I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: smartcookie on November 12, 2015, 01:25:35 PM
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At my clinic, Sensipar seems to be the drug everyone has trouble affording. Most of my patients survive off of Social Security Disability and Medicare. One program I have found very helpful is Patient Assistance Network Foundation. Here is the website and a list of the medicines they cover: http://www.panfoundation.org/medications-covered Usually, my patients receive a $4000.00 grand which makes their medicine free for a year! I get lots of hugs over this website! :grouphug; Renvela is also covered on here and signing up is so much easier than Renassist and more convenient since Renassist is only open for a few months out of the year. You can apply by phone. You need to have your Medicare Part D card, your annual income and will need to tell them if you file federal income tax. I hope this helps someone!
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Great program that should be very helpful for many that otherwise skip their meds.
I forwarded the link to our Son. (fingers crossed).
Thanks!
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Anytime!
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Thank you for sharing this information with our site. I am sure it will help someone. Medications can be very expensive!
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I approached the foundation and was told that End Stage Renal Failure was not a condition that they help with. I'm disappointed as I had high hopes as their eligibility requirements are more aligned with my situation.
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I approached the foundation and was told that End Stage Renal Failure was not a condition that they help with. I'm disappointed as I had high hopes as their eligibility requirements are more aligned with my situation.
From the PAN website:
Patients must meet the following criteria to be eligible for PAN assistance:
*Patients must have health insurance and their insurance must cover the qualifying medication for which they seek assistance.
*The medication must directly treat the disease.
*Patients' income must fall at or below 400% or 500% of the Federal Poverty Level, depending on program-specific guidelines.
*Patient must reside and receive treatment in the United States. (U.S. citizenship is not a requirement.)
And the disease fund is: Secondary Hyperparathyroidism - Medicare Only (not ESRD).
Covered mediations: Sensipar, Fosrenol, Phoslo, Renvela, Rocaltrol, and more.
Please check again.
You could qualify for the grant, though you may need to wait till Jan 2016.
https://www.panapply.org
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Great, Zach. I actually wrote to them asking if ESRD was covered and they said "no." I never would have thought about secondary hyperparathyroidism. I never even heard my Nephro use that term--although I certainly have it. 2016 isn't very far away.
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If you have private insurance, or a private secondary policy that covers meds, Sensipar will give you a free copay card that reduces your copay to $5.00 per month. There is no income limit for participation. http://www.sensipar.com/patient-assistance-programs/private-insurance.html
Medicare regulations prohibit using this with part D medicare drugs plans.
The game is to price the drug to get the max out of insurance companies, and a byproduct of that is the high copay, which is resolved with the copay card.
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Unfortunately, I have a Medicare HMO ( a medicare advantage plan) so I don't think I'm eligible for Sensipar. Wish I was, as my plan is quite expensive and calls both Renvela and Sensipar a Tier 3 drug. Are they equivalent drugs?
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What do you mean by equivalent? Renvela is a phos binder; Sensipar is to bind to the parathyroid calcium receptors and reduce the output of parathyroid hormone.
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That's what I meant, but clearly they are not equivalent drugs.
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This thread reminds me what I was missing when I filled my weekly pill boxes. I will need to check the VA Hosp Pahrmacy to see if my Sensipar refill is hung up as I haven't received it for over a week now. If a problelm I will have to email my PD Nurse to get Dr to re-write my script.