Re: My decision... Humira/Enbrel/Remicade

[Guest guest]

> ... That's my first question - since my insurance

> (Health Alliance Plan - Michigan HMO) will have to approve it

> and I know that it is not yet approved for PA - is this

> a waste of time? Should I have tried for Enbrel because

> it is approved for PA? My doc said the insurance company

> will most likely dictate which one I get. Hopefully, it

> is not a waste of a couple days to get denied for Humira.

Not at all. I was approved for Humira with no problems. In fact, I

think that Humira is cheaper than either Enbrel or Remicade for the

insurance companies.

-- Ron

[Guest guest]

and Ron - thank you for the help. I went to the doc yesterday

for them to read my TB test and the nurse told me that she should

hear from my insurance company today. I'm crossing my fingers (well,

I can't really do that!) and hoping that I can call my pharmacy and

fill my script today and be on what I hope is my " miracle " medicine

by the end of the week. Are both of you on Humira?

[Guest guest]

Well, I was informed today that my insurance will not cover Humira.

The nurse sent the pre-authorization for Enbrel this morning which

will take 2 or 3 days. Once she receives the approval (hopefully),

she will call my pharmacy to fill the script whick will take 4 or 5

days. So, it'll be at least another week before I receive my first

Enbrel injection at the rheumy's office. Should of just tried Enbrel

first and not Humira!

[Guest guest]

--HI IT IS GOOD TO HEAR THAT SOMEONE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS I DO AT

28 YEARS OLD! I was turned down for Humira because of the PA but just

last week started on Remicade. It was the only med that my ins would

pay for. I am still on MTX along with it, but it is too early to tell

if it has worked. I wish you luck. I hope that you get what you want!

- In , " xmac23 " <xmac23@y...> wrote:

> Hello everyone. Just thought I would throw some questions and info

> at you. At my rheumy appt on Friday, he finally came to the

> realization that my PA is getting progressively worse. He said

> (because I'm only 28) that he makes sure all the " traditional "

> DMARD's fail because the biologics are so new and the safety data

is

> not yet there like MTX, Azulfidine, et al.

>

> So, he told me we need to start on a biologic. He told me about

the

> big three and asked me which one I wanted to go with. If I have

not

> mentioned it before, I work for Abbott Laboratories and Humira is

> manufactured by Abbott. So, I told him I would like to start

Humira

> if I have a choice. That's my first question - since my insurance

> (Health Alliance Plan - Michigan HMO) will have to approve it and I

> know that it is not yet approved for PA - is this a waste of time?

> Should I have tried for Enbrel because it is approved for PA? My

doc

> said the insurance company will most likely dictate which one I

get.

> Hopefully, it is not a waste of a couple days to get denied for

> Humira. Well, I will keep you up to date and good luck to you all!

>

> Any Michiganders with HAP HMO have any insight on approvals?