I spent these two days working with the doctor's office, the pharmacy, my prescription insurance carrier, and the drug manufacturer to obtain the needed oral chemo medicine at a feasible cost. Originally, I was informed that this medicine costs $4000.00 a month. Our secondary pharmacy insurance carrier submitted the request and came back with my co-pay of $1500.00. Uh, a little steep even for one who wants to live. My primary insurance returned with a co-pay of $998.00. No wonder people chose to forego treatment! I guess this is what they mean when they refer to the under-insured or the insured poor. So, Thursday ended on a low note knowing the medicine was at the pharmacy, but just out of reach financially.
On Friday, more phone calls by my pharmacy technician, Izzy, and me. She has been in contact with all of the same people I was calling. At about 4:30 PM, Izzy called me to say that she had gotten an approval from my primary pharmacy insurance carrier to provide the medicine at a co-pay of just $15.00. That's right, negotiations were successful!
After work, I stopped and picked up the medicine. I had the beginning of the treatment for this cancer in my hand. Saturday would be the day.
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That's insane going from $4,000.00 to $15.00 for the meds. That really says volumes about the medical and pharmaceutical industry. I'm glad you had the perserverance to fight until you got the desired results, as I have no doubt you will do throughout this entire process. One day at a time, my friend.
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