Tykerb and Medicare

[Stephanie]

I have a question for my mom, who will be going on Tykerb just a soon as we can get some. The onc office was dealing with Medicare and her supplemental insurance on this today, and my question is--have your insurances been treating Tykerb as a prescription drug with a copay (like an antibiotic) or as a chemo, with whatever percentage you usually pay for chemo or herceptin?

We had this problem when she started on Xeloda--Medicare was treating it as a prescription, and her secondary insurance was charging a horrendous copay. We got that reimbursed and straightened around, and now we're having the same problem with the Tykerb--they want to charge her a prescription copay for it. It seems to me that the Tykerb should fall in the same category as the Xeloda, and be covered like chemo and herceptin are covered.

Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.