!!!!!!sunshine46977 <sunshine46977@...> wrote: Regarding treatment options and insurance - I worked for a major health insurance company so thought I would suggest a few things.If you are employed, it depends on what your "group" (employer) purchases for one. Every group can have a different benefit. So even though you may have the same ins co. - it doesn't mean your coverage will pay the same as someone else on here.You should ask your doc about different treatment options and call your insurance company and ask them what it will cost. Enbrel, Humira and Remicade are very expensive drugs but in my opinion probably the best for R.A. patients, as it helps protect the joints from getting permanently damaged. Remicade could fall under your medical benefit at a different copay level, than the Enbrel and Humira, as it generally falls under your pharmacy benefit, since they are self-injectables, that's why if your doctor suggests one of the above you may want to ask about the cost on at least 2. Also check to see if your insurance has a mail order benefit and if you can get your meds thru that way. It's usually a better deal.PSI, Inc. - located in Pennsylvania is a great patient assistance program for people with R.A. You could always call the drug company and ask them if they have a patient assistance program as well. What the government needs to do is put a ceiling on what drug company's can charge for drugs! That's the real problem. Most people can't even remotely afford these drugs if they didn't have coverage and most can't afford it with coverage! I left the ins co. and got better benefits someplace else. So I didn't have to sell my home after all. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 ----- Original Message ----- From: <reader52000@...> > My name's Kathy and I've been on methotrexate and remicade for several years now. I've experienced the best and longest relief from this combination. I so envy those of you who can take methotrexate and the other drugs. I also have Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (autoimmune that destroys the liver) so I cannot take most of the drugs others can take. Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I looked up Humira on my insurance website and it will cost $50. a month. I just don't know what the normal dosage is to get a closer calculation. I typed in Remicade and the form said it's not covered. I'm going to call them to get more info. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Maggie http://www.4HockeyFans.com http://www.4FloridaHockey.com MSN: Maggies1429 AOL: Maggies85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 You have to ask your doctor what dosage she is recommending before you call to see how much it will cost - all of them can be prescribed at different dosages, especially Remicade. I started with Humira once a week, that is typical therapy, but my doc just started me once a week, and I've a alot of relief lately! Almost no pain these past few days - that's amazing! Nina: I had liver disease - I couldn't take methotrexate either so my doc prescribed Remicade with Imuran (older drug been on the market for a long time) - now I am on Humira with Imuran. Good luck - sorry to see you going thru so much with medications and cost etc. That in itself can be the most stressful, devastating part of this awful disease. It doesn't seem fair that the government, drug companies or insurance companies recognize that we have chronic illnesses - as that is what I thought having good medications available and insurance was all about! Working full-time doesn't seem to be what the government, insurance companies, want us to do. If you are unemployed and/or have no health insurance, the drug companies patient assistance will work for you. I thought I remember you said you were on disability - I'm not - so not as familiar with that - but maybe call them back and tell them that. Your income wasn't from "working" it sounded, so assuming it is disability pay? So what kind of message is that sending to R.A. patients? Doesn't make sense to me. Maggie <meshouse@...> wrote: I looked up Humira on my insurance website and it will cost $50. a month. I just don't know what the normal dosage is to get a closer calculation. I typed in Remicade and the form said it's not covered. I'm going to call them to get more info. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Maggie http://www.4HockeyFans.com http://www.4FloridaHockey.com MSN: Maggies1429 AOL: Maggies85 Sports Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 ----- Original Message ----- From: " sunshine " <sunshine46977@...> >Working full-time doesn't seem to be what the government, insurance companies, want us to do. If you are unemployed and/or have no health insurance, the drug companies patient assistance will work for you. I thought I remember you said you were on disability - I'm not - so not as familiar with that - but maybe call them back and tell them that. Your income wasn't from " working " it sounded, so assuming it is disability pay? $8000 of it is my SS disability. The rest is my husband's salary. What they don't take into account is that most of my money goes toward doctor visits, hospital bills, the meds I need for my other diseases and my husband had bypass surgery last year so we have his meds to pay for, too (he doesn't have insurance either anymore). The only way I would be eligible for medicaid or anything like that is to divorce my husband. :-( > So what kind of message is that sending to R.A. patients? Doesn't make sense to me. That they don't care. They don't have to. They are the government. The people who make the laws have great insurance so they don't care about the rest of us. Nina Maggie <meshouse@...> wrote: I looked up Humira on my insurance website and it will cost $50. a month. I just don't know what the normal dosage is to get a closer calculation. I typed in Remicade and the form said it's not covered. I'm going to call them to get more info. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Maggiehttp://www.4HockeyFans.comhttp:/ /www.4FloridaHockey.comMSN: Maggies1429AOL: Maggies85 --------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2005 Report Share Posted June 23, 2005 At least if you do it on a trial you do not have to pay for it. And they watch you like a hawk for any side effects or irregularities. Annette On 6/21/05, Maggie <meshouse@...> wrote: > Hi everyone > > I had an appointment with my rheumatologist today. He seems to think I'm at > an impasse with MTX and prednisone. He's upped the MTX to 8/ 2.5 mg pills > a week and has taken the prednisone down to 5mgs a week. I've gotten the > feeling he's not a big fan of prednisone :-\ I've suffered a severe flare > up last night and this morning...it seems to be better this afternoon, but > even last month's bloodwork shows a high RA factor. . Anyway, he asked me > about going on an experimental drug program for a TNF drug like Remicade > and Humira . Don't know if I want to do this or not yet...but he's also > given me papers to read on Remicade and Humira. I was wondering if anyone > can tell me about their experience with Humira and Remicade? > > How is it adminsitered? I'm not crazy about needles but can handle it if > need be, don't know if I can do it myself tho. > > What is the cost and do most insurance companies cover it? We have United > Healthcare. If so about what is your monthly cost for it? > > Has anyone had any severe side effects? > > Does it work well for you? > > I'm assuming he's going to keep me on MTX with the TNF drugs whichever I > choose to try out. > > Arrggggggggh, don't know what to do so I'm just going to research and I'm > asking for your input. > > Thanks! > -- > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Maggie http://www.4HockeyFans.com http://www.4FloridaHockey.com MSN: > Maggies1429 AOL: Maggies85 > > ________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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