cost of herceptin

[Snufi]

Hi to all, is it really true that herceptin costs over 70,000.00 a year? How much did everyones insurance pick up?

snufi

[Mary Anne in TX]

From what I've read here, the cost varies by where you get treatment. don't know of anyone who had trouble getting insurance to pay for the year. ma

[Lori R]

Snufi,
Funny you should mention the cost of herceptin. I JUST sat down to write out some bills and the bill from my Onc is on the top.

I go to a oncologist that performs the infusion in her office. (not a large cancer center) The cost is roughly $3500 every 3 weeks.

My insurance has covered the cost completely, I just pay my $20 co-pay for the office visit. Let's just say that I am more than a little relieved and thank my insurance each time I receive on of these bills.

I am Stage IV, so I continue to receive herceptin past the 12 month standard. My insurance has continued to pay past the 12 months.

I hope that helps....Lori

[Colleen007]

I am also Stage IV and have been on Herceptin and other chemo drugs for 3+ years. The only thing I have ever paid is my $20 office visit co-pay. It has never been questioned by my insurance carrier (and I have been covered by 2 different HMO's since I was diagnosed in 2005).

[Becky]

I think at this time, Herceptin used in an adjuvant setting is standard of care for Her2+ women. However, I could see that some insurance companies might not pay for adjuvant Herceptin if it was not given in a method that was deemed "Standard of Care" (ie: with chemotherapy).

Herceptin would probably cost between $60,000 - $75,000 for the year depending on where you go and how well you can negotiate to get the cost down.

[ElaineM]

Yes. It is possible for Herceptin to cost $70,000 a year judging by my insurance statements. Thank goodness for health insurance !! I am very grateful for that.
A healthy and peaceful 2009 !!

[Laurel]

Snufi,

My Herceptin infusions cost nearly $9400 every three weeks! My insurance covers everything once the annual deductable of $3000.00 has been met. My insurance carrier pays out approx 60% of the billed cost of $9400. I wonder what will happen under a national health care system like they have in the U.K and Canada? We just may get a national system under this present administration. Any thoughts?

[suzan w]

yes...costly...my insurance paid 80%...leaving me with 20% plus deductibles...ever see Michael Moore's movie...SICKO? that's me...had to sell investments, house...still in incredible debt. Plus during all this can't work, no income... I try to stay positive by feeling incredibly blessed to have had herceptin and to be alive!!!

[ElaineM]

I love your thinking suzan w. Despite paying for our medical care with a combination of insurance, asset and savings medical debt is a fact of life for alot of us , but as long as we keep thinking positive we can figure out a way to pay it off. I will probably be paying mine off until I am 100, but I am also grateful to be alive and kicking and that is the main thing.

[Brenda_D]

Mine was close to $70,000. My insurance did not pay 100%.
The charges were $3745 every three weeks. My insurance wouldn't pay the usual prescription rate because they said the onc did not buy it from their preferred pharmacy. After some weeks of phone calls, and wrangling, the onc said he would accept what the insurance paid and wrote off the rest.
The amount written off each visit was $1216.
If it weren't for my onc, I may not have been able to get it because the insurance couldn't have cared less.
That said, I know the maker of herceptin, Genentech has a program that may allow you get herceptin for free or little cost.
I was one of those that made too much to get help and not enough to pay for it.