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Taboo Subject?? Cost of Treatment
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Taboo Subject?? Cost of Treatment

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Taboo Subject?? Cost of Treatment

  • Post
    • July 7, 2015 at 1:56 am
    Rita and Charles
    Participant

      So we haven't even allowed ourselves to worry about what the drugs cost – in the end , who cares we are going to find a way to get therapy. But just cuious what the costs are of Nivo or Ipi?? Charles has a Medicare Supplement Plan through Healthnet – PPO…… of course he is in the damned "donut hole"!

      Anyone have any insight to what health insurance coverage averages?? Vemurafenib + MEK, Keytruda, Ipi?

    Viewing 11 reply threads
    • Replies
        • July 7, 2015 at 2:08 am
        arthurjedi007
        Participant

          Fortunately I still have cobra insurance from where i used to work.

          Costs are impossible. I get a report every 3 months. If I remember right each dose of keytruda was around 31 thousand. Each dose of nivo around 28. Then the hospital and insurance negotiate and it comes down a few thousand. 

          The taf mek was about 10 thousand a month or was that just for one of them. I forget. 

          Zelboraf was 10 thousand a month.

          Ipi was about 120 thousand for all 4 doses.

          No idea what insurance would cost. I hope to make it long enough to find out but I'm dreading it or maybe I'll be cured by then. Who knows.

          Artie

          • July 7, 2015 at 2:08 am
          arthurjedi007
          Participant

            Fortunately I still have cobra insurance from where i used to work.

            Costs are impossible. I get a report every 3 months. If I remember right each dose of keytruda was around 31 thousand. Each dose of nivo around 28. Then the hospital and insurance negotiate and it comes down a few thousand. 

            The taf mek was about 10 thousand a month or was that just for one of them. I forget. 

            Zelboraf was 10 thousand a month.

            Ipi was about 120 thousand for all 4 doses.

            No idea what insurance would cost. I hope to make it long enough to find out but I'm dreading it or maybe I'll be cured by then. Who knows.

            Artie

              • July 7, 2015 at 2:46 am
              Rita and Charles
              Participant

                Thanks Artie – he has good insurance, you always feel so good having a PPO….but all insurance sucks.  I think that I will close my eyes to the numbers you wrote…….oy vey!  Insurance is going to have to pick up a hefty 90% of that cost or I"ll be doing a lot of letter writing!

                I hope that you are doing well?? I've read so many of your posts I feel that I know  you – really hope that you are able to rest, have a good sleep and some pain free time.

                XO

                Rita

                • July 7, 2015 at 2:46 am
                Rita and Charles
                Participant

                  Thanks Artie – he has good insurance, you always feel so good having a PPO….but all insurance sucks.  I think that I will close my eyes to the numbers you wrote…….oy vey!  Insurance is going to have to pick up a hefty 90% of that cost or I"ll be doing a lot of letter writing!

                  I hope that you are doing well?? I've read so many of your posts I feel that I know  you – really hope that you are able to rest, have a good sleep and some pain free time.

                  XO

                  Rita

                  • July 7, 2015 at 2:46 am
                  Rita and Charles
                  Participant

                    Thanks Artie – he has good insurance, you always feel so good having a PPO….but all insurance sucks.  I think that I will close my eyes to the numbers you wrote…….oy vey!  Insurance is going to have to pick up a hefty 90% of that cost or I"ll be doing a lot of letter writing!

                    I hope that you are doing well?? I've read so many of your posts I feel that I know  you – really hope that you are able to rest, have a good sleep and some pain free time.

                    XO

                    Rita

                  • July 7, 2015 at 2:08 am
                  arthurjedi007
                  Participant

                    Fortunately I still have cobra insurance from where i used to work.

                    Costs are impossible. I get a report every 3 months. If I remember right each dose of keytruda was around 31 thousand. Each dose of nivo around 28. Then the hospital and insurance negotiate and it comes down a few thousand. 

                    The taf mek was about 10 thousand a month or was that just for one of them. I forget. 

                    Zelboraf was 10 thousand a month.

                    Ipi was about 120 thousand for all 4 doses.

                    No idea what insurance would cost. I hope to make it long enough to find out but I'm dreading it or maybe I'll be cured by then. Who knows.

                    Artie

                    • July 7, 2015 at 5:17 am
                    adriana cooper
                    Participant

                      Copies of bill for Ipi were at 67k per infusion, Ouch. Greatful for health care act.

                      • July 7, 2015 at 5:17 am
                      adriana cooper
                      Participant

                        Copies of bill for Ipi were at 67k per infusion, Ouch. Greatful for health care act.

                        • July 7, 2015 at 5:17 am
                        adriana cooper
                        Participant

                          Copies of bill for Ipi were at 67k per infusion, Ouch. Greatful for health care act.

                          • July 7, 2015 at 4:23 pm
                          Thandster
                          Participant

                            My monthly statement shows Tafinlar at about $8500/month and Trametinib(MEK) at a little over $10000.

                            • July 7, 2015 at 4:23 pm
                            Thandster
                            Participant

                              My monthly statement shows Tafinlar at about $8500/month and Trametinib(MEK) at a little over $10000.

                              • July 7, 2015 at 4:23 pm
                              Thandster
                              Participant

                                My monthly statement shows Tafinlar at about $8500/month and Trametinib(MEK) at a little over $10000.

                                • July 8, 2015 at 12:35 am
                                Mom2Addy
                                Participant

                                  Ask for co-pay assistance from the drug manufacturers.  If approved they will cover all but $25-50 after insurance. Good luck!

                                    • July 8, 2015 at 3:28 am
                                    Rita and Charles
                                    Participant

                                      Thank you, that is a great suggestion that I will DEFINITELY follow!

                                      • July 8, 2015 at 2:44 pm
                                      ConstructionCM
                                      Participant

                                        Both Merck and Bristol Meyers have plans/grants to assist covering your expenses that your insurance does not cover.  I am very grateful for both of them.

                                        IPI was about $70k an infusion. Keytruda was $42k to 50k per infusion.  Billing varies as to where you go for service.  Cedars "Sinea" billed my insurance $106,000 for 1 infusion of Keytruda. 

                                        • July 11, 2015 at 2:22 am
                                        tschmith
                                        Participant

                                          Wow!  So many different numbers!  Georgetown in DC bills Anthem BC/BS ppo about 24,000 for Keytruda and Anthem pays a little over 14,000.  (Infusions every three weeks.)  

                                          Terrie

                                          • July 12, 2015 at 10:37 pm
                                          _Paul_
                                          Participant

                                            My numbers are similar to yours. Bill is about $17k for Keytruda, and settlement is a liitle over $14k. Yervoy bill was about $45k if memory serves me right and settlement was a little over $40k.

                                            • July 12, 2015 at 10:37 pm
                                            _Paul_
                                            Participant

                                              My numbers are similar to yours. Bill is about $17k for Keytruda, and settlement is a liitle over $14k. Yervoy bill was about $45k if memory serves me right and settlement was a little over $40k.

                                              • July 12, 2015 at 10:37 pm
                                              _Paul_
                                              Participant

                                                My numbers are similar to yours. Bill is about $17k for Keytruda, and settlement is a liitle over $14k. Yervoy bill was about $45k if memory serves me right and settlement was a little over $40k.

                                                • July 11, 2015 at 2:22 am
                                                tschmith
                                                Participant

                                                  Wow!  So many different numbers!  Georgetown in DC bills Anthem BC/BS ppo about 24,000 for Keytruda and Anthem pays a little over 14,000.  (Infusions every three weeks.)  

                                                  Terrie

                                                  • July 11, 2015 at 2:22 am
                                                  tschmith
                                                  Participant

                                                    Wow!  So many different numbers!  Georgetown in DC bills Anthem BC/BS ppo about 24,000 for Keytruda and Anthem pays a little over 14,000.  (Infusions every three weeks.)  

                                                    Terrie

                                                    • July 8, 2015 at 2:44 pm
                                                    ConstructionCM
                                                    Participant

                                                      Both Merck and Bristol Meyers have plans/grants to assist covering your expenses that your insurance does not cover.  I am very grateful for both of them.

                                                      IPI was about $70k an infusion. Keytruda was $42k to 50k per infusion.  Billing varies as to where you go for service.  Cedars "Sinea" billed my insurance $106,000 for 1 infusion of Keytruda. 

                                                      • July 8, 2015 at 2:44 pm
                                                      ConstructionCM
                                                      Participant

                                                        Both Merck and Bristol Meyers have plans/grants to assist covering your expenses that your insurance does not cover.  I am very grateful for both of them.

                                                        IPI was about $70k an infusion. Keytruda was $42k to 50k per infusion.  Billing varies as to where you go for service.  Cedars "Sinea" billed my insurance $106,000 for 1 infusion of Keytruda. 

                                                        • July 8, 2015 at 3:28 am
                                                        Rita and Charles
                                                        Participant

                                                          Thank you, that is a great suggestion that I will DEFINITELY follow!

                                                          • July 8, 2015 at 3:28 am
                                                          Rita and Charles
                                                          Participant

                                                            Thank you, that is a great suggestion that I will DEFINITELY follow!

                                                          • July 8, 2015 at 12:35 am
                                                          Mom2Addy
                                                          Participant

                                                            Ask for co-pay assistance from the drug manufacturers.  If approved they will cover all but $25-50 after insurance. Good luck!

                                                            • July 8, 2015 at 12:35 am
                                                            Mom2Addy
                                                            Participant

                                                              Ask for co-pay assistance from the drug manufacturers.  If approved they will cover all but $25-50 after insurance. Good luck!

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