yes i had bcbs before worked ok, but i would check w/bcbs and ask them if they cover your meds

Oh, I got one better for you. Ever try to get Long Term Care Insurance? This is not Long Term Disability, but is used to pay for Home Health Aides, nursing homes, assisted living etc. If you have MS, you cannot purchase this insurance for ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY. Although I do not foresee myself as needing a nursing home, I may need home health care beyond what the VA currently offers. The VA provides 10 hours of home health per week. Ok, if you can cook your own meals, bath, etc. I am fortunate because I use mine to run errands, laundry, grocery shopping and light housework. The VA pays for most of my medicine, but will not cover the Tysabri or Adderall. I get this from my private health insurance and Tricare (retired military).

I have bcbs. The do cover my meds, but otherwise, they suck. Unless you have the option to get the top of the line, they have very high deductables, and out-of-pocket limits. I also had to get the MSAA to help me pay for MRIs because they don't routinely, but, the operator told me that she knew I needed them and that if I had to go to the ER with say, a muscle spasm, that would be covered. If your major concern is the meds, bcbs should be okay. You can always call and get the website for your area and check.

Good luck

I've been meaning to register with the VA. Guess I have to now. Never thought I'd need them. Thanks

Tom, rather than looking at it that way, be thankful you have somewhere to turn, at least for now, that cannot deny you benefits and will help you get care. It may not be the option you like, but it is an option you have. MS limits us in so many ways, be glad that at least you are not limited to no insurance. Always good to look at the bright side when there is one!

Stay away from Blue Cross if you can.

Tom,

My advise is from a medical biller point of view, as well as someone afflicted with MS. First, of all the listed insurances you mentioned, Blue Cross is the most recognized by most doctors. Most doctors are in-network with Blue Cross, therefore you will have a wider range of choice for doctors. (Meaning you will probably be able to continue seeing your current doctors, if you still are happy with them.) Second, if you specifically want to continue with your current doctors, then you will need to see which ones they "participate with". Some offices will know who they participate with, but you cannot ever go by what the office says. ALWAYS call the insurance too to verify.

Third is benefits. Every insurance has benefits that will be different. Some may have a lower copay for office visits or drugs. Some may cover physicals and all blood work, scans and hospitalizations, others may limit them. You should make a chart and eliminate those insurances that do not have the coverage you need the most, or use the most and then proceed to find out who participates with them. (Include pharmacies and diagnostic facilities in finding out where you can go.)

I hope I helped. If I can help any further, let me know.

I have Medicare and I'm stuck in the damn donut hole. Dumbest thing I ever heard of. Plus I supplemental Part D of Advantra and they too are dropping out of Medicare on 12/31/09.
I have all this so I'm going back on hubby's insurance for as long as I can.
This is all way too stressful and upsetting! I can barely talk about it without my heart racing and crying.
ooxx Marti

It weird I got a phone call from Pam. She is a nurse at Beta+. She told me there is some new marketing program for Betaseron where you pay no co paymemt. There is a phone # they gave my wife for the reimbursement Dept of Betaseron. Have to look into it. The new program is through Bayer. Not sure what other meds are in this program. Has anyone else heard of this?

Interesting info about beta's no co pay program.
It makes sense that Betaseron is implementing such a program, with all the new drugs coming out. Beta's price will be determined by the market, insurance companies. One benefit of beta will be no co pays. Its the only MS drug without a copay. There is sopon to be a huge change in the pricing astructure of MS meds, I predict.

Betaseron has a program to help with the cost of the med. It's very good, based on your income. Very basic paperwork to fill out. Drug is shipped to your home.

But Lila, I think he wrote about a NEW program.

Betaseron undoubtedly has the best financial assistance for those that qualify as needing financial help. But those that do not qualify for financial help & have insurance are ofton stuck with copay that put a pinch on a family income. Maybe a childs college education is at risk if a parents chose to do the meds with the copays. The family has enough disposable income to send a child to college, they have enough to pay for the co pay on drugs not qualify for financial assistance..

Typical plight of the middle class worker.Them that have nothing get everything & them that have a lot can afford it without sacrificing.

But the middle class worker is stuck between a rock and a hard place. This sounds like a new program...not patient assistance...a different one for people who do not meet the limits for financial help.

And that will become more important as insurance companies start copying Medicare by requiring a % of the cost of the med instead of flat copay amount. The % of a biologic drug gets expensive, Ouch!

That's what I am understanding the NEW program is. There will be no copay amount for a patient on Betaseron. Betaseron will accept what the insurance reimburses for Betaseron.

Is that how it is?