Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Caring Voices

Ok, I know I didn't follow through on Graci's picture post, but I promise I will soon. It's a long post, so I've been trying to carve out a bit of time...

But I just HAD to post today and say how extremely grateful I am for Caring Voices Coalition.

Graci's last ECHO showed that the drug she had been taking for the last little while wasn't having any effect on her pulmonary hypertension. Her cardiologist wanted to try a different drug, and said he would work on approving it through our insurance. I got a call from the insurance last week that said it was approved, but with a very high copay. The lady I spoke to asked if I had heard of Caring Voices (I hadn't) and told me to give them a call to see if Graci might qualify for assistance.

Fast forward to today. I just received a message from CVC. We have been approved for a grant to cover the entire amount of our copay through 2011. That would be $5,113.00.

Holy cow.

Feeling so grateful...

Christianne

9 comments:

  1. What a blessing! If only there were one who helped with HIV medication...
    Jeremy's walk a mile post was funny (o:

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  2. Awesome! Congrats on that help. It all adds up fast.
    We had to pay $90 every 3 weeks for 5 pills while Stephan went through chemo (total cost $270 for a total of 15 pills).
    If we didn't have insurance: $100 bucks a pill (total cost $1500 for 5 pills).
    Yea for insurance and any additional help that comes with having insurance!

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  3. Isn't it amazing what one thoughtful person can do...isn't it amazing what one deserving family can get!

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  4. I agree with PixieGirl. How wonderful!!!!

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  5. There are blessing every day - wow!

    hugs around for us - love you guys -

    aus and co.

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  6. That is such a blessing! With our daughter, for her medication, it was over $1,000 per shot, with her needing one shot every week for a year. Our insurance said that since the medication wasn't FDA approved for children, they wouldn't cover it. Our doctor had only chosen it because our daughter was a very serious case and felt it was her best option.

    It hadn't even occurred to me that the insurance company might say no. I don't think I've ever cried and yelled the way I did that day on the phone to the poor insurance receptionist--who hadn't even made the decision but was just the bearer of bad news.

    Thankfully, through the advice of others, we learned that we could appeal. In the appeal, they'd send our daughter's information to another specialist in that field and then they would give their opinion on if the treatment was warranted. A week later, the insurance company called back.

    "Well, I have good news and bad news," they said. "The good news is that your appeal was granted and we'll cover the expense of the medication." I was ecstatic! "The bad news," they said, "is that you'll have to pay a co-pay." "O.K.," I said, bracing myself for an astronomical number. "The co-pay is $30 a month." I laughed and told her that we would GLADLY pay $30 a month!

    Fast forward one year, and my daughter is completely and totally healed--something that in adults happened only 2% of the time. Now, hospitals around the country are gearing up to start pediatric trials of the medication that our little girl pioneered.

    I'd say it was worth the insurance company's money!

    My little girl tells her own story at:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfgD-YY3oSo&feature=channel

    We're so proud of her!

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  7. Hi guys! I wanted to send you this post. This lady Linny has a wonderful blog and huge following. She is asking if anyone is selling something for their adoption please post a link on her blog. http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2010/10/shoppin-for-orphan.html
    Thought of you guys right away!! People can go to this central plase and do some Christmas shopping!!!

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