That's why I'm not on our group plan at work. If I went on it, the price would go through the roof.

Does your agent offer you a new plan each year at renewal time with different companies? Will you be able to start out with a different plan each year starting at an "unrated" dollar amount to keep your costs down?

We get that offer each year from our agent. If I were on the plan I think we'd be forced to do that to keep costs down. For example, we're on a Midwest Security plan PPO now, and he offers us BC/BS of Illinois and another company at a lower "introductory rate" for the first year.

If your agent did that each year you could change on that date if it works the same way in your situation. It would be a big pain for everyone on the plan switching everything over to the new carrier but it might keep your costs down.

Welcome back, Wiz of the traveling salt!

I just found out some stuff about the plan I have for insurance. It's BCBS but it's the same plan our legislature has!

I wonder if they are my group? I know that when the nonprofit organization I work for started they were the first of their kind in my state and I wonder if since we were state/federal funded, maybe that's where the policy came from and why I still have the insurance??? NO ONE sells this plan anymore.

It will be interesting to see what the new administration does for health care here in the USA. I have high hopes!

hi

I said i would post the costs when i found out. I was shocked...For thr drug in fl they put in for $4800 which is more than $500 less than NJ but recieved more than $3500 which is about $1500 more than NJ. That I could not figure out. They billed about thesame in each placee for the Dr visit and infusionandpaid the samebut the drug amount ws the big diffrence and that I did not understand.

I have 1 more infusion next week in fl then i willl b bqck to my regular site

have a great day
laurie

I had my infusion today, it went off without a hitch. The nurse is getting better and better at starting the drip. She's funny too, she laughs every time she takes my blood pressure, says it sounds like a drum in her ear. That and my good vein. I aim to please y'know.

It's no wonder I have to take a blood pressure pill, otherwise it'd probably be squirting out of my pores.

I gave her hints on seed starting for early spring planting. She said she's going to try it. I am too after not doing so for almost ten years.

RW, is this #21 or #22 for me?

ROFL Wiz!

It's # 22, my Tysabri Twin! ( I had to actually count the vials on the Tysabri Wall!)

Glad to hear it all went well!

Thanks for the information Laurie!
The cost of the drug is different everywhere. It's all in where they get the drug from and hom many middlemen they go through!
I got more information this week on mine. The infusion center goes through the pharmacy at the hospital they are associated with. That pharmacy goes through a pharmacy at a larger hospital that they have contracted through to save costs. THAT pharmacy does all the bulk ordering for their associated partners, and they go through their contracted pharmacy supply co, and then THAT supply co. gets it from ICS!

It took a LOT of phone calls to get to the bottom of that road! They wouldn't tell me how much they paid at each step. I'm pushing to find out exactly how the cost is broken down step by step!

I thought I'd help get us to 1000 so we can get a new thread!

I had #10 yesterday, and it was my best infusion by far! I've been getting a horrible case of the chills five minutes after the infusion is completed, and it lasts about 1/2 hour.

Premedicating with benadryl didn't make a difference. I've learned that an aleve an hour before helps with any headaches. But after yesterday, I think the chills, and the fact my body tenses during that time were causing the headaches.

It just went really well. I hope they all can be that way!

There were a few different things. One, it had been five weeks since my last infusion because of a toenail fungus that looked like it may have infection, so I had that nail removed and they postponed ty for a week, and two I was still on Keflex from the toenail removal.

I also took some hot chocolate that I sipped during the infusion.

I think next infusion I'll keep the hot chocolate part, still premedicate with the Aleve an hour before, and hopefully I won't be on any antibiotic!

I finally had infusion #10 yesterday. All went fine and I really needed it. My prior infusion was due on 12-3, but I had a neuro problem and had to find a new one. Now I have to drive 2 hrs for the infusion and I hate that. I seems I am back active again. I guess due to late infusion. I'm just praying this one pulls me out. B4 I missed the Dec one i seemed stable. So fingers crossed here. Just wanted to update.

Glad to hear that things went well! It sounds like you have been having a hard time and the whole toenail thing?...OW! OW! OW! I have torn off toenails so many times that I cringe and my toes suck back into my feet every time I hear someone has one removed voluntarily!



Sheena, I hope that it IS just because your infusion schedule got messed up. The whole traveling thing has to be hard on you. I hope things get back to normal for you soon.
Remember that you CAN still have relapses while on Tysabri. It's ok to have a course of steroids too, the usual 3 day IVSM.
Please let us know how it goes for you.

Both of you have had # 10 now!

How does it feel? Are you settling in to having an infusion rather than shots? Do you feel things have improved? Are you happy with Tysabri as a whole when compared to what you did before for DMT?

Hi River - great to see u and all the old gang again. I stayed away, b/c there was nothing anyone could do till I found a new neuro., saw him... I hope all can understand.
I am happy to say that I love him and staff is great... Here everyone is treated the same and none of the suck up... - I found with my last. My new Neuro's name is mentioned in several of the new drug studies. My clinic was also one of hundreds that helped bring Ty on and helped bring it back. . It is hard here to find pro ty Dr. No idea why. Hence, I'll just have to deal w/a 2 hr drive. Small price to pay.
I say this attack is due to lack of meds, but my eye went black for 5-10 sec at the time reg infusion was sch. New sx so I guess an attack while on. Old neuro wanted to pull me off - hence dismissed asap. BTW - not offered roids several times when asked. Dif. with new one.
BTW - I hold private BCBS of my state - cost depends on how they bill. If they bill one way - I pay next to all - another 0. Another reason for drive. I could get Ty here - but would have to pay.