Common Variable Immunodeficiency Support Group
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a group of 20-30 primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) which have a common set of symptoms but with different underlying causes. CVID's underlying causes are different, but the result of these are that the body doesn't produce sufficient antibodies in response to exposure to pathogens.
Hello Folks,
I was wondering if anyone is using Hizentra with Sharp Rees-Stealy or Sharp Community Medical Group insurance coverage. I will need to switch to Sharp Healthcare soon and would like to identify which network has been more successful with approving Hizentra treatment. My current Blue Shield doctor did a wonderful job advocating during the appeals process, but I'm not sure how successful a new physician will be. I would like to minimize any gap in treatment if possible. It would also be helpful to know if anyone is in the San Diego area:) Thanks!
I was wondering if anyone is using Hizentra with Sharp Rees-Stealy or Sharp Community Medical Group insurance coverage. I will need to switch to Sharp Healthcare soon and would like to identify which network has been more successful with approving Hizentra treatment. My current Blue Shield doctor did a wonderful job advocating during the appeals process, but I'm not sure how successful a new physician will be. I would like to minimize any gap in treatment if possible. It would also be helpful to know if anyone is in the San Diego area:) Thanks!
As far as people being in your area (I'm in Bakersfield) you may want to contact the Immune Deficiency Foundation and ask to be connected to a peer support volunteer as well as check out their local patient education meetings. Great way to meet people :)
It took my new Immunologist to get approval from my new insurance carrier one week to get approval because he provided my original diagnoses blood work to the insurance carrier. I was w/o treatment for a total of 3 weeks due to I had to go one week w/o treatment before I could see my new Immunologist due to the holidays and having a CA based in insurance in December and a NV based insurance beginning January 1st and one week for the new Specialty Pharmacy to get my information in their system and get the product shipped. I was using Accredo and my new insurance only had CVS/Caremark as a preferred provider. I had anticipated 5-6 weeks w/o a treatment, so 3 weeks was incredible.
The key is your original diagnosis blood work, including Vaccine Challenge tests and I am very fortunate that my new Immunologist is extremely educated with CVID and has more than 10 patients with this diagnosis.
I too, am on Hizentra, but not sure it matters what brand you are using as most (not all) insurances will approve what you are currently using to reduce product change side effects.
As a side note, I had been on Accredo's Financial Assistance program and they covered my out of pocket deductible, unfortunately CVS did not have this same program but, I contacted Hizentra, answered a few easy questions and was approved to have my out of pocket deductible completely covered. My current OOP deductible is $2K, but they will cover up to $4K.
Hizentra- Co-pay Assist- 877-355-4447
Good luck,
Denise