Cost

I was told today that I would likely be switched from Stelara to Humira. I was told that there would be a nurse coming out to speak about financial options. How expensive is it?

Hey Ron that depends on your insurance. I am about to start next week myself and mine will be $60 a shot.

That sounds better than others.

It wasn't as bad as I thought. My dr mentioned doing shots more frequently at first and then decreasing that number over time. Did your dr mention that to you as well?

Always check into patient assistance programs. Humira has one, it was called My Humira but is now called Humira complete. It's not financially based and pays a large portion of your out of pocket expense. It can get the bill down to $5.00.

Here is the link:
https://m.humiracomplete.com/cost-and-copay

It's really great since it isn't based on financial need.

Clash-That is great. LTomes, that wasn't mentioned. I have an appointment with my GI on March 4.

Clash- have you used the savings card? How does that work exactly? I signed up for it and there sending me the card

Yes, we have the card. They sent it in the mail before we started Humira. Then when we spoke with the specialty pharmacy they asked for the number on the card. After they confirm the number they apply the savings so we are charged what's left.

I can't remember exactly if it charges by the shipment or what. It seems like when my son got his first shipment after loading doses which was 3 months worth it was $5 but it may have been $20.

My son has recently been switched to weekly which means the shipment comes monthly, I don't have the cost on that yet because the pharmacy messed up the timing of the first shipment and so we had to pay the whole Co pay which was $20 for the first month.

The second monthly shipment we had to pay $8.43 but that included his vial of lidocaine as well so I'm assuming the lidocaine was $3.43 and the humira (4 shots) was 5 dollars.

I'll tag my little penguin because she can definitely explain it better.

My cost is $5.00 for three months. I have the Humira card that picks up the cost after my insurance. And I agree, it isn't finance based...I am an educator (not that we make diddly squat) and my husband also works. Definitely blessed considering what some have to pay. Abbvie/Humira also sends the container to put the needles in for disposal, the travel bag to keep it cold if you have to travel with it, great for medical advise, etc...

I have been taken off of it for now because all my issues with the C-Diff and long term antibiotics. Not sure if I can get back on it now.

Good luck!

Thanks

LTomes said:

It wasn't as bad as I thought. My dr mentioned doing shots more frequently at first and then decreasing that number over time. Did your dr mention that to you as well?

Click to expand...

I am supposed to see my GI tomorrow to learn all the details.

I think I repeated myself . Sorry.

My copay would typically be $40 per delivery (1/month), but I also have the Humira co pay card, which drops my copay to $5 a month. As Clash said, your specialty pharmacy will ask if you have a card and then ask for the number when they set up your initial delivery. It's quite simple and such a blessing.

Thanks.

I just wanted to thank everyone for posting about the Humira savings. I got a approved today and it will only be $5. Beats the mess out of the $60 a shot I was looking at. I also signed up for the program and there sending a nurse out for my first shots at no charge to show me how to use it and be with me to make sure I have no reactions. This is wonderful considering I'm traveling to a specialists for treatment so I was not going to be able to do it in office. Anyways just wanted to thank everyone for sharing the information.

I just got a discount card .

LTomes, there are other savings cards/programs for other meds as well. For example, I also take Lialda 4x daily and I get a savings card from them as well. I pa $5 month for it whereas it would be MUCH more expensive otherwise. Anytime you can look into these maintenance meds, definitely check out what programs they may offer. This has to be one of the most expensive illnesses there are. Any break is a good thing.

Amen