Paying for Tykerb

There is no question that Tykerb has been a wonder drug for me. I've been on it for a little over a year, and the first year was great: good quality of life and very few side effects. Certainly no problems that made the drug intolerable. 

Then a few months ago, the Tykerb "failed," meaning that my tests and scans showed disease progression, so we added a couple more drugs to the mix, and I now get Tykerb, Herceptin, cytoxan, and zometa.

But the cost!  That's been an on-going problem ever since I qualified for Medicare last July 1. 

Tykerb costs $3,600/month. Or $120/day. That's problem number one. 

Problem number two: Medicare says Tykerb falls under Medicare Part D, the lousy prescription drug coverage, rather than under Medicare Part B with all the other cancer drugs I'm taking (all of them--Herceptin, oral cytoxan, and zometa--are paid for under Medicare Part B, go figure). I have Part D coverage, but the monthly copay for Tykerb is $1,600/month. THAT'S WITH INSURANCE, MIND YOU.

I'm on Social Security Disability and can't afford that, so I've been applying to various programs for help ... In the meantime, I heard from a reader of my blog whose mother has breast cancer and was told that Medicare will pay for Tykerb IF SHE GOES INTO THE CLINIC EVERYDAY TO GET IT. 

Never mind that this is an oral drug that does not need to be administered by a doctor or a nurse. (!!!!)

Has anyone else been told this? 

I'm going to ask my oncologist about it, because I can certainly take the time to drive to the cancer center every day if it saves me that much money. Let's see: $1,600 divided by 30 (well, not sure how we'd handle the weekend doses ...), so say $1,600 divided by 20 equals $80/day. Yup, my time is worth $80/per trip to the cancer center, no question. 

Stay tuned on this one, folks. 

 

@ Jeanne Sather 2009.   

Comments

[Amorette]

This may be a tad off-topic, but am I the only one whose medicare part D coverage cost went up 558% at the turn of the year?

[Seth Melnick]

this is terrible - just when time is important and rest is vital they make you go and get a drug everyday - of course what choice is there - but its just not fair

[jeanne]

did you take the 5 tykeb pills daily all at once or throughout the day? No side effects?