Hepatitis C Support Group

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.

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ClayB 03/18/2013

Just curious about the personal experiences of others:

I have contacted my insurance company and apparently interferon is not covered. Is this common? I have heard that often times the doctor has to call in and get approval before it is covered. Just wondering if others have run into this because I know I cannot pay for interferon out of pocket and if I wait on the newer drugs, they will be even more costly and with them being new to market, may run into non coverage also.

All I was looking for in contacting my insurance company was to try and Guess-Ta-Mate what my out of pocket Drug Copay might be.

Trissa01 03/18/2013

I'm on medi care with a supp plan. Am concerned about who will be chosen to receive the new treatment & how much will be covered. Plan to muscle my surf board into a trial this summer & be done with it!!!
PlanB, attend local support group & rake everyone for information; possibly change my supp plan if it will help.

MLTTexas 03/18/2013

The drug companies that you will get the drugs from have programs to cover the cost of what you can't pay.
I'm on Medicare and a supplemental policy also. My part D Medicare will cover 80% of meds, and the supplemental policy doesn't pay on drugs. It only covers the 20% of Medicare part B, which is for Dr.s, hospitals, tests, etc. But the 20% of drugs, I will not be able to pay, because my only income is only Social Security. I've been told that since my hospital is a research hospital and my doctors, who are my transplant doctors and liver specialist and work out of that hospital, I shouldn't have to pay anything for my treatments.
But I haven't started my treatments yet, that's only what I've been told. If I'm wrong, others here will tell you. Marilyn

MrOSO 03/18/2013

I have fairly good insurance. I enrolled in the copay assistance program from Pegasys and end up paying about $40 a month for the Riba and Interferon.
https://www.activatethecard.com/pegasys/eligibility.html

These drugs are expensive, I think the cost to my insurance company was something like $20K last year. The new drugs will probably be very expensive as well, but you will only have to take them for 12 weeks, vs. 24 to 48, so the overall cost might be lower.

I had to be approved, and it took a long time. The insurance company kept stalling. Keep after them.

Bob

fishboy316 03/18/2013

I did 48 weeks of riba victrellis and pegysys. Was told that that was $125000.00 worth of TX! Mind blowing indeed. I had good insurance so I paid about $200.00 -$250.00. I have heard from my doc at U of MD. That Pegysys will work with people who don't have ins.
Good luck!
Bill

rangervs 03/18/2013

Clay, my Doc did work with my insurance company and the pharmacy for pre-approval. I had nothing to do with the process and it took about 2 weeks. And like MrOSO, I received extra help through Pegasys and it wound up costing around $45.00 per month. Peg alone is $2755.00 a month per my invoice.

ClayB 03/18/2013

Thanks. I appreciate the input. Just as the virus can be scary at first so too can the financial aspects. By the time I receive treatment I will have close to 30 days of sick leave plus I have short term disability. I am just trying to be prepared

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