This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Just wondering how much the treatment costs at JH for people with uncomplying insurance companies ?

Regards

Sandon

Well I know one of the selling points to them is this is a one time cost instead of paying it year over year. I believe it's between 30-40 grand. I don't think this is including the hospitalization / IPOP costs or lodging.

Good news. JH is going to bat for you. JH. You got a good chance if the ins. is already paying for a crab drug.

I'm paying for lodging, and general living. Some out of pocket because something is 80/20. But the expensive stuff is covered.

If insurance won't pay, the cost of HiCy is $30,000. However, JH Medical Center requires that people paying out-of-pocket put down an $80,000 (yes, that's EIGHTY-THOUSAND) dollar deposit before undergoing the procedure. The extra 50 grand is allegedly to cover treatment for any possible "complications" that might arise, and any money not used is later returned to the patient.

Ouch! That # was not mentioned in my conversation with them. Good thing tonight is when my investments mature, "Power-ball"
Lars

Hey Lars,

Yeah....I asked Dr. Hammond directly and that's the figure he quoted.

So if my insurance says no, I will probably cry.

~V.

I cant understand how JH can justify the cost , $30k +50k backup ?

Is there anybody else that dows the treatment off label ?

.

Bob, I'm not denying the effiacy of the protocol, but cytoxan is relatively cheap.

Understood, theres a lot more to it than a simple injection, but the the majority of MS patients dont have a laxy $80k stuffed under their pillow.

I just thought given how inexpensive cytoxan is, you would have thought the protocol would be cheaper.

rant over

Sandon,

The extra 50 grand is actually what Johns Hopkins Medical Center (i.e. - the hospital itself) requests from a patient paying out-of-pocket. The protocol is, as other posters have mentioned, a lot more complicated than just Cytoxan. It involves an entire package of aftercare, including stimulating immune regrowth, prophylactic antibiotics, etc. If someone went in with no insurance and (God forbid) got an infection or had some unexpected reaction (example: heart failure) to the high-dose chemo, then the hospital would likely incur hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to save that person. I can see why they'd want to cover their asses with an 80 grand deposit.

Great great great great great great answer. These people were all over me for 21 days. You are taken care of very very very very very well.

Aw, thanks Chris.

I do my best to give thoughtful replies.

I love your website, btw. You are certainly the "pioneer" here when it comes to MS patients and HiCY. If I end up undergoing the treatment, I am definitely going to shave my head beforehand, too.

After totaling all the bills to BC/BS I think the amount was around $20K maybe $25K. This does not take into account living expenses and other associated costs. I did this totally in IPOP. No hospital stay so it was relatively cheap. The reason for the extra amount is do to any unforseen problems. Staying in the hospital can run you $2-$2.5K per night and that does not include additional drugs. I am sure they are adding some padding to scare people from taking this approach. If you look at the follow up costs they will probably exceed the initial proceedure. My Head and full spine scans are costing about $6K every three months. I am sure there are cheaper MRI's but is is a big number.

HiCy

HiCy,

Fortunately any follow-up care I get here in MA will cost me nothing. But any care I get down in MD I would assume I'd have to pay co-pays, etc. for.

See we have good credit:P

Our out of pocket is around 10k for JH and living expenses for the month we were there.

Our insurance out of pocket is 4k regardless of what. It's United Health Care and I'm figuring out this is not that bad as I thought. All my MRI's and anything insurance doesn't cover is already nailed for the year. I will end up paying for the airplane trips and one MRI next year and thats it now. Our living was around 1500 for the month but groceries and tips for the shuttle drivers and cab drivers are nice as well.

I had no idea price wise we were so lucky!

Depending on what your max is it may be cheaper like it was for me to be hospitalized. Beds were uncomfy but I was so drugged up I have no clue what was going on. A large number of those pics on my site I don't even remember.

If I was going to do it over I wouldn't have taken any of the extra's they offered medicine wise. The anti nausea stuff nailed me to the wall.

I puked in the hospital, in the hospital atrium leaving the hospital, and at the hotel. But the 2nd day the poison was out of my system I felt fine.

Brett now, had no issues! Lucky him! lol

My insurance has no deductible, so I don't have to shell out a certain amount before it kicks in or anything like that.

The puking is the one thing I dread about HiCy.

Because, like Seinfeld, I have a record going. No exaggeration: I have not vomited in 22 years.

I will take the drugs because I swear I'll be pissed if I ruin my record.

LOL