[JGCROW1031]

Originally Posted by kitty

i called pan and they said that they had to submit my assistance request to biogen for 2015. Apparently they have several assistance groups to use so i guess i might not get assistance from the same group i did in 2014. It was a little confusing to me but the lady assured me that i would receive assistance from some group.

I am on my last bottle of tec right now and was instructed to call back when i have 1 week left and it would be refilled. Makes me nervous to get down that low and not have anymore yet but i'll just have to trust them.

i am new on medicare effective 2015. I qualified for co pay asst when covered by employer insurance. I am extremely concerned because i keep reading that you can't get the copay asst if u on medicare. So, as soon as i get my plan package, i will call ms active source with my medicare advantage plan info. Will i get assistance? I will b n d donut hole in january if i don't get help. When i called ms active source they wouldn't tell me which type of plan to get with medicare to ensure help. I can't continue on this medication without it. Please advise.

[Kitty]

I'm on Medicare and had no problem qualifying for patient assistance. I also have a Part D prescription plan but it would not cover Tec.

[Pinky76]

I work in medicare, and there are some different things you can do to try and get assistance with copays and ect. Just give customer care a call and they should be able to assist you with any questions.

[jprinz99]

while most people with Medicare Part D {and othere government sponsored insurances, like DoD, Medicaid, etc} are exempted from traditional pharmaceutical company assistance programs, there are solutions.

Most MS drug Rx companies have other mechanisms & programs to get you the financial/drug assistance. It is often via funneling the request for assistance to a nonprofit org (that they may help fund)

Don't let finances stop you- there is help out there and it os not as coplicated or hopeless as it may seem.

[jprinz99]

FYI- found out my assistance from PAN Foundation (grant for Tec copays) is good for one year total - so I am good until it runs out or expires. Some programs go Jan- Dec and some programs run for a specific amount of time. Good to know.

[Kitty]

Originally Posted by jprinz99

FYI- found out my assistance from PAN Foundation (grant for Tec copays) is good for one year total - so I am good until it runs out or expires. Some programs go Jan- Dec and some programs run for a specific amount of time. Good to know.

That's the patient assistance group I'm with, too!

[Kitty]

I had blood work last week to check for my JC virus status so I can possibly start taking Tysabri.

Neuro's nurse just called to tell me I tested positive for it.

Now, I have to decide whether or not to take the risk of taking Ty for 2 years and hoping I don't get PML. I know it's unlikely as I'd have regular blood work done to catch it but that's only every 6 months. I'd feel better if it were every month!!

I'm not sure what I'm going to do. It's a scary decision to have to make but nothing with MS is ever easy is it?

What would you do in this situation?

[barb02]

Kelly, I can't really answer that question since I had such bad experiences with tysabri. I think if my symptoms were not stable I would probably try something. Maybe your neurologist would agree to quarterly blood work.

[Kitty]

I thought about that, too, Barb, but I have so many unanswered questions still. My family has a history of brain related disorders. My mother passed away from Alzheimer's. My sister had early-onset Alzheimer's and passed away from that, too. Two of my Mom's sisters had Alzheimer's and one had brain cancer. I'm just hesitant to add another risk factor to my already diagnosed MS!

While I was researching PML I found two articles (both dated 2015) about a PML case with Gilenya and Tecfidera! I had no idea PML was a risk factor with those drugs. I was on Tecfidera until I had that awful allergic reaction. Scary stuff!

I think for the time being I ought to just go it alone...........

[barb02]

It's a hard decision. I knew that the FDA has added a PML warning for tecfidera. Maybe your neuro would consider monthly steroid infusions.

I haven't even decided if I am even going to see a neuro this fall for my yearly appointment. I didn't really like the one I saw last year too well. He will just be annoyed that I canceled the sleep study he wanted me to do. I really don't want to have a MRI, and my MS has been stable. So I think I may avoid it.