Getting Enbrel and Uninsured?

[Paco386]

OK here's my dilemma: I currently do not have health insurance and have researched the possibility of Amgen-Wyeth providing free Enbrel to those who are uninsured. Of course this is not a guarantee as there are income guidelines which are not disclosed online. But it's worth me looking into.

My other hurdle is that I have not seen a dermatologist since I moved to FL. And I assume I need to be again diagnosed by one in order to determine if I am a good candidate for Enbrel anyway. I have a PCP which I did visit a few months ago and he prescribed mometasone, but it does not seem to be working (I use sparingly due to the steroid thing) and it's a pain to use considering I have more than just a few plaques to treat.

I was insured at the time I visited PCP, but no longer insured by choice ($$) and now I am wondering how I can see a derm without breaking the bank and thus start the process for determining if free Enbrel can be obtained for me if I am even eligible.

I'll probably discuss this more at our next support meeting here too, but I wanted to get feedback from others.

HELP! And thanks!!

[MikeK]

Hi Paco,

A couple people who sometimes post here were able to receive assistance for Enbrel. Miranda (LadyFraser) was able to get Enbrel for free while her husband was transitioning to be self-employed (with no insurance) to working for the government (with excellent benefits). Links to her story can be found here (http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3979) and here (http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12379). (The second link will take you to a thread that was started by Leslie (Momtotwogirls). She took time time to post the links and information about some assistance programs that she came across. I added the links and information to every assistance program that has either been discussed here on the board or that other people have told me about. There's even a link to a post from Alyssa Brown, who is an NPF staff member, that gives the links to the assistance programs that the NPF knows about.)

Several other people who post here have been able to get assistance from Enbrel's assistance program, which is called the ENcourage Foundation (www.encouragefoundation.com). Links to their stories are in Leslie's thread.

As you mentioned, some of these assitance programs have income guidelines that are not disclosed on their websites. As least one of the programs that is discussed on Leslie's thread says that they provide assistance regardless of income.

With the exception of www.needymeds.com and the ENcourage Foundation, we don't know very much about these assistance programs, but it still can't hurt to check them out.

Good luck.

I hope this helps.

Keep us posted.

Mike

[ouchyk]

Paco,

I wanted to wish you well. If you could contact Alyssa Brown @ the NPF she might be able to help as well.

Here is a link to possible help as well;

http://www.psoriasis.org/advocacy/assistance/insurance/programs.php

GOOD LUCK! Enjoy your meetings.

Karen :)

[jjmesser]

What part of FL are you in? Someone here might know an affordable derm near you.

Jody

[Paco386]

I live in the Daytona Beach area ... my PCP is in Orlando however, so traveling within a 60 mile radius from home is not a problem.

THANKS!