[magpie75]

Hi Wendy,
I was excited when I read about your Blue Cross lower co-pay because I also have Blue Cross and was recently given a prescription for exjade. I had my doctors office send in the two page form to Novartis and then received a call from one of the 3 companies that handle the drug dispersion for them. The company is called US Bioservices and I guess they were randomly assigned because I didn't choose any of the three (as I had no experience with any).

US Bioservices told me they had already checked for my co-pay with Blue Cross and it would be $845 per month. That turns out to be about a 20% co-pay for the total cost. I called my Blue Cross provider myself and tried to get them to lower the cost, re-check the provisions of the policy, but to no avail. So I really had no choice but to pay the co-pay because my ferritin level is very high and I want to start work on bringing it down. Like you said, I don't know where they think people can afford this every month. I also looked into some of the programs that assist with prescription costs, but my family does not qualify.

My husband and I will find a way to pay for it. We have already started borrowing money to pay for this illness and will continue as needed. I wish you good luck in trying to get Blue Cross to lower the cost to you. A 50% co-pay seems very high and hopefully you can get that reduced. Please keep us informed on how you are doing.