So often I see posts or comments about the cost of Ibrance and how many do not know how they will be able to afford it.
Here is an interesting article I read about this issue, with many drugs no just cancer medications. Thought i would share.
Especially read the last 5 paragraphs. It is a sad situation many of us face.
Anyone taking Ibrance: I would strongly recommend going on the Pfizer website and downloading the financial assistance application. There is a questionnaire for both doctor and patient.
Your oncologist should be interacting with Pfizer on your behalf. My Ibrance is totally free for the entire year. Toward the end of this year, you simply submit a new request for the 2020 year.
Pfizer is very accommodating with a few nudges from oncologists. Like all drug companies, they benefit from patient statistics and your success with Ibrance is Pfizer’s success as well!!
There is NO assistance available to MEDICARE only patients.
Federal law prohibits it, that is why this is happening to people.
I’m on Medicare & have part D coverage. I was covered via Pfizer assistance program for 2017, 2018 & 2019 (had to terminate Ibrance this month due to progression). It’s true that there is no co-pay assistance for Medicare patients, but they have financial assistance that will pay for the whole amount. You have to fill out financial forms & Onc fills out medical ones. I was denied for both 2018 & 2019. I wrote a hardship letter and got the assistant both times. Pfizer was very accommodating.
This may be a need based assistance. We own our home, worked very hard our entire lives to plan that for our retirement so we do not qualify for any discount programs.
We own 2 homes. My hardship letter included a how I was not able to tolerate the cold in winter up north & heat in summer in the south. Therefore, I had a lot of expenses keeping up both properties. While it may sound as a luxury, both extreme cold and heat are detrimental to my health. The Pfizer Patient assistance program is need based, but see how many expenses you have in comparison to income. I also included what my medical costs would be if I had to pay for Ibrance out of pocket. It does add up. It is worth a try. If you get denied, try the hardship letter.
It is my understanding that if you make $84,000 a year, then you have to pay $2800 a month out of pocket.
Interesting article. I just took a survey via Cure magazine related to a new cancer drug and how drug companies market pills over infusions. I didn’t realize that for those on Medicare, the financial burden for new pills is much more significant than for drugs administered by the oncologist. Makes me wonder if the drug companies benefit more from pills as well. The burden of paying for cancer pills by anyone is not sustainable.
Of course they do. Its always about money. 100% of the time!
Thanks for posting the article. Yes it is sad. I have private insurance but have a $7,000 deductable. Up to $5,000 is 100 percent out of pocket, then from $5,000 to $7,000 80 percent is covered but I have to pay the 20 percent till it reaches $7,000. After the $7,000 everything is covered 100 percent by insurance. I have blood work once or twice a month, Dr appointments every month & take ibrance, Letrozole & will start zoemeta infusions twice a year for 5 yrs in June. I'm 62 & will be getting my S.S. in July just to help pay for everything! It's discouraging to know that I will have high medical bills for the rest of my life! This is all on top of a large yearly premium! Thanks for letting me vent! I'm going on a two week vacation next week to visit my youngest son & his family, (3 sweet granddaughters, ages 10, 9, & 4) Didn't get a vacation last yr due to cancer surgeries & tests. I'm soooooo ready for it!!! I'm smiling just thinking about it!
Interesting article. When I became stage 4, my state will not allow me to go off of medicare. They will not allow me to buy a supplemental, nor purchase my own insurance. In the middle of the year, they actually changed tiers on one of my medications so I would have to pay more for it. My husband is retired and i has to purchase The affordable care act insurance. Pfeiffer and Novartis is praying for my Afinitor and Aromisin this year. My husband went back to work as a consultant for 6 months last year because the company had a fire. There were no benefits with the work. That put us over the 100,000.00 for last year. If I am still alive next year we will receive no help at all. Just paying to have insurance is higher than our mortgage.
My Oncologist has a team that does nothing but find funding for their cancer patients meds. They have me covered for the next year! Even with insurance, I'd have to pay $2,500 a month deductible for 21 pills! So thankful for them!
I have gone through one round of Ibrance. I was told that because of my limited income that it will be covered for the rest of my life. However, the pharmacists at my doctors have helped to apply for financial aid. I was told that if you make under $84,000 a year that it will be covered. If you make that amount then your share will be $2800 a month.
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