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    Information for Aubagio assistance programs

    I spoke with one the of the nurses at Genzyme about Aubagio and their financial assistance programs. They do have programs in place. They have a co-pay assistance program and then a regular assistance program. What they are having me do is to have my neuro fill out a "Start Form" with all my info on it and from there they can go through their benefit verification program. So it will depend on what kind of benefits you have as to which program you are placed in. I have Expresscripts, they informed me today that this drug is NOT avail through mailorder, that I would have to get through a regular pharmacey, but this Nurse told me that it's only available through specialty pharmacies. So I thought I'd pass this along, and perhaps help someone else through the process. The people that I did speak with at Genzyme were both very nice, and had the perfect information to share with me. The nurse promptly emailed me other information, which I really appreciated. So now I guess it's wait and see.................

    #2
    Assistance with Aubagio cost

    Thanks for your post. My nurse is also trying to get me signed up with some assistance. She said I would have a $35 co-pay. She hasn't checked my financial situation, so how would she come up with that figure?

    Did you have to fill out forms showing income and expenses?

    Thank you.

    Comment


      #3
      Without asking me a thing about finances, I was told the first 3 months would be free, and after that I would have a $35 copay. I would imagine the program varies by insurance coverage, or lack therof, and not necessarily upon finances. They want you on their drug, so paying part of your copay when they get $3k from insurance is in their best interests.

      Comment


        #4
        So a $35 copay gives you how many pills?
        My neuro is trying to get me started.
        I just had the TB test and gave 6 vials of blood for the various other labwork.

        Comment


          #5
          My understanding is that the $35 would be per month.

          Comment


            #6
            Anyone currently on Aubagio yet

            Just curious if anyone here has taken Aubagio yet and what they experienced. Did it help? Any side effects? I'm really nervous about starting it - my doctor's office is working to get me this. Currently I'm just taking another round of prenisone 20 mg 3 pills a day for 5 days, then 2 pills a day for 10 days, and so on. Just waiting.

            Comment


              #7
              How did you get to speak with someone at Genzyme? The "nurse" that I spoke with at "1 to 1" wasn't informative at all! And made me feel even more that I didn't want to take Aubagio. They just didn't have their act together. So like I keep saying on my other posts I'd rather wait for BG-12 (not that I have any inside or good info on that either)

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by emily06 View Post
                How did you get to speak with someone at Genzyme? The "nurse" that I spoke with at "1 to 1" wasn't informative at all! And made me feel even more that I didn't want to take Aubagio. They just didn't have their act together. So like I keep saying on my other posts I'd rather wait for BG-12 (not that I have any inside or good info on that either)
                The nurses aren't helpful at all, but I've had that same experience with Copaxone, Rebif, and Avonex nurses too, so I figure they are there to make you think someone can help you in order to increase your chances of staying on the med.

                That being said, I started Aubagio last week, and so far haven't noticed a thing.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Aubagio......almost!.......

                  Glad to see that "some" of you have finished jumping thru
                  the flaming hoops and actually got started on Aubagio!

                  Medicare Plus Blue approved everything back in
                  Janurary....for a copay pf $476.00 per month!

                  ................

                  I keep getting the run around from the drug company and
                  my special pharmacy about getting a damn shipment sent
                  to me!


                  Last Tysabri infusion was beginning of December!

                  I'm pissed!

                  .....but nobody seems to care.........


                  **Moderators note: Certain words were omitted as per guideline 4. KEEP IT CLEAN: Use of profanity/cursing in any language is not permitted.**
                  "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing…you're right."

                  -Henry Ford

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Australian copay

                    For Australians,

                    Aubagio was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in August 2012.

                    It is not yet in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

                    The company is providing Aubagio free of charge until it is on the PBS. Via your neurologist, who can only put 10 people in his/her "list".

                    HOWEVER - it is only available via specialised pharmacies, usually in hospitals.

                    Despite free of charge from the company, my hospital pharmacy (I had no choice of pharmacy) required a copayment for me to get the drug from them.

                    That copayment was $27.80.

                    I asked where the money was going, as it can't go through Medicare yet, as it's not "in the system". They told me it was going to the hospital.

                    Hope this helps.
                    Diagnosed 11/2007, Copaxone 8/2008 - 2/2013, Aubagio 3/2013 - 11/2013

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Copay asasistance?......

                      ......what a joke!

                      Been dealing, or trying too, with MS 1-to-1 since
                      the beginning of January!

                      LAST NITE I was told I need to "pay down" 5% of my
                      yearly income towards my insurance yearly out-of-pocket
                      amount and THEN they will begin to process my
                      application............WHAT!?!


                      Just NOW.....while typing this post....a "supervisor" from
                      MS 1-to-1 called me to find out what the problem is and
                      what I am SO angry about .......


                      I"ve been calling them EVERY week on Tuesday mornings
                      AND Friday afternoons!


                      I get everything from "your application is being processed"
                      to this stupid "strings attached" regulation.


                      I have NOT had any type of MS treatment since the early
                      December.....waiting for MS 1-to-1......getting the ol'
                      string-along......and for what?!


                      I'd be CLOSER to fulfilling my TOTAL yearly out-of-pocket
                      right now IF I would have just went ahead
                      on my own paying the $476.00 monthly copay.


                      After the yearly out-of-pocket is completely satisfied I'm covered @ 100%!!!



                      I got screwed..........beware.



                      -
                      "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing…you're right."

                      -Henry Ford

                      Comment


                        #12
                        I did not fill out any paperwork and was told that first 3 months are free and that after that my normally 75 dollar copay will b 35 dollars. My one on one nurse was useless did not even let me know I'd been approved. I called my I durance company to find out y the delay only to find out 1 week prior I had been approved so I called and another nurse got things going and I started last night

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Assistance is Hard to Get

                          I, too, had difficulties. At first the nurse at MS 1 to 1 said they would take care of getting my insurance approved. They didn't. I filed an appeal with Humana which was finally accepted. Then I called MS 1 to find out about co-pay assistance. Since I am on Medicare I was told there is NO help for me. And they didn't care one bit. The medicine costs over $4000 per month and my copay is 33%!!! And to add insult to injury the MONTH they give you is 28 pills! Last I saw only February has 28 days. So they get to fill 13 very expensive prescriptions per year.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Aubagio "issues".....

                            Glad to hear some of you are responding positively on
                            Augabio......insurance helps....Medicare, not so much....


                            I gave myself Avonex injections once a week in the thigh
                            when this MS roller coaster began......and it worked great
                            for a couple years....

                            Of course that was just after being correctly
                            diagnosed and right after completing 6-7 weeks of
                            Chemotherapy and Solumedrol infusions.



                            My last Tysabri infusion, # 61, was early December.

                            Next neuro. appointment was January and that is when my
                            neurologist informed me about Aubagio.


                            Since I have active JCV virus.....at this stage I figured
                            maybe I'm pushing the Tysabri-thing a bit too far.


                            Being in a "high risk" percentile of Tysabri patients I'm
                            gonna take his advice and switch......right?.....we'll see....




                            Everything ready to go and have letters from Medicare
                            Plus Blue PPO and the specialty pharmacy I was informed I
                            will use....approving the whole damn thing.....yea!...




                            COPAY ASSISTANCE.....
                            After being advised my first copay will be $473.51....

                            Got on the phone & 'net with EVERYBODY in a very
                            unsuccessful attempt to find a little help with these new
                            forthcoming bills.....nothing.....nowhere.....nada....nope.
                            This went on for months.........


                            THIS MORNING...
                            Bite the bullet and call the specialty pharmacy and request
                            for FIRST shippment.....for $473.51...
                            ...credit card...

                            ...UP FRONT....

                            ...before med goes out...yea!...



                            WAIT....
                            Got a call back and the REAL copay will be $722 dollars and change...
                            ...credit card...

                            ...UP FRONT....

                            ...before med goes out...yea!......


                            I gotta figure a way out of this mess.....this is really getting
                            to be a real pain in the *****......



                            Happy Easter.





                            -
                            "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing…you're right."

                            -Henry Ford

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Aubagio and Genzyme’s patient support program...?

                              Turns out Genzyme does offer copay assistance...

                              Just found it.

                              ......dig this;

                              "You are NOT eligible if you:

                              Have coverage or prescriptions paid for in part or full under any state or federally funded healthcare
                              program including:
                              Medicare
                              Medicare Advantage Plans (Example: FreedomBlue offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield)
                              Medicaid
                              Medigap
                              Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense or TRICARE
                              Federal Employee Plan (FEP)
                              High Risk Pool or Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)

                              In accordance with State law, the Program does not
                              reimburse infusion-related charges for patients
                              residing in Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota and Rhode Island. "


                              WOW.....my bad for having insurance.......

                              When I called for the first shipment of my new 'script for
                              Aubagio.... copay was $473.51...not good...not good....


                              New copay this afternoon after calling in my first order...

                              ...billing has been corrected to show a "med" versus an
                              "in-office procedure" and is now $722-and change... really not good...really, really.....not.....

                              Now what?......


                              Genzyme link;

                              http://www.genzyme.com/promos/fzcopay.aspx



                              Good Luck.




                              -
                              "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing…you're right."

                              -Henry Ford

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