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Canadian drug costs?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/19/2011 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning!!

I am just wondering what the average cost is in Canada for the TFN's, that is a route that I will be taking in the future and I would like to prepare myself for the cost. 

Remicade infusion...do you pick up med then go to hospital or is it there waiting..do you get a bill or are you admitted as out patient therefore no cost or minimal cost...

Humera...cost before insurance (we have 90% co-pay)

Cizmia....cost before insurance..

The rest is ok as my insurance has good coverage and it does not cost much for my steroids or antibiotics when needed, but I can't take Imuran or 6mp as they both make me dreadfully sick(as in vomiting constantly and more!!)

So again just a Canadian breakdown of drug costs(I am in Central Alberta)

** on a lighter note..I won tickets to the Jan 19th flames game(tonight)..so hubby and I get a date night with our fav team**

Posted 1/19/2011 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
well here in bc, for 7 things of remicade it cost me over $60000(well not me as it was covered by fairpharmacare and extened health
Posted 1/19/2011 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
oh sorry.. i get mine at the drug store the day off the infusion and that it to a private clinic
Posted 1/19/2011 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
ABH covers 100% of the cost for remicaide for my boy.
Posted 1/19/2011 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
I am also in BC - pharmacare will pick up 100% of the cost once my family household deductible is reached which for us is about $2000 (you can see what your deductible is on pharmacares website). My understanding is that my work benefits will cover 80% of my $2000 deductible so it should only be several hundred dollars. Here is a big tip - get your prescription filled at Safeway so that you can get airmiles - they give you miles on the total cost of the prescription no matter how much you actually pay - ends up getting you a lot of miles!
Posted 1/20/2011 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
I'm taking Humira every other week. Box of two injectors are $1680. I have a $100 co-pay for the drug. I have 20 other drugs. Humira helps with the co-pay and brings it down to $5.00. I'm from Ohio and have about the best insurance I can afford.
Posted 1/20/2011 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
I live in the US but your comments about cost of drugs in Canada is very interesting. I get Humira for free through the company because I am currently without insurance. But with health insurance my Remicade was expensive for me and the insurance company
Posted 1/20/2011 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there lady1012,

A perspective on Remicaide in Quebec:
The cost is dependant upon the number of vials you have been prescribed and that's a function of your weight. I'm a male, 195lbs and have been prescribed 5 vials per treatment. The cost here in Quebec for that is $5300 which covers the cost of medication and the administration of the drug at a private clinic. I pick up the medication at the pharmacy and bring it with me to the clinic that does the infusion. My private insurance covers 80% of the cost and, in Quebec, by law, the maximum a citizen is required to pay in an annual period for prescribed drugs is $963. Your private insurance covers the balance (or Quebec government insurance if you are on that plan). Doesn't apply to you in Alberta, of course, but this may be helpful for others looking at this thread. At 80% coverage, needless to say, my $963 is covered, and then some, in the first treatment of the year so the rest are covered 100%

My insurance coverage is a "deferred plan" so I must pay up front for meds and I am subsequently reimbursed by my insurer. I have an arrangement with the pharmacist whereby they process the insurance claim in advance for me so that the reimbursement is made prior to my appointment. I pay for the medication with my fancy credit card and score a nice number of points that I can turn into rewards, so, I treat myself to one of those rewards after the treatment. : )

Good luck.

G-Force
Posted 1/20/2011 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, one more thing... Go Habs Go... : )
Posted 1/21/2011 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you very much for your posts, it gives me alot to figure out. Good thing my pharmacy is good to me, he will give me the cost and help me find a way to get it if need be(just in case insurance has an issue)
Posted 2/3/2011 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Wife and I are now getting most of our maintenance meds from Canada.

Asacol for me. Synthroid and Micardis for her. Way cheaper than in the U.S. without prescription drug coverage. Last year we had some prescription drug coverage, but with just a $500 per person benefit, we were buying Canadian before year end. This year it's All Canada meds!

Omeprazole (generic Prilosec) runs about the same here and there, so I get it through WPDP.

http://www.rx.wa.gov/
Posted 2/13/2011 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hi lady1012, I live in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and started taking Humira the end of June 2010. I work for the government and all my other meds I have an 80% coverage, however, Humira wasn't covered. Paperwork was filled out and we applied for Alberta Blue Cross, with that being said I had to pay for the Humira up front, 4 initial injections cost $1200.00, then every 2 weeks 1 injection that cost $420.00 (2 injections come into 1 box). It took time for the paperwork to go through and I was accepted, then photocopies and submitted the receipts, which also took time. Sure was nice when I was reimbursed!
Posted 12/18/2014 9:30 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with Crohns about 50 years ago. TPN, Prednisone, etc. The whole series of drugs. Had Ostomy when I was 40, resection a year later, bleeding stomach ulcer caused by GNT, contacted Hep C. From tainted blood in 1985. Now my Liver Specialist want me to go on a $60,000 drug program to eradicate the Hep C and my Crohns specialist wants me to go on the $60,000 Crohns program. Government should pay 100% of the Hep C because they allowed it to happen. Anyone without insurance would be stuck with $120,000 in pills and pokes or face even more woes. BC Pharmacare finally concented to cough up on both drugs. Blue Cross kicks in the remainder. Left over "Out of Pocket" expenses are tax deductible. Finished Venting for now. Keep Smiling :)
Posted 12/19/2014 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to Healing Well, ol'timer! You have posted to a relatively old thread. Please feel free to start a new topic if you wish to discuss something. Also, your experience with Crohn's would likely be invaluable to many of our newly diagnosed. Please feel free to add your comments anytime!
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