How much did your Neulasta shot cost?

kane744

Ah yes, bc sisters.  This is why they'll NEVER find a cure.  Much too profitable the way it is.

kane744

Ah yes, bc sisters.  This is why they'll NEVER find a cure.  Much too profitable the way it is.

crazy4carrots

I remember reading this thread last year after I had finished chemo, and being absolutely astounded at the high costs and great discrepancies in cost.  Now, having read an enormous amount about the current healthcare discussions taking place in the U.S. over the past several months, it's all becoming much clearer -- for-profit healthcare will always charge whatever the market will bear, and there are just too many opportunities for kickbacks, fraud and outright gouging.

I had 12 shots of neupogen between each tx, @$200/shot. That's $2,400 Cdn.  A visiting nurse gave me the first ones, then taught my DH to do it.  If I had lived alone, and wasn't able to do it myself, she would have come to my home every day to do it.  My supplemental insurance paid for the neupogen; the government paid for the visiting nurse.

I believe neulasta costs around $2,500/shot here.  A major advantage (and cost-saving) of a single-payer system is in bulk purchasing, with no middlemen (hospitals, docs, insurance companies) taking their cut.  Think about it......

Cheers, Linda

LRM216

Funny you should ask as today I just got my 19 page print out of all charges by onc since end of April. My Neulasta, which I had after all 8 of my chemo's (AC and then Taxotere) - each cost $6,435.00 but my ins (BC/BS) paid $2,455 for each and I was not responsible for the balance (thank God!), as my oncology center contracted with BC to accept what they paid.  Hope that helps.

Linda

concernedsis

Sis charged $5700 each for 4 shots during dose dense AC. Insurance coded wrong each time and denied until we called and said injectable and then said oh ok and paid.

thepinkbirdie

does anyone know why it costs so much?

ok, i just went back and re-read some posts.  if the cost is relative to the research, then where does the money raised during October go to? 

Tirlie

I got Neupogen.It did not cost a dime.

There are so many things what you face when having bc. Our govx decied to get  free access to the best medical care. Still there are tears... and other things.

Tirlie, MD, Finland

charmd

My first Nuelasta was billed to me at 3000.00 after that the cost went down as I met my overall deductible of 5000.00  However, I had to order my shot through Caremark pharmacy and have it overnight delivered to my house.  My husband gave me the shots each time.  I could have done it myself if needed.  Knowing what I know now, I would advise checking with your insurance company about self ordering and administering the shots.  Also, when I checked with my insurance company I found out that if I went to my onc's office every week for my blood draw, I had to pay a $40.00 co pay.  However, if I went to Quest Diagnostics (an outside lab), I only paid $15 the first time and then nothing else because I had met my deductible by then.  Saving $40.00 a week over several months was worth it.  The insurance company wants to pay as little as possible, and my company (BCBS) had these sorts of arrangements set up to reduce costs, but I did have to call and ask and get instructions etc. 

concernedsis

Some insurances will pay if your doc gives it and not at home - go figure!

jenn3

I just pulled a statement and my charges were $10,970 for the Neulasta shot - I haven't gotten all of my EOB's yet, so I'm not sure exactly what insurance will pay.  Luckily for me all of the treatments, shot incl. are covered and I don't have to pay additional out of pocket fees.  The charges for these shots sure have a big range.  I wonder what the true cost of the medication would be w/o the padded fees?

crazy4carrots

jenn, are you saying that $10,970 was  the cost of just ONE neulasta shot?  That's outrageous!  Who is raking in the dough???

my3girls

I have to be honest....it's been over 2 years since I had my tx's...I just remember that my Neulasta shot was expensive...I believe over 2,500.00! I never paid a penny of it. My insurance company paid 100%. Not only that, but they mailed the shot in a Styrofoam cooler and I got it the day I needed it.  My girlfriend is a lab tech..so she stopped over the day after my chemo and gave the shot to me. Very convenient..and such a good friend!

jenn3

Yes, that's what the bill said.  I was shocked as well.....................

tritonlab

11k in Cambridge, MA.  Dec 2009- March 2010.  I will get the actual pharmaceutical dealer price and post it here within the the next week.

annamari

My neulasta cost about $2675 and was paid for by suplimental health bennefits all I paid was the dispencing fee.  I gave the injection to myself 24 hrs after TCH treatment.  I think some companies must be overcharging.  I would complain to the drug companys and insurance as some of the amounts are way out of line.  this is in Canada and I thought everything was cheaper in USA.

Redbarb804

I haven't started chemo yet, I'm still trying to decide whether to have lumpectomy or mastecomy, but I know I will be having chemo.  does everyone who has chemo get the neulasta shots?  I had no idea how much things cost

Sugar77

Redbarb - I'm not sure if all regimens need/get Neulasta.  I had Taxotere/Cytoxan and did get the Neulasta shot after each treatment because Taxotere really affects neutrophils.  I'm from Ontario, Canada and the cost was just under $3,000 per shot.  My work benefits plan covered the cost of it 100%.

HairSprayMom

I had the nulasta shot after every treatment as wekk. It cost $3000.00 for the shot and I had to watch them throw 1/2 of it away every time. My insurance did not cover it through my 1st 4 treatment in 2007, and then they added it onto their drug list. Cancer did 2 thing for me, #1 made me appreciate all I have every day and #2 it put me on the verge of bankruptcy (lost my house and am behind on ALL my bills, plus aquired thousands of dollars worth of New medical bills)! Oh well I guess being alive is better than having money...LOL XOXOXOXO

Regina

maltomlin

I had the neulasta shot after each chemo but don't know the cost as I live in UK and my treatment didn't cost me a penny.

I really don't know how you girls manage worrying about money in addition to BC.

Mal

knowledgeforpower

I did not have the Neulasta shot after my first round of AC.  I ended up in the hospital for 4 days on IV antibiotics to the tune of a $12,000 bill.  The next two times I had the shot and the cost was somewhere around $8,000 for EACH.  My 4th shot was $12,000........   Insurance covered the cost.  I received the shot in the oncology clinic.

crazy4carrots

knowlege -- Just curious..where did you receive your first 2 shots which cost $8K each?  With all the bad stories others have reported about battling with their insurance for coverage, I'm kind of surprised that your insurance wouldn't question a $4K difference for the same medication.  Makes you wonder what sort of backroom deals really exist between insurance and healthcare providers......hmmmm.

BossyRenee

My injections were 5992.00 a pop the day after. My co-pay was 30% each time until I met my annual max. Not charged for last two inj. Having cancer is definitely extremely expensive and hard on the pocketbook.

fg2000

Ouch. . .I was just informed by my oncologist that I will be getting the Neulasta shot after each chemo treatment to boost my immune system. Thank God the shots will be covered by my insurance. It is hard to fathom that one shot could possibly cost that much money.

I am curious to know how many of you suffered side effects after taking the shot. . .

1marmalade1

Here in Ontario, the cost of the Neulasta ws $2,600 roughly - all covered.

I only had a reaction after the 1st shot - but I'm not sure if it was that or the Taxotere.  I had terrible bone pain (prescribed oxycodone, and it helped).  The next 3 shots -  I suffered no SE's at all.

HairSprayMom

Bone pain is the main side effect. When your bones are forced to produce white blood cells it hurts dang it. I was prescribed Morphine Tabs (allergic to codine) and I also took 2 Zyrteck daily (the allergy med) for 5 days after my nulasta shot. My onc nurse told me something in it helps control the pain.

XO,

Regina

marcy4

I had my shot today and it was $2644.00.  My insurance covers the total cost. I will get one shot the day after each chemo session. I am in Ontario.

fg2000

I got my first Neulasta shot yesterday. The nurse who administered it told me the shot costs about $6,000. As crazy as that sounds, she went on to say, without it, if I ended up in the hospital with an infection, the bill could actually run hundreds of thousands of dollars!

mom2acat

I had my first Neulasta injection at the hospital last Wednesday, I don't know yet what my cost will be.

My oncologist's main office is out of town; he comes to our town's specialty clinic on Tuesdays, which is why I have my injections at the hospital. When I had chemo in 2003, I had my Neupogen shots given at the hospital too.

KittyDog

I got my EOB's yesterday.  I new the shot was expensive and I am happy to say I only had to pay  $10.00.  The infussion center charged 7,500.00 for the shot and the insurance allowed 3,756.00.  So glad we have insurance that covered all these high bills.

123Donna

I believe my insurance was billed $11,000 for each Neulasta shot.