Cost of Treatment

[Guest guest]

My gastro doc has been advising that I wait for the new protease drugs before I

try treatment.

I'm caucasian male, genotype 1A with diabetes and, presumably, the doc thinks

that the likelihood of failure to achieve SVR isn't worth the misery of 48

weeks.

I'll be switching to a a new hepatologist this month for second opinion.

Other than elevated enzymes and dark urine,I've been largely asymptomatic for

what we assume is a 30-40 year old case.

(Viet Nam era veteran)

Now my liver and spleen are swollen; I can't eat much without

discomfort/pain...simply not enough room for all the organs.

My question to the group is has anyone done TX while employed and on a private

group insurance plan? If so, how much did it cost out of your pocket?

My employer just switched to a cheaper plan, (as they do every year), and it

seems that my co-pay for Pegasys will be 25% of the total cost...So far, I

haven't been able to find what the " total cost " is.

If I can't afford Peagasys, I'm sure I won't be able to afford protease

coktails.

I'm in California, and I imagine that by the time I sell everything I own,

California will have followed Arizona's example and put the squeeze on HCV

patients. (Medi-Cal)

It may be time to put my affairs in order and make my peace.

Thanks in advance.

[Guest guest]

Hi I am Cheryl, I am currently on week 21 of tx. I am also a 1a, 49 year old woman, Caucasian. I also have probably had hepC for 30 years. I run a full time daycare out of my home, I have 6 children under the age of 6 and my side effects have been manageable. Not everyone has manageable side effects, so it is up to you as to how bad or good the sides are. I had a bout with anemia and my doctor gave me an injectable drug called procrit. My co pay is 140.00 a month for 4 weeks of tx. I also pay a co pay of 130.00 a month for 4 weeks of the procrit.

Welcome and if you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

[Guest guest]

Jerry,Hi... my name is Teri.  I'm 52 and I live in the Chicago area...  I went thru treatment in 2005-2006 for 48 weeks.  I started under a great insurance plan and my co-pay was 50 a month for the Interferon shots and 10 a month for the Ribavirin...  24 weeks into treatment my insurance changed and they only paid 30% of the cost of the drugs.  I couldn't afford treatment at that point.  My doctor and nurse got on the phone with their drug rep and Schering provided me with the second half of my treatment at no cost to me. 

So you know...  The cost of these drugs is astronomical.  The interferon shots run approximately $1,500 per shot.  Yep, per shot.  So that's 6 grand a month.  The ribavirin is almost equally as sinful. When I went thru treatment the cost was about 10 grand per month.  The new drugs are going to be VERY expensive because there will be no generic and they are brand new.  I'd be contacting drug companies to get on their drug assistance programs.  I think Don has already sent you the link for that.

Hugs,TeriOn Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 3:01 PM, Jerry <jdt111752@...> wrote:

 

My gastro doc has been advising that I wait for the new protease drugs before I try treatment.

I'm caucasian male, genotype 1A with diabetes and, presumably, the doc thinks that the likelihood of failure to achieve SVR isn't worth the misery of 48 weeks.

I'll be switching to a a new hepatologist this month for second opinion.

Other than elevated enzymes and dark urine,I've been largely asymptomatic for what we assume is a 30-40 year old case.

(Viet Nam era veteran)

Now my liver and spleen are swollen; I can't eat much without discomfort/pain...simply not enough room for all the organs.

My question to the group is has anyone done TX while employed and on a private group insurance plan? If so, how much did it cost out of your pocket?

My employer just switched to a cheaper plan, (as they do every year), and it seems that my co-pay for Pegasys will be 25% of the total cost...So far, I haven't been able to find what the " total cost " is.

If I can't afford Peagasys, I'm sure I won't be able to afford protease coktails.

I'm in California, and I imagine that by the time I sell everything I own, California will have followed Arizona's example and put the squeeze on HCV patients. (Medi-Cal)

It may be time to put my affairs in order and make my peace.

Thanks in advance.