If anyone is on Rebif and also Medicare, what do you or have you done about the cost of rebif per month? I was just quoted a price of $457 per month. Any suggestions anyone?

Today I was quoted $617.58 per month. At the rate they are going, it will soon be at the retail price of $1871.47 per month.

Who quoted you this price? Have you checked into getting your Rebif through the company? Or talked to Costco or Walgreens? That seems awful high.

contact emd serono inc makers of rebif at mslifelines.com they have assistance programs to help offset the cost

Did that. They don't even want to talk to you until you have signed for an Advantage Insurance Plan and can give them the plan # you are getting. Right now, I am just checking all the options rather than wait until May 31st and will be on Medicare as of June 1st. I don't want to wait until the last minute, which is what they seem to want you to do!

hey! This forum is new to me-I came in because I am outraged at the cost of these meds...I started betaseron in 1995 for 999.00/mo thoughts back then was that competition would drive prices down...never happened!
on 9/22/08 I picked up rebif at the pharmacy for $ 2,320.39
In feb. 2008 the cost was 1,894.31 That is about a 22% increase and it occurs monthly.
I am on medicare.
I am on social sec. disability.I also have private disability from employment
In jan 2008 medicare . gov predicted drug costs to be less than they are...I was told by blue cross that cost is determined by the market value.
WOODHAVEN-I SUGGESt montel williams assistance program-he has MS and would luv to see everyone get the medicine they need-PAN-patient assistance net work -if you're accepted will pay copays up to 4,000.00-I used to think that would suffice!! but NOT!! This year or last.

Do you have a link for the Montel Williams Assistance Program--Patient Assistance Network??

I found that Rebif is on Partnership for Patient Assistance for which Montel Williams is a spokesperson: www.pparx.org

Here is the information for Patient Assistance (Pfizer)

MS LifeLinesSM Patient Assistance Program
c/o Assistance Program Administrator
PO Box 5816
Bethesda, MD 20824
1-(877) 447-3243 (phone)

http://www.mslifelines.com/

I hope this helps anyone in need of assistance in obtaining Rebif.


Abbie

The RX insurance companies usually won't give you an answer for the MS tier 4 meds until they have authorization - which is a script from your doctor - then it's an expensive co-pay!!!!!! until you hit catastrophic - then it's less - I was quoted $2500 a month for Copaxone - with that as a monthly bill until I get over the gap which they are increasing -ends up being $6,000 to $7,000 a year - then the other meds are added on too - makes you want to bang your head against the wall -

Since you're on Medicare - I'm assuming that's the cost while you're in the donut hole. My mom is on medicare and got some excellent isupplemental nsurance and Rx coverage through AARP. We looked into several programs and it looked like this one was pretty good. She pays very little for her meds now. She's on a ton of different ones (no DMD though) for her MS symptoms. Might be worth looking into. The price for the coverage seemed fairly reasonable to me on a monthly basis.

My RX insurance is a very reasonable amount each month - but then the Copaxone kicks in - just spoke with them last week and was quoted $1500 1st month - $2580 2nd month - another $2580 3rd month - now out of donut hole - then $150 to $200 each month thereafter - then add in the Fosamax (which went generic - would have thought the price would go down - but no) - the Provigil - the baclofen - the diazapam (which no insurance seems to cover) and the omeprazole and that's a hefty RX bill for someone on SS with supplementals -