My 76 year old dad was diagnosed with CIDP in March this year. Diagnosis was based upon clinical evaluation and EMG results; no nerve biopsy. He received first round of IVIG in hospital and was discharged to acute rehap facility. He spent 17 days there and departed capable of limited assisted bed transfer to a wheel chair and walker. He is now in non-acute rehap and has ambulated 100 feet with a walker. He is also capable of traversing up and down 4 steps but has to be closely supervised. He is on 50mg of predinsone. He is currently back in hospital receiving another IVIG. Neurologist tells me we can expect IVIG's treatment for several months. Dad responded very well to first phase of IVIG and steroids but not sure what to expect after this treatment. He will be returning to non-acute rehab today or tomorrow.
Does anyone have insight on out of pocket costs for patients with medicare receiving at home IVIG services? Dad will be officially retiring at end of month and will have to get secondary insurance coverage.
I had to stop my at home IVIG when I went on Medicare. They will pay 80% for out patient treatments at local hospitals but not in home treatments. So once a month I go for an infusion at a local hospital. Check the local hospitals, infusion centers or oncology depts. Call medicare and talk to them, Ive had good results getting info from them.
I used to sell insurance, If you live in the US and he is entering medicare I have a suggestion. I would get him an F plan. He can not be refused and it will cover 100% of his medical bills covered under medicare. It may seem expensive but treatments are a lot more. Each IVIg bag is between $10,000 and $12,000(times 5). Your responsibility is 20% with out a supplament. Going with a part C can make it more difficult and has co-pays(as well as restrictions on Dr.) The coverage is the same with all insurance companies. So, pick some based on the agent that you feel you can trust to help you if you have a problem. Prices are usually fairly comparable. Good luck with him, any Questions or concerns contact me. If I can I will help.
Also monitor his potassium and magnesium levels. My doctor ordered both to be given w/treatments. My treatments cost $80K/week (5 days/week) ... This was for benadryl, 2 500 mg tylenol, 40 mg of magnesium, a bag of potassium and the IViG (which I know was $15,700 alone each day. I also was taking at home zofran for naseau and hydrocode until I got allergic as needed so I had morphine IV as needed. IViG causes flu like aches and pains as a side affect, head aches.
My Dad has medicare. His neurologist says he will be on a 3 week schedule to receive IVIG for at least the next six months. He has had a total of five IVIGs. The last two he had at an infusion center. He has been through all his medicare bills/co pays and tells me he has not had to pay for anything related to IVIGs. I will check with him on the type of coverage he has. He just retired and had Blue Cross as his supplement to Medicare. He now has a plan through AARP.
thanks again, Craig
jeffrey said:
I used to sell insurance, If you live in the US and he is entering medicare I have a suggestion. I would get him an F plan. He can not be refused and it will cover 100% of his medical bills covered under medicare. It may seem expensive but treatments are a lot more. Each IVIg bag is between $10,000 and $12,000(times 5). Your responsibility is 20% with out a supplament. Going with a part C can make it more difficult and has co-pays(as well as restrictions on Dr.) The coverage is the same with all insurance companies. So, pick some based on the agent that you feel you can trust to help you if you have a problem. Prices are usually fairly comparable. Good luck with him, any Questions or concerns contact me. If I can I will help.
I hope your dad does well with these treatments. I'm doing IViG and insurance is covering 100% of it. It is very expensive so I would check with medicare to see what they will pay on the treatments. Best of luck to you all!!!
I'm in Canada and lucky because our provincial insurance pays for anything I need, including a physio-therapist. The cost for 65gr daily IVIG up here is approximately $8,000 and I don't understand why it's so expensive down there, since there's 10 times as many people in the U.S. than in Canada.
As all of us will be 65 one day, I think the comments about picking a more expensive medicare plan to help cover costs is very important. My aunt has a secondary policy that covers everything that medicare does not. It is so helpful. A thing to remember for the future as this is a chronic problem that is less likely to just go away.