Wow, its been a really stress full week. I found out just a couple of days ago, that my insurance only pays 80% of my needed remicade infusions. Just for the DRUG alone, not the IV or nurses or other supplies, just the DRUG COPAY is going to be at $500-600 per each infusion. Thats 2 infusions this month and than one a month for life!!!!!! My copay is going to be more than my weekly paycheck!
I started calling helplines, charities and foundations like crazy, over 20 in all and no one will help. The reason is that even though remicade has been on the market for a while, not exactly sure how long but about 10 years or so, it is only fda approved for crohn's, rheumatoid arthritis, and a few other auto immune diseases, not sarcoidosis.
I am working with an insurance agent at the moment to see about switching my blue cross plan to one that pays better on the remicade but thats not looking promising either. I have no idea how I am going to pay for these treatments but I had my first one this morning. I was exhausted and slept through most of it. Luckily, they got the IV in on the first try, I am a hard stick and was very happy about this. Then they hook you up to the drug, pretty much just like a saline drip thing and it takes about 2 hours for all the medication to go in. Since it was my first one and allergic reactions are common, they made me stay for another hour.
I am at work now, rather tired still and feeling a bit head achy and nauseous but relatively ok. I am still swollen and hurting but I know it takes time to work. Lets hope after going on 4 years of being sick and in pain, they have found the right treatment!
-------------------- Taking it one day at a time.....
Posts
Survived my first remicade infusion
