Taboo Subject?? Cost of Treatment
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Taboo Subject?? Cost of Treatment

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Taboo Subject?? Cost of Treatment

  • Post
    • July 7, 2015 at 1:56 am
    Rita and Charles
    Participant

    So we haven't even allowed ourselves to worry about what the drugs cost – in the end , who cares we are going to find a way to get therapy. But just cuious what the costs are of Nivo or Ipi?? Charles has a Medicare Supplement Plan through Healthnet – PPO…… of course he is in the damned "donut hole"!

    Anyone have any insight to what health insurance coverage averages?? Vemurafenib + MEK, Keytruda, Ipi?

Viewing 11 reply threads
  • Replies
      • July 7, 2015 at 2:08 am
      arthurjedi007
      Participant

      Fortunately I still have cobra insurance from where i used to work.

      Costs are impossible. I get a report every 3 months. If I remember right each dose of keytruda was around 31 thousand. Each dose of nivo around 28. Then the hospital and insurance negotiate and it comes down a few thousand. 

      The taf mek was about 10 thousand a month or was that just for one of them. I forget. 

      Zelboraf was 10 thousand a month.

      Ipi was about 120 thousand for all 4 doses.

      No idea what insurance would cost. I hope to make it long enough to find out but I'm dreading it or maybe I'll be cured by then. Who knows.

      Artie

      • July 7, 2015 at 2:08 am
      arthurjedi007
      Participant

      Fortunately I still have cobra insurance from where i used to work.

      Costs are impossible. I get a report every 3 months. If I remember right each dose of keytruda was around 31 thousand. Each dose of nivo around 28. Then the hospital and insurance negotiate and it comes down a few thousand. 

      The taf mek was about 10 thousand a month or was that just for one of them. I forget. 

      Zelboraf was 10 thousand a month.

      Ipi was about 120 thousand for all 4 doses.

      No idea what insurance would cost. I hope to make it long enough to find out but I'm dreading it or maybe I'll be cured by then. Who knows.

      Artie

        • July 7, 2015 at 2:46 am
        Rita and Charles
        Participant

        Thanks Artie – he has good insurance, you always feel so good having a PPO….but all insurance sucks.  I think that I will close my eyes to the numbers you wrote…….oy vey!  Insurance is going to have to pick up a hefty 90% of that cost or I"ll be doing a lot of letter writing!

        I hope that you are doing well?? I've read so many of your posts I feel that I know  you – really hope that you are able to rest, have a good sleep and some pain free time.

        XO

        Rita

        • July 7, 2015 at 2:46 am
        Rita and Charles
        Participant

        Thanks Artie – he has good insurance, you always feel so good having a PPO….but all insurance sucks.  I think that I will close my eyes to the numbers you wrote…….oy vey!  Insurance is going to have to pick up a hefty 90% of that cost or I"ll be doing a lot of letter writing!

        I hope that you are doing well?? I've read so many of your posts I feel that I know  you – really hope that you are able to rest, have a good sleep and some pain free time.

        XO

        Rita

        • July 7, 2015 at 2:46 am
        Rita and Charles
        Participant

        Thanks Artie – he has good insurance, you always feel so good having a PPO….but all insurance sucks.  I think that I will close my eyes to the numbers you wrote…….oy vey!  Insurance is going to have to pick up a hefty 90% of that cost or I"ll be doing a lot of letter writing!

        I hope that you are doing well?? I've read so many of your posts I feel that I know  you – really hope that you are able to rest, have a good sleep and some pain free time.

        XO

        Rita

      • July 7, 2015 at 2:08 am
      arthurjedi007
      Participant

      Fortunately I still have cobra insurance from where i used to work.

      Costs are impossible. I get a report every 3 months. If I remember right each dose of keytruda was around 31 thousand. Each dose of nivo around 28. Then the hospital and insurance negotiate and it comes down a few thousand. 

      The taf mek was about 10 thousand a month or was that just for one of them. I forget. 

      Zelboraf was 10 thousand a month.

      Ipi was about 120 thousand for all 4 doses.

      No idea what insurance would cost. I hope to make it long enough to find out but I'm dreading it or maybe I'll be cured by then. Who knows.

      Artie

      • July 7, 2015 at 5:17 am
      adriana cooper
      Participant

      Copies of bill for Ipi were at 67k per infusion, Ouch. Greatful for health care act.

      • July 7, 2015 at 5:17 am
      adriana cooper
      Participant

      Copies of bill for Ipi were at 67k per infusion, Ouch. Greatful for health care act.

      • July 7, 2015 at 5:17 am
      adriana cooper
      Participant

      Copies of bill for Ipi were at 67k per infusion, Ouch. Greatful for health care act.

      • July 7, 2015 at 4:23 pm
      Thandster
      Participant

      My monthly statement shows Tafinlar at about $8500/month and Trametinib(MEK) at a little over $10000.

      • July 7, 2015 at 4:23 pm
      Thandster
      Participant

      My monthly statement shows Tafinlar at about $8500/month and Trametinib(MEK) at a little over $10000.

      • July 7, 2015 at 4:23 pm
      Thandster
      Participant

      My monthly statement shows Tafinlar at about $8500/month and Trametinib(MEK) at a little over $10000.

      • July 8, 2015 at 12:35 am
      Mom2Addy
      Participant

      Ask for co-pay assistance from the drug manufacturers.  If approved they will cover all but $25-50 after insurance. Good luck!

        • July 8, 2015 at 3:28 am
        Rita and Charles
        Participant

        Thank you, that is a great suggestion that I will DEFINITELY follow!

        • July 8, 2015 at 2:44 pm
        ConstructionCM
        Participant

        Both Merck and Bristol Meyers have plans/grants to assist covering your expenses that your insurance does not cover.  I am very grateful for both of them.

        IPI was about $70k an infusion. Keytruda was $42k to 50k per infusion.  Billing varies as to where you go for service.  Cedars "Sinea" billed my insurance $106,000 for 1 infusion of Keytruda. 

        • July 11, 2015 at 2:22 am
        tschmith
        Participant

        Wow!  So many different numbers!  Georgetown in DC bills Anthem BC/BS ppo about 24,000 for Keytruda and Anthem pays a little over 14,000.  (Infusions every three weeks.)  

        Terrie

        • July 12, 2015 at 10:37 pm
        _Paul_
        Participant

        My numbers are similar to yours. Bill is about $17k for Keytruda, and settlement is a liitle over $14k. Yervoy bill was about $45k if memory serves me right and settlement was a little over $40k.

        • July 12, 2015 at 10:37 pm
        _Paul_
        Participant

        My numbers are similar to yours. Bill is about $17k for Keytruda, and settlement is a liitle over $14k. Yervoy bill was about $45k if memory serves me right and settlement was a little over $40k.

        • July 12, 2015 at 10:37 pm
        _Paul_
        Participant

        My numbers are similar to yours. Bill is about $17k for Keytruda, and settlement is a liitle over $14k. Yervoy bill was about $45k if memory serves me right and settlement was a little over $40k.

        • July 11, 2015 at 2:22 am
        tschmith
        Participant

        Wow!  So many different numbers!  Georgetown in DC bills Anthem BC/BS ppo about 24,000 for Keytruda and Anthem pays a little over 14,000.  (Infusions every three weeks.)  

        Terrie

        • July 11, 2015 at 2:22 am
        tschmith
        Participant

        Wow!  So many different numbers!  Georgetown in DC bills Anthem BC/BS ppo about 24,000 for Keytruda and Anthem pays a little over 14,000.  (Infusions every three weeks.)  

        Terrie

        • July 8, 2015 at 2:44 pm
        ConstructionCM
        Participant

        Both Merck and Bristol Meyers have plans/grants to assist covering your expenses that your insurance does not cover.  I am very grateful for both of them.

        IPI was about $70k an infusion. Keytruda was $42k to 50k per infusion.  Billing varies as to where you go for service.  Cedars "Sinea" billed my insurance $106,000 for 1 infusion of Keytruda. 

        • July 8, 2015 at 2:44 pm
        ConstructionCM
        Participant

        Both Merck and Bristol Meyers have plans/grants to assist covering your expenses that your insurance does not cover.  I am very grateful for both of them.

        IPI was about $70k an infusion. Keytruda was $42k to 50k per infusion.  Billing varies as to where you go for service.  Cedars "Sinea" billed my insurance $106,000 for 1 infusion of Keytruda. 

        • July 8, 2015 at 3:28 am
        Rita and Charles
        Participant

        Thank you, that is a great suggestion that I will DEFINITELY follow!

        • July 8, 2015 at 3:28 am
        Rita and Charles
        Participant

        Thank you, that is a great suggestion that I will DEFINITELY follow!

      • July 8, 2015 at 12:35 am
      Mom2Addy
      Participant

      Ask for co-pay assistance from the drug manufacturers.  If approved they will cover all but $25-50 after insurance. Good luck!

      • July 8, 2015 at 12:35 am
      Mom2Addy
      Participant

      Ask for co-pay assistance from the drug manufacturers.  If approved they will cover all but $25-50 after insurance. Good luck!

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