exjade

[helen c.]

my husband was prescribed exjade for iron overload b/c of being transfusion dependant. his ferritin level was 2600. i did not know that you coukld not get this ver easy at a reg. pharmacy. does anyone know if medicare pays for this how expensive is it? w also have blue cross blue shield thru my former employer we are both retired now. i have spent 3 days now trying to have this filled only to find out tonight that u have to go thru the manufacturer with the dr. filling out the papers. sonow we are worried about the cost
thank you helen

[Neil Cuadra]

Helen,

I think you'll be able to get answers by doing any or all of the following:
Contact the AA&MDSIF (http://www.aamds.org) for advice.
Contact your Medicare Part D provider and ask about Exjade coverage.
Contact your Blue Cross Blue Shield plan and ask about Exjade coverage.
Read the Exjade! I need help from other Blue Cross members! thread.
Contact Novartis to ask about their EPASS Complete Care (http://www.us.exjade.com/patient/epass-complete-care.jsp) program for Exjade. Here (http://www.epassrx.com/pdf/EPass-Applications.pdf) is the application.
Review the other medication assistance organizations (http://www.marrowforums.org/resources.html#medication_assistance) on the Marrowforums Medical Resources page.
Please let us know what you learn.

[helen c.]

thank you neil after many many phone calls we found out that you have to get this drug from a special pharmacy anyway the doctor changed him to desferol injections 3 times a week hope it works. he gets a bmb tuesday with results on sept. 8 we are praying for a miracle. helen