Posted on 02/27/2007 11:44:38 AM PST by Puddleglum
To all Freepers and family members who have MS (multiple sclerosis): how much of the cost of your injectable does your insurance cover, if you use betaseron or copaxane or avonex? I was shocked this year to learn my wife's medicine is now a non-preferred drug and that we pay 30% of the cost, which is $500 a month. Now that's a lot better than paying the full price, but it is still very high.
I have always had it covered as a flat co-pay before - say $50.
Are there ways to reduce the cost or do I have to just adjust to the brave new world of shrinking health benefits? I already pay $500+ for my family's medical insurance per month.
Your comments/thoughts/suggestions? I am scrambling to redo this year's budget.
I would suggest doing what others suggested here in seeking better costs. I was on Rebif for just over a year.
I read that Betaseron's US patent expires next year (2008), but it's such a moneymaker, they're already 'conspiring' to keep it out of the generic market:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/02/20/business/schering.php
I don't know about the other meds & their patents.
My wife is on Interferon Beta-B and it only costs $10.00 every 3 months. The base price per monthly supply is $890.00 so I don't know why we get it so cheap other than my company pays for the health care itself and the insurance company just administrates.
Our insurance company sends a 3 month supply in a styrofoam box with dry ice so we don't have to deal with the pharmacist.
I was paying $20 for three months supply of Avonex and it just went up to $60. I happy to pay the increased price.
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