AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

UGH!
Can someone explain to me the logic behind being DENIED any patient assistance/access to Tykerb or other drugs on the basis that I do not already have prescription coverage???
But if I did have coverage I would be eligible for their assistance?

IS THIS NOT COMPLETELY BACKWARDS & TOTAL NONSENSE or AM I CHEMOCRAZY?

If I had prescription coverage, I may not need financial assistance or free drug!

I am so frustrated & upset by this whole process of applying, pulling all my financial records together, supplying a statement about why I need financial assistance, having to wait for my doc to complete their share, etc only to be DENIED assistance when I need it most, is ABSURD!
And then speaking to the Tykerb "Cares" rep, only to have them say "we're not denying you. you just need to apply to a different program" and start the WHOLE PROCESS OVER AGAIN makes me SO ANGRY!

When the rep said, "I understand your frustration...", I EXPLODED and said "NO, YOU DON'T. AND I HOPE YOU NEVER DO. I am asking for your help so that I have access to TYKERB to treat MBC, not Latisse because I'm trying to grow longer eyelashes."

I'm so dejected & disheartened. I can not afford the $1500/week out of pocket for Tykerb + Xeloda (who can after 7+years of being financially ravaged by this disease?!)

So what now??
I go back to older drugs that are covered under my general medical plan, even though I've progressed on Herceptin, Gemzar, Taxol, Navelbine?

Has anyone had any luck with any of the "assistance" programs?


Signing off to pour myself a GIANT glass of wine...
yet trying to Keep the Faith~

Jessica

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

Can't tell where you live but Mississippi has an organization called Pink Ribbon Society that helps with bills. Maybe not to the magnitude of $1500/week but some (and if you find other organizations it could add). Unfortunately this organization is restricted only to a list of counties within Mississippi. I have more information if it would apply to you.

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

Jessica, I have no helpful incites, but I am hurting with you and for you in this plight to obtain the med you need. I will pray you find a way.

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

Jessica,

Your post has been forwarded to our contact at GSK. She has been very helpful in the past.

Regards
Joe

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

How horrible, to have to deal with this on top of everything else. So you applied for one program but you might be eligible for another and you have to start over? Does anyone in these jobs actually want to take some responsibility?

Anyway, I would go on line maybe to the American Cancer Society or the Lance Armstrong Foundation and see what they suggest, seems like they both have some strategies dealing with this.

Don't want to get people upset about the need for health care reform in this country, but this is another example.

Enjoy the wine.

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

Have you tried Partnership for Prescription Assistance?
They have a website, so if you do a search on Yahoo or Google you will find it. From there you might be able to find the contact nearest you. Good luck.

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

Jessica: Are you perhaps eligible for the T-DM1 trials? Just a thought. Hope things go your way!

Darlene

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

Jessica,

Please call 760-602-9178 ASAP for help with your problem.

Regards
Joe

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

Joe has given you the most valuable info... best of luck. But here is the link to "commitment to access" for GSK oncology drugs. Maybe it will provide extra info for you as well.

http://www.CommitmentToAccess.com/about/faqs.html#b

My cancer clinic has a pharmaceutical advocate who helped me wind through the maze - which I think is required by GSK. Let us know how it all works out.

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

Thank you everyone for your kind responses, advice and support. You guys are always here to "talk me off the ledge" with just the right things to say & do.
And thank you so much, Joe for passing on my note to GSK.
I had to take a step back & just not deal with it for a couple of days as I was (obviously) getting too emotional about the whole thing. Fortunately, this is my 'off' week from Xeloda & I've managed to find some room on my credit card for the Tykerb for this week.
I'm confident that this will all be resolved & I will have access to the drug, eventually...I just have to stay focused, do the paperwork & BE PATIENT!

Thank you again my Her2 Family of Friends~

Keeping the Faith!!!

Jessica

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

This is horrible. It really doesn't make sense to me. I had a friend who ran into the same problem when she applied for assistance. I am praying for you, and hope that you find a way to get the help that you need. Best wishes. I am wondering if anyone has ever been to Dr. Robert Goulet? Is he a good doctor? Thank you.

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

jml's post was from 08-18-2009. I suspect Tykerb cares came through

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

Jessica is currently on PI3Kinase+Herceptin study after being booted off T-DM1 (after 6 months):

http://her2support.org/vbulletin/sho...745#post252745

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

I just heard that our insurance does not cover tykerb.Herecptin is covered a it is administered IV.They rejected it once and I went through the cancer aid society .Then they gave the detailed explNtion saying only hospitalisation is covered.Looking out for other policies.

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

Thank you all for sharing, my oncologist treats me like Dead Woman Walking. You are so uplifting.

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

Oh, I am undecided on Tykerb as it is not covered by my insurance and the co-pay is $1600 a month. I have to have $600 out of pocket on meds to qualify to submit a request for financial assistance. More absurdity! I wish you great speed in getting your Tykerb.

Re: AAARRGHH!! DENIED financial assistance by Tykerb "CARES & CANCERCARE
 

My daughter Emily at age 31 was diagnosed with Stage 4 bc. She has been doing well in treatment for 20 months. Two weeks ago, a PET/CT scan showed progression w/ 3 new lesions. Her onc added tykerb to her regimen of herceptin and tamoxifen. Her insurance covers 50%, so her co-pay for a month of Tykerb is $1800!!!! Except for 4 weeks off for mastectomy and liver resection, she has worked. Therefore her income is too high to qualify for Tykerbcares (although she would qualify if she lived in Alaska). She does work in New york city and you'd think the income level there would carry the same weight.

It is just crushing that along with everything else, she is faced with this financial blow. We have contacted at least 13-14 foundations without much luck, many said they were out of funds for breast cancer. I am asking if there is a contact at GSK that could hear our story and give assistance.

Thank you,
Janet (also a bc survivor diagnosed 9 months after Emily)