Avonex Cost
Avonex Cost
What's the best source people have found? Sam's ? Others? I'd appreciate knowing!
SlowI
- pathockett
- Newbie
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:00 pm
- Location: essex, england
What is costs
Just to let you know that here in England Avonex, Copaxone, Rebif, and Beta Interferon are all available free of charge from the National Health Service. This is particuarly good as I dont think a lot of people here could afford the figures that are being quoted here. I get a delivery once a month whcih contains all the needles etc of Rebif and also a variety of travel packs etc you can use when you go on holiday. I know the cost is very high and I think it is about 1700 dollars a month here but that is paid for by the government if you have relapsing remitting MS.
Kind regards
patricia
Money Money Money Money
I had to lead a revolt a few years ago. We had a prescription limit of $3500/year -- which is adequate for most folks.... but not for us CRAB users.... I was out of prescription money in May and was going to have to pay the rest out of pocket.... My revolt worked I guess.... saved me about $6k/year....
This is another 'gotcha' with insurance that folks need to be aware of....
Hugz n Such
=Greg
I used to think that if I tried, I would drown.
I only certain things from what I read...You've made me quite curious now.... you said...
From looking at Inside MS (A Publication from the National MS Society) ... There is an article by JK Rowling (famous Fiction Author) ... in it she states...Just to let you know that here in England Avonex, Copaxone, Rebif, and Beta Interferon are all available free of charge from the National Health Service.
So which is it? Or are you both right? I have no way of knowing from this side of the pond... This is mostly for my information (and perhaps others who are curious)In both the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland 8% [of MSers get CRABS] And in the U.K.? Between 2 and 3% You've got a better chance of being prescribed an MS-modifying drug in Turkey.
That would cost around 46 million pounds a year to give these drugs to every person with MS in the U.K. who would clinically benefit from them. That's a tiny 0.09% of what the National Health Service will spend this year
And ... as a side note - I'm not sure we're helping SlowI with their quest for cheap Avonex... I think we're just all making SlowI feel worse... especially if it's back breaking financially and I'm gloating that it only costs me twelve bucks. I found a pretty good old article on:
Getting Disease Modifying Drugs in the US
Regards
=G
I used to think that if I tried, I would drown.
- pathockett
- Newbie
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:00 pm
- Location: essex, england
what is costs
The regulations over here changed a while ago and if a consultant thinks you will benefit from any of the modifying druugs then they are free of charge. The whole Rebif kit that i received is very comprehensive and it is all delivered directly to my home once a month. If the consultant thinks it will help you , you can choose any of the main drugs yourself without any influence from them or drug companies. I just chose Rebif as it seemed the easiest to administer. No consulatant or health authorites here can use the excuse of the medicine not being cost effective if there is a possible benefit to the patient.
Kind regards
Patricia
I would have guessed when starting this that most would pay in the $300 to $500 dollar range per month, and I have to say that I'm delighted that that is not the case. Maybe there are several MSer's out there that just can't afford to be on this medication. For you, I truly hope that advances in knowledge will be quick in coming and cheap in resolution.
Thank you all so much for the comments.
- HarryZ
- Family Elder
- Posts: 2570
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2004 2:00 pm
- Location: London, ON, Canada
- Contact:
Any time government agencies get involved in determining what they will pay for or not (location doesn't really matter) when it comes to drugs, one big question that is asked is the level of benefit that will be obtained for the patient versus the cost.That would cost around 46 million pounds a year to give these drugs to every person with MS in the U.K. who would clinically benefit from them. That's a tiny 0.09% of what the National Health Service will spend this year
When it comes to the CRAB drugs, there has been serious doubt from many docs in the UK regarding the real benefit to MS patients. Dr. P. Behan's (Professor of Clinical Neurology, University of Scotland)Pathogenesis of MS published a couple of years ago, made some scathing attacks on MS research as a whole and he and his colleagues seriously questioned whether the CRABs gave any benefit at all.
Although Rowan indicates that the increased cost to the NHS would only be .09% of the total NHS budget, I suppose the people in charge of the NHS feel there is little point in increasing the cost if little or no benefit is obtained.
Harry
- Outlawbiker
- Family Member
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2004 2:00 pm
- Location: Upstate New York
- Contact:
Cost of meds
If you can prove to the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) that you were treated for MS or MS like symptoms occuring while on active duty or up to 7 years after being discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, you (like me) can get your medications for FREE!!! It hasn't taken overnight to get to where I'm at now. But it was worth the long 4 year battle with the VA to receive my Service Connection for this disease.
All I want is less to do,
more time to do it,
and higher pay
for not getting it done.
Would you folks who pay in the lower end mind sharing which health plans you're on?