4 replies to this topic

[jmoorhou]

I'm freaking out, I read something the crystal of gleevec not being generic.

 

I was on a special low income plan and haven't had to pay for Gleevec through Kaiser, my health plan.

 

I'm afraid to call and find out how it is going to be in March.

 

Is it true that generic is $2.00 a pill.

[hannibellemo]

That would surprise me very much! Is Kaiser willing to allow you to stay on Gleevec and continue to pay? Just because Gleevec is going generic doesn't necessarily mean you have to switch to the generic. My understanding is the generic will still be relatively expensive.

[Trey]

There are two different forms of imatinib mesylate, a salt and a beta crystalline.  This was how some Indian drug companies got around the Novartis patent in India.  Both forms should be useful for most people.  It is unknown whether some people might not respond as well on the generic beta crystaline form.  But overall it seemed to work for most Indian patients.  And Novartis is working with the first generic Gleevec producer, so that should alleviate some concerns.

[r06ue1]

I believe that most drug insurers require you to use the generic if it is available, you can find that out by checking the terms or contacting your insurer.  Mine does require it, insurance is through CVS Caremark which is part of my companies healthcare package.

[Gail's]

Jmoorhou, check to see if California has the law requiring insurers to cover pill form the same as IV chemotherapy. Oregon has that law so it means I pay nothing thru Kaiser since if I got chemo IV they wouldn't charge for it.