financial assistance for votrient?

jas1973
jas1973 Member Posts: 15
in Kidney Cancer #1

 It has been a long wait from my moms surgery  for the report and now her 1st  visit with her oncologist... Moms cancer has spread to more areas since her first diagnosis and the weeks leading up to and after her surgery. While she was in the hospital for her kidney surgery her cancer was never  mentioned or aknowledged and she was sent home with only instructions reguarding her initial surgery...moms oncologist was shocked at this news. We thought they were all working together, so we didn't understand where the confusion was. Unfortunately she hadn't been being adaquately treated for her pain leading up until now. The pain has become unbearable,we were so grateful to finally see her dr.  Thankfully, her oncologist has given her proper pain meds to bring her some comfort. ( She has a pain patch along with oral meds etc...she has it in her shoulder blades and both hips and tail bone.)

The onc  let us know that there are many different treatments to try, but he feels the best way to go to try to get some control  is to start Votrient.  He said that it has very good results with many people.  I have read that many people here have used this  drug, but have just become aware of the cost involved...he wants to start her immediately 

The dr said there were organizations to help fund the cost, unfortunately my parents received a call yesterday from his office that there aren't any open slots  and no monies available at this time in any of those organizations... my mom is on medicare and her co pay will be $ 2600 for a months supply.  

Have any of you encountered issues with insurance co pays being astronomical?  It seems that the dr has to advocate for the patient, but are there things that I can do that I just don't know about? This is all so new to us and with it being the weekend it  feels like time being wasted.

If anyone has any insight on this  id love to hear about it.  I know there has to be something available just not sure where to look 

 

Comments

  • sblairc
    sblairc Member Posts: 585 Member
    #2
    Try directly through the drug companies

     

    Here is a link direcdtly to GlaxoSmithKline drug company programs. There may be co-pay assistance offered. I do not know what your doctor has discovered, but I googled "Votrient copay assistance" and found this below. 

    http://www.gskforyou.com/patient-assistance-programs/drugslist.html

     

    I would also look on the Kidney Cancer Association website. Best to you. 

     

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #3
    sblairc said:

    Try directly through the drug companies

     

    Here is a link direcdtly to GlaxoSmithKline drug company programs. There may be co-pay assistance offered. I do not know what your doctor has discovered, but I googled "Votrient copay assistance" and found this below. 

    http://www.gskforyou.com/patient-assistance-programs/drugslist.html

     

    I would also look on the Kidney Cancer Association website. Best to you. 

     

    Cost

    My wife contacted Galaxo. She negotiated with them. Seems they did not care about how much money you have but how much you now earn. So based on that and my health care expenses, I am now getting the drug at no charge. Damn, my wife is good! Work on it. Here is another good case for getting social security and medicare.

  • jas1973
    jas1973 Member Posts: 15
    #4
    Thank you sblair, and fox
    You

    Thank you sblair, and fox

    You both gave us some greatly appreciated information...  all of which we will be checking in to.  My mother was told by her oncs office that she would be their first priority Monday morning.  I'm thankful to know I can also help...

    God bless 

    You are all in my prayers

  • Yeric
    Yeric Member Posts: 65
    #5
    jas1973 said:

    Thank you sblair, and fox
    You

    Thank you sblair, and fox

    You both gave us some greatly appreciated information...  all of which we will be checking in to.  My mother was told by her oncs office that she would be their first priority Monday morning.  I'm thankful to know I can also help...

    God bless 

    You are all in my prayers

    Extra Help

    You might look at getting 'Extra Help' through Medicare.  Extra help does not sound like a government program which kept me from applying.  Google and see if your Mom can qualify.

    Good luck. 

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    #6
    Yeric said:

    Extra Help

    You might look at getting 'Extra Help' through Medicare.  Extra help does not sound like a government program which kept me from applying.  Google and see if your Mom can qualify.

    Good luck. 

    No charge

    My oncologist has a nurse/assistant who is brilliant at dredging up money for drugs. I havent had to pay at all. I dont understand how she does it. So I guess you could ask your onc if he or someone on his team can find a way of paying for the stuff. My Inylta costs $8900 a bottle, I get it for no charge.

  • xerxes99
    xerxes99 Member Posts: 7
    #7
    Footstomper said:

    No charge

    My oncologist has a nurse/assistant who is brilliant at dredging up money for drugs. I havent had to pay at all. I dont understand how she does it. So I guess you could ask your onc if he or someone on his team can find a way of paying for the stuff. My Inylta costs $8900 a bottle, I get it for no charge.

    Free for me too

    I was on Votrient for almost a year, no charge.  In my oncologist's office, I filled out a form for Glaxo giving only my SS income and that I had no drug plan with Medicare.  No problem!  Now I am on Inlyta with a new oncologist, same deal but didn't even have to fill out a form.  No one has ever asked how much money I have.  My oncologist said I would have to be crazy to pay for it on my own. 

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    #8
    xerxes99 said:

    Free for me too

    I was on Votrient for almost a year, no charge.  In my oncologist's office, I filled out a form for Glaxo giving only my SS income and that I had no drug plan with Medicare.  No problem!  Now I am on Inlyta with a new oncologist, same deal but didn't even have to fill out a form.  No one has ever asked how much money I have.  My oncologist said I would have to be crazy to pay for it on my own. 

    Inylta

    Hows it treating you? I'm having pretty awful diahrrea and unpleasant nausea

  • xerxes99
    xerxes99 Member Posts: 7
    #9
    Footstomper said:

    Inylta

    Hows it treating you? I'm having pretty awful diahrrea and unpleasant nausea

    Inlyta better than Votrient

    Little side effects.  I had light diahrrea at first - treated with Imodium, now bowels are fine. I've had none of the wierd side effects that bugged me with Votrient. 

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