Racerunner -

I was supposed to start Remicade on the 28th of December and I thank you for alerting me by posting me about Remistart. I got the runaround about the forms and signatures from myself and my rheumy and then they rejected my application because they said the doctor's office faxed the application out in early January and the for
m was for 2015 so the form was three days late. I don't think I want to take it anyway...too many problems with biologics in the past. I already know that I can't afford it.

Did the medicine work at all? I have been waiting to hear from you

Sorry about your situation. You don't need anymore stress

Linzsey i have been in more and constant pain since stopping the orencia and starting remicade. I have had 2 infusions and set to have the 3rd one one February 15. I would have to say i have not noticed any decrease in the pain. And then to get stuck with the monitoring costs and pre meds to the tune of 900 per infusion. ..not paying that. Remistart pays only for the remicade cost that your insurance doesn't pay for. Remistart does not pay for pre med,tubing and monitoring by nurses. Thats crazy. Maybe once i hit my deductible my insurance will pay more on the monitoring and such but not sure it will be enough to convince me to continue but then again the med isn't helping any either. Frustrating no doubt

It's January, and time for everyone to hit their deductible again. How high is yours? If it's $1000, you're there. On the other and, if it's not working, you don't need to be on it. What does your doctor think?

Boy, do I understand your dilemma! Each month while on Remicade, my bill I receive was for over $14,000 and I was to pay 20% of this until I reached a maximum out of pocket of $3200. That's all and good but, like you, I have to pay the full $3200 for the same reasons...RN, monitoring, etc. However, I shouldn't complain. As soon as I reach the $3200 which I usually reach the first month of my Insurance fiscal year with dr. visits, infusion, etc., I pay nothing else the remainder of the 11 months including, $0 copays and my prescriptions are $0 from that point forward. It's a catch 22 but It is what it is with us that live with RA.

I wish I could afford it, but I can't right now. that's still an extra $300 a month to pay on top of all my other meds and doctor bills which are piling up high and fast.

Right now I require high maintenance for low performance.

If I were a car - I'd trade me in :-(

Thanks for the input. Altoclef my deductible is 2500.00 that sucks. I sent my doctor a message today. The nurse responded that it could take 3 months to see progress. ...yes and in the meantime i spend a lot of money. Should hear something from the doc tomorrow.
RA fighter-yes it is a dilemma do u work just to pay your medical bills??? Not my idea of a good time. Even when i do meet my deductible i will still end up paying around 300 to 400 a time and that is outrageous. The other issue is i am single with one income as a nurse so i have only my income to pay these horrible medical bills. Yes we get caught either way. Thanks all of u for your thoughts