Oh hello super expensive medicine!

My neurologist at UBC told me last year that I should consider going on a disease modifying therapy.  Fine!  I can take a pill every day, no problem!  Not quite - it's not a pill, and I need to inject myself with it every 3 days.

The medication I will be taking is called Rebif.   I have a basic understanding of how it works, but to explain it would go over my head.  It's not a cure, but the understanding is that it will decrease the amount and severity of attacks I have. 

I let this register with me for quite awhile.  The doctor told me to hold off until January because it's easier to deal with the insurance companies and I wouldn't need to pay a deductible for 2010 and then 2011.  So, here comes January.  I get everything in gear, get the prescription, order the machine (more to come in this post) and mosey on over to the pharmacy to drop it off.

Then came the fun part.  I was told this medication was around $27k a year.  I was also told I would be covered by Fair Pharmacare and had applied and been accepted into that program previously.  I get a call from the pharmacist telling me they were waiting to special order the medication because they wanted to confirm I was aware of the high cost - $2040.00.  That's right!  $2040.00 for ONE MONTH worth of medication.  This was followed by over 4 hours of phone calls to Fair Pharmacare, and my insurance through work etc.  Nobody could tell me anything, I had no idea how much I would have to pay.  Finally, I picked up the medication on Friday and it cost me $700.00.  Fair Pharmacare finally explained to me that I have to pay up to a certain amount before I'm covered 100%.  That's fine, however, what do people do that can't afford it?  Do they just go without?  THIS IS CANADA!  If I didn't have supportive parents who have the luxury of helping me out, I would not have been able to get this medication.

Regardless, it's done now, and if you are curious as to what $2040.00 worth of medication looks like, be curious no more:

While dealing with insurance companies was stressful, the drug company has impressed me to no end.  The drug company runs (or is at least affiliated with) this program called Multiple Support.  I received a call from Multiple Support to order my Rebismart Injector device, and for the first time actually spoke to someone who knew what they were talking about.  I was put in touch with a person who put me through to the insurance company on a three way call and they did all the talking.  They even emailed insurance for me, and CC'd me on everything so that I'm kept in the loop.

When I received my Rebismart I was even more impressed.  I didn't JUST get the machine.  I got a carrying case, a cooler bag, cooler packs, a huge supply of alcohol swabs and needles, and sharps container.  Anytime I need anything, I just call and they send it the next day for FREE.  They also sent me a TON of literature so I know what to expect, and they are sending a nurse to my house for a training session so I know what I'm doing.  Anytime I need assistance in the future, I can call 24 hours a day and speak with a nurse.  They will also send the nurse to my house anytime I feel I need more assistance.  Perhaps this is why the medication is so expensive, but when you look at all the support you receive it is worth it in the end.  Here is everything I got in my package:

The nurse will come at some point this week and will train me how to use the machine.  I'm not worried as much about the needle part as I am about the side effects.  The most common side effect is flu like symptoms that last for 6 hours after the injection.  They recommend that you take an Advil or Tyelenol and do the injection before you go to bed.  This allows you to sleep through the crappy feelings.  Eventually your body gets used to the medication and the side effects wear off.  We'll see what happens.  I plan on video taping my first injection with the nurse so I can share it with everybody.

That's all for now!

~Sarah