IvIG Treatment Costs

[lib053]

Have any of you been given IvIG treatments for your MS? I was wondering about the amount infusion companies are generally charging, the amount insurance companies are paying, and especially how much is being charged back to the patient. We just received a statement from the infusion company that seems excessive.

Thanks!

[hunterd]

it has been quite a few years since I had it, but at that time it was $28,000 a month! The infusion was once a month also.

[JerryD]

I was having the same thoughts, as well. I guess the question I have is -- what will my bill be if the insurance company pays their share of the costs. If the cost of the infusion is $25,000 per month, what amount will I be responsible for? It's mind blowing to think of these costs.

[lib053]

IvIG Treatment Costs

Hunterd, Do you happen to recall how much of that you were required to pay out of pocket?

Thanks.

[hunterd]

i had 0 copaay, i was extremely lucky. ins. covered 100%

[MoxieMaven]

Anyone using IVIG regularly?

Hi. I am searching for a doc that uses IVIG regularly for RRMS. I am willing to travel. Thanks.

[MoxieMaven]

Searching for doc that uses IVIG regularly for RRMS

Hi. I am searching for a doc that uses IVIG regularly for RRMS. I am willing to travel. Thanks.

[Marco]

Moxie - not sure where you live to possibly give referrals.

IVIg is expensive, my treatments were always between $20-$30k. I believe the cost variances were the brand of IVIG, two-day versus one-day infusions, the actual infusion amount, were pre-medications required, and the actual length of the infusion. Some infusion centers are more expensive than others so you may need to call around. Hospitals often have facilities, but so do doctor's groups and even some neurologists. It's cheaper to have one nurse come to my home, but the insurance carrier would prefer me to be in an infusion center, with a big fluffy chair, bad movies, ripped up books, a bazillion germs and 9 other patients. IVIg was fine, but so glad I no currently have zero infusion plans.

[polopuppy]

I have been on IVIG for the last 3.5 years. I infuse every 4 weeks with 40 grams of Gammagard SD. I have a Medi-port in place for the IVIG and monthly blood work. My infusions are done in an Infusion Center and take two days. My insurance company is being billed between $6800-$9500 each month. It is much less than what I had been told.

I have a high deductible PPO plan so it pays nothing until i reach the deductible of $2500 and then it does an 80/20 split. It pays at 100% once I hit my out of pocket max of $5500. I hit my out of pocket max by the end of January each year, thanks to the IVIG.

There is no doubt that it is expensive and hard to obtain authorization. Mine has to be reauthorized every year and it is a very stressful time. The insurance company has us all jumping through hoops. Not sure if this will be of any help since all insurance plans are different. You definitely want to know what they will cover before starting treatment. One infusion could put you back many thousands of dollars.

[MoxieMaven]

We are similar

Same schedule, same insurance set up. Used for 10 years. Last 3 years getting push back from docs saying it's expensive and controversial. I need a doc that has my best interest at heart. Very frustrating since ins. ok's it AND IT'S KEPT ME HEALTHY AND WELL. Now I've had two exacerbations in 15 months and permanent peralysis since been getting occasionally.

I need to find a doc who uses IVIG regularly for RRMS. I am willing to travel. Thanks.

I have been on IVIG for the last 3.5 years. I infuse every 4 weeks with 40 grams of Gammagard SD. I have a Medi-port in place for the IVIG and monthly blood work. My infusions are done in an Infusion Center and take two days. My insurance company is being billed between $6800-$9500 each month. It is much less than what I had been told.

I have a high deductible PPO plan so it pays nothing until i reach the deductible of $2500 and then it does an 80/20 split. It pays at 100% once I hit my out of pocket max of $5500. I hit my out of pocket max by the end of January each year, thanks to the IVIG.

There is no doubt that it is expensive and hard to obtain authorization. Mine has to be reauthorized every year and it is a very stressful time. The insurance company has us all jumping through hoops. Not sure if this will be of any help since all insurance plans are different. You definitely want to know what they will cover before starting treatment. One infusion could put you back many thousands of dollars.

[MSLazarus]

I used IVIg for 8 years....every other week.

I have posted about this before so if you search under my name you will find posts with more detail.

There are no copays because it is administered at an infusion center.

I did a very large amount...70g every other week. It was great for me until it stopped working. I am SPMS and had failed to respond to conventional drugs which is what obligated insurance to cover it. By the end it was nearly $80,000.00 A month. Results were spectacular for me.

[MoxieMaven]

Thanks for the response

What I need is the names of some docs that are on board. I've used for 10 years. Now I'm getting it's "controversial and expensive", regardless that it has kept me on top. I have fallen down in the last two years after discontinuing monthle 40s.

I have posted about this before so if you search under my name you will find posts with more detail.

There are no copays because it is administered at an infusion center.

I did a very large amount...70g every other week. It was great for me until it stopped working. I am SPMS and had failed to respond to conventional drugs which is what obligated insurance to cover it. By the end it was nearly $80,000.00 A month. Results were spectacular for me.

[polopuppy]

Dear MoxieMaven,

I am sorry that your neurologists are not be supportive. It is perplexing that they would care about the cost when your insurance company authorizes it. It is usually the other way around. Your doctors are not paying for the darn IVIG.

I am in the San Francisco Bay Area and my neurologist is in Palo Alto. I no longer have a diagnosis of MS. It was retracted after I took one year of Copaxone. I do have brain and brainstem lesions and "O bands.

I was recently diagnosed with Diffuse Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. I have been going through extensive workups for Lupus and Dermatomyositis. All of my doctors believe IVIG is the best therapy for me but then again, they don't think I have MS. I don't know if my neuro has any MS patients on IVIG. I go to MS support group meetings and I have not met any other patient that is on IVIG.

Your best bet may be to find a large teaching hospital that has a progressive neurology department. I am lucky to be near Stanford and UCSF. Good luck in your search. Have you checked with MS Society?

[MSLazarus]

Do you have a neurologist presently?

I am not sure what your situation is....sorry if I have missed your posts as I am an infrequent visitor here...
However, it is not a matter of finding a neurologist who prescribes IVIg. There has to be a reason that it is prescribed as opposed to other choices.

Not responding to other meds is such a reason. I had experience with other meds and was a candidate for IVIg because of a malignant cancer surgery that I had just had. Lucky, the cancer was gone but IVIg was the safest med at the time in case any cancer cells were left.

See, there has to be a reason that IVIg is used instead of other choices.

[MoxieMaven]

Thank you!

Yes, I have one. I need to find one that is on board with IVIG.

I am not sure what your situation is....sorry if I have missed your posts as I am an infrequent visitor here...
However, it is not a matter of finding a neurologist who prescribes IVIg. There has to be a reason that it is prescribed as opposed to other choices.

Not responding to other meds is such a reason. I had experience with other meds and was a candidate for IVIg because of a malignant cancer surgery that I had just had. Lucky, the cancer was gone but IVIg was the safest med at the time in case any cancer cells were left.

See, there has to be a reason that IVIg is used instead of other choices.