Tykerb and Medicare
I mentioned a little while ago that I am eligible to go on Medicare this month, because it is the two-year anniversary of my becoming legally disabled and going on Social Security Disability.
I've been very slowly gathering info on the pros and cons of being a cancer patient on Medicare, and one worry I had was paying for my Tykerb ($3,500/month) on Medicare because it is a prescription drug, so I thought I would fall into the infamous "doughnut hole" on Medicare Part D.
So this morning I got this e-mail from a reader:
Thought you might be interested since you will start Medicare Disability soon. Have your Tykerb run through on the Medicare Part "B" insurance which will cover the cost of the drug entirely. You will have to search out a drug store which will do it or go through your cancer treatment clinic (if they do distribute drugs). Find a drug store which is hooked up with a rest home where they do the part B insurance and you will be in luck.
I know this because I am on Xeloda and my drug store handles it through the part "B" rather than part "D" of Medicare, therefore, you avoid the "doughnut hole."
Food for thought.. Good Luck in your treatment.
So I need to check this out with Dr. Lee next time I see him, which will be soon, since I need to discuss all of Dr. Livingston's recommendations with him.
Any cancer patients out there who are getting their treatment paid through Medicare, please send me your stories, good and bad. I need to make a decision soon ... Thanks.
Later in the day, I got another e-mail from the same woman, suggesting that I also need to get supplemental insurance to go with the Medicare. Argh. This is going to be work.
The e-mail:
Just make sure you have a supplemental insurance to go along with it.
Not sure if Continental General is available in your area (I'm from Michigan) but it is wonderful as I never have to pay for anything. With cancer treatments it is well worth it. Trust me as I have been on treatments for 9 1/2 years as mine is a reoccurrence that has gone to the spine.
More about Tykerb:
@ Jeanne Sather 2008.
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