Ipi (Yervoy) and Insurance Companies
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Ipi (Yervoy) and Insurance Companies

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Ipi (Yervoy) and Insurance Companies

  • Post
    • May 29, 2011 at 11:41 pm
    killmel
    Participant

    Has anyone got IPI (yervoy) paid for by their medical insurance company??

     

    How diffficult was the approval process??? What medical Insurance company approved IPI??

     

    Has Medicare approved IPI yet??

     

    Thanks

    Jamie

    Has anyone got IPI (yervoy) paid for by their medical insurance company??

     

    How diffficult was the approval process??? What medical Insurance company approved IPI??

     

    Has Medicare approved IPI yet??

     

    Thanks

    Jamie

Viewing 5 reply threads
  • Replies
      • May 30, 2011 at 12:35 am
      jackiewin
      Participant

      Yervoy was FDA approved for late stage MM in March.  Medicare pays for FDA approved chemos.  To be sure, you can call medicare and check with them.  Sorry, I don't know about private insurance.

       

      Jackie W

        • May 30, 2011 at 7:26 pm
        killmel
        Participant

        Thanks for your reply Jackie.

        Interesting that I spoke to someone on Medicare & Yervoy has NOT been approved by Medicare as a drug that Medicare will pay for.

        I hope someone will respond about Yervoy & private medical insurance. I have not found anyone that has got Yervoy approved through their private medical insurance.

        If anyone was denied approval for yervoy by their private medical insurance, I would also be interested in that info & the name of the insurance company.

        God Bless All

        Jamie

        • May 30, 2011 at 7:26 pm
        killmel
        Participant

        Thanks for your reply Jackie.

        Interesting that I spoke to someone on Medicare & Yervoy has NOT been approved by Medicare as a drug that Medicare will pay for.

        I hope someone will respond about Yervoy & private medical insurance. I have not found anyone that has got Yervoy approved through their private medical insurance.

        If anyone was denied approval for yervoy by their private medical insurance, I would also be interested in that info & the name of the insurance company.

        God Bless All

        Jamie

      • May 30, 2011 at 12:35 am
      jackiewin
      Participant

      Yervoy was FDA approved for late stage MM in March.  Medicare pays for FDA approved chemos.  To be sure, you can call medicare and check with them.  Sorry, I don't know about private insurance.

       

      Jackie W

      • May 30, 2011 at 7:46 pm
      Carol Taylor
      Participant

      Jamie,

      Go back to April 15th posts and look for one from EricNJill about yervoy and aassistance from insurance companies. She tells how she did it. I'm sure her strategy will work for you.

      Lord, in Your mercy, make it so! Amen.

      Grace and peace,

      Carol

      • May 30, 2011 at 7:46 pm
      Carol Taylor
      Participant

      Jamie,

      Go back to April 15th posts and look for one from EricNJill about yervoy and aassistance from insurance companies. She tells how she did it. I'm sure her strategy will work for you.

      Lord, in Your mercy, make it so! Amen.

      Grace and peace,

      Carol

      • May 31, 2011 at 8:22 pm
      cfw9186
      Participant

      I was diagnosed with stage 4, 2 weeks after IPI was FDA approved.  I have Blue Shield / Blue Cross insurance and yes they are paying for my treatment.

        • May 31, 2011 at 9:21 pm
        killmel
        Participant

        Thanks for the reply.

        Did Blue Shield/Blue Cross approve IPI for you as one of their approved drugs OR did you get turned down and then have to appeal the decision to have them pay for IPI.

        What state do you live in?

        Jamie

        • May 31, 2011 at 9:21 pm
        killmel
        Participant

        Thanks for the reply.

        Did Blue Shield/Blue Cross approve IPI for you as one of their approved drugs OR did you get turned down and then have to appeal the decision to have them pay for IPI.

        What state do you live in?

        Jamie

        • June 1, 2011 at 7:03 pm
        kfalkinburg
        Participant

        I am curious how you your IPI treatment approved with BCBS as well.  Can you give any advice?? My Dad is currently stage 4 (mets on brian, liver, lungs and now bone) diagnosed April '11.  BCBS has spent the past month denying his treatment for every possible reason imaginable.  Their latest is to say that it is an "investigational drug" according to the list of approved BCBS drugs.  He was diagnosed 41/2 weeks ago and has YET to receive any treatment.  Oncologist today referred him to Cancer Institute of NJ (where I had my treatment) to get enrolled in clinical trial.  We have filed a written appeal which will take a minimum of 45 days, consulted an attorney AND his oncologist did a peer-to-peer review with BCBS…still denied!  We feel that this is immoral and unethical.  He is a human being and it seems as though to ask for treatment is an unrealistic request.  Any advice would be greatly apprecited.

        • June 1, 2011 at 7:03 pm
        kfalkinburg
        Participant

        I am curious how you your IPI treatment approved with BCBS as well.  Can you give any advice?? My Dad is currently stage 4 (mets on brian, liver, lungs and now bone) diagnosed April '11.  BCBS has spent the past month denying his treatment for every possible reason imaginable.  Their latest is to say that it is an "investigational drug" according to the list of approved BCBS drugs.  He was diagnosed 41/2 weeks ago and has YET to receive any treatment.  Oncologist today referred him to Cancer Institute of NJ (where I had my treatment) to get enrolled in clinical trial.  We have filed a written appeal which will take a minimum of 45 days, consulted an attorney AND his oncologist did a peer-to-peer review with BCBS…still denied!  We feel that this is immoral and unethical.  He is a human being and it seems as though to ask for treatment is an unrealistic request.  Any advice would be greatly apprecited.

        • June 1, 2011 at 7:16 pm
        Carol Taylor
        Participant

        Contact Bristol Myers Squibb directly and see if they'll contact BCBS. That strategy has yielded good results in the past. Good luck.

        Lord, in Your mercy, make a way please. Thank You. Amen.

        Grace and peace,

        Carol

        • June 1, 2011 at 7:16 pm
        Carol Taylor
        Participant

        Contact Bristol Myers Squibb directly and see if they'll contact BCBS. That strategy has yielded good results in the past. Good luck.

        Lord, in Your mercy, make a way please. Thank You. Amen.

        Grace and peace,

        Carol

      • May 31, 2011 at 8:22 pm
      cfw9186
      Participant

      I was diagnosed with stage 4, 2 weeks after IPI was FDA approved.  I have Blue Shield / Blue Cross insurance and yes they are paying for my treatment.

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