I ran out of COBRA toward the end of last year. I am on a private insurance plan now that is actually a little less than my COBRA payment was. Searching for private insurance is a DRAG and the processing time it takes can be lengthy -- especially if you're looking for some patient or prescription assistance. You may need to shop around to find a plan that works best for you in terms of co-pays and drug coverage be sure to investigate if your MS drug is covered and at what percent. (FYI: you may save some green if you are allowed to order a 3 month supply vs one month, so be sure to ask). There are also enrollment dates that can make things tricky if you miss an open enrollment period. It can pay to shop around -- some companies have good opportunities for you if you have a rare disease, such as MS. It's just a matter of finding them, so if you start early enough, you may have to deal with less red tape later.

Researching your states health insurance plans could help too depending on your function, you may qualify for disability. Getting in touch with your local NMSS chapter can help because someone there may be more in touch with options in your state or with discount programs, etc. I hope this helped.

thank you Joanne! It does help. I'm not so sure what steps I need to take and this info really helps.

HI SHERIE, I JUST JOINED TODAY. I DO NOT HAVE M.S. MY SITER DOES AND WAS LOOKING FOR SOME SUPPORT. NOT SURE IF THIS IS RIGHT FOR ME AS OF YET. I WANTED TO TELL YOU MY SISTER HAS A LIMITED INSURANC THAT ONLY COVERS 3,000.00 PER YR ON MEDICINE. SHE WILL BE STARTING REBIF NEXT WEEK AND IT WILL COST APPROX 25,000.00 PER YR. WE GOT AN APPLICATION FROM WWW.PFIZER.COM. GO TO PATIENTS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND PUT IN YOUR INFO AND YOU SHOULD GET AN IDEA OF WHERE TO GO FOR ASSISTANCE. HOPE THIS HELPS YOU. ..I AM DEVASTED ABOUT MY SISTER.

For what it's worth, Avonex is about $19,000 a year--less than Rebif, but still not much help I guess if insurance maxes out at $3,000!. If you go to the drug site, you may be able to find a contact person or info. about $ to pay for meds. I wish your sister the very best!

SSI told me that I didn't qualify for insurance because my husband makes to much money right now, but if you check into it, they told me back when he was layed off and we were using credit cards to pay our cobra fees, that they would have give it to me. I have never worked was a stay at home mom until they got in school and by then this had hit. So they won't go off my information for SSI but they said they can go off my husband's to keep checking each year to see what the limit is, and if we qualify. Because we have insurance, but the costs of the MRI's, dr. visits, outpatient visits, keeps us in debt each year.

Also Montel Williams has MS and is running that deal across america I think it's called PPA and they help people who don't have insurance or don't have enough to cover their prescriptions, so you could check into that and apply where you don't have insurance, the companies that supply the drugs make a deal with this agency and give them to you at cheaper rates, or no cost at all. It could be another option for you and for RORO's sister. The medicine really does work at keeping down the lesions, so it is something you need, where he has MS and founded this, I'ld think they would help out some way.

hi Sherie
I am not sure if you are eligeble for medicare mabey because you don't have ins.
if you are interested in trying let me know

Contact your local chapter of the National MS society as they will be the most familiar with what hospital and other assistance is available in your local area. Also, each of the major medication companies usually has an assistance program which will last up to a year based on financial need, but I think you have to have a doctor make the initial request for you.