Medicare turndown of Stelara

NY, I have yet to find a patient assistance program that will pay for people covered under federal insurance programs. Their websites all state this. I would talk to my dr about a different drug that is IV infused after checking to see what Medicare will pay for. If you have regular Medicare with a supplemental policy you should be covered, I know they cover Remicade. If you have an Advantage plan, you need to check to see what one they will cover.

Good luck.

I want to add that a GI who sends a patient to a facility to have them do the injection, is strung that the patient cannot do the injection themselves. Thus why my GI said absolutely not. Also, I read recently that Stelara has been singled out by the GSA to review the drug and procedures because this drug has had the largest increase of hospital treatments for drugs that were designed to be self injection. Obviously some elderly or other disabled might really need to have someone do it. But I just could not take that route. Ultimately we all need to pressure our senators and congressmen to reform the Medicare drug plans to look like commercial plans where Medicare could negotiate with the drug companies and allow copay assistance. If nothing changes, I will need to stop Stelara by end of this year due to the costs. I am only 58 and on disability and limited retirement that has to last. Plus I must purchase health insurance out in open market for my wife which is very expensive.....ugh....