Thanks to advances in medicine, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has gone from a life-threatening cancer to a chronic illness you can live with for years. But the drugs and treatments needed to manage the illness can become costly.
You will most likely need to continue some sort of treatment even if you do not have any symptoms or are in remission (tests show no signs of the disease). Most people take medications for the rest of their lives, although research has shown people in remission may be able to stop treatment.
The costs of long-term medicines and treatment for CML are often higher than treatment for other blood cancers. Costs have gone up over the years as the price of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapies – a common type of medication taken daily to manage CML – has increased.
Your out-of-pocket costs will depend on many things, including:
- What treatment or medication works best for you
- If you have medical insurance, and what coverage you have if you do (including your prescription coverage)
- Other effects of your cancer (such as other medical conditions, reactions to treatment that require hospital and emergency department visits, etc.)
High medication costs impact many Americans, but there are some ways you can lessen or manage the financial burden.
Consider Generic Medications
When you talk to your doctor about treatment and drug options, ask if taking a generic medication is an option. Generic drugs have the same active ingredient as brand-name medicines but may have other differences – such as colors or flavorings – that do not impact how the drug works.
Often, drug companies wait several years after a brand-named drug has been on the market before developing generic drugs because of patent protections. The generic versions typically cost less because the companies don’t have to go through the same animal and human trials they did with the brand-name drug.
Generic versions of drugs often offer the same or similar results and safety as brand-name options – but usually at a much lower cost. In some cases, generic drugs also help to lower the cost of the brand-name drug, too.
But people react differently to different drugs and may have different side effects and reactions, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about the best options for you.
Shop Around
Whether you’re taking generic or brand-name medicines, prices can vary greatly from pharmacy to pharmacy. It's important to shop around and find the best price, especially since you’ll likely be taking the medications for a long time.
Most pharmacies will give you a price quote over the phone, or you may be able to find prices online. When calling stores or pharmacies, ask about possible savings clubs or programs that can provide medications at reduced costs, especially at big retail or club stores.
Sometimes, you can also receive a discount for ordering several months at a time, or getting the drug via mail order. If you have insurance, call and ask if they have a mail-order pharmacy that could ship your medications to your home. Sometimes these pharmacies offer discounted rates.
Online sites such as WebMDRx and GoodRx can also help you easily compare prices.
When renewing or choosing a medical plan with prescription coverage, also be sure to consider what medication they cover and the cost. Call and ask about the coverages and cost of the different drugs under the different plans to find the best option. Keep in mind that you may need to switch medications in the future.
Consider Online Pharmacies
Some direct-to-consumer and online pharmacies offer lower rates than large retailers and local pharmacies, especially for generic medications.
One recent example is Cost Plus Drug Company started by billionaire Mark Cuban, which offers a generic imatinib – one of the most effective treatments created for CML – at a steeply lower price. While you can pay anywhere from $68 to $2,357 for 30 tablets of generic imatinib, it will cost you $47 through Cost Plus Drug Company.
Another online option is Amazon Pharmacy. GoodRx also offers discounts for many prescriptions that can be used at local pharmacies.
Some online pharmacies will not go through your insurance and you must pay out of pocket, but the cost can still be lower than your copay or deductible at another pharmacy.
When ordering anything online, make sure you buy from a credible and safe pharmacy. Online pharmacies certified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy operate based on national quality standards. Also, be wary of pharmacies that do not require a recent prescription for medication from a doctor who is currently treating you.
If you are unsure about an online pharmacy, ask your doctor before ordering from it.
Assistance Programs
In addition to savings programs through stores and pharmacies, there are other assistance programs that can help you pay for your medications and treatment. All programs offer different levels of support. Some offer one-time donations, while others may cover some expenses or provide support longer. Programs also have different criteria and may be impacted by your income and the number of people in your family.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society offers several patient assistance and financial assistance programs to help patients cover the cost of their cancer care. The organization also has a copay assistance program that helps you cover the copays for medical expenses and insurance premiums, up to $2,000 for patients with CML.
The National CML Society offers help to patients to apply for and rush applications to a variety of financial assistance programs that can help cover the cost of treatment.
If you are getting medications from a hospital or health system, you can also ask if they have an assistance program.
Talk to Your Doctor and Get Help
Your doctor, pharmacist, social worker, or patient advocate (especially if you go to a large hospital or health system) can also help you explore your options for finding the price of your medications.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s important to talk to your doctor if you’re struggling to afford the medications for your treatment so you can ensure you can take them as prescribed and continue to pay your other bills. Managing your medical costs is an important part of managing your health and wellness.
Show Sources
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SOURCES:
Cleveland Clinic: “Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML).”
FDA: “Generic Drugs: Questions and answers.”
JCO Oncology Practice: “Health Care Cost Associated With Contemporary Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Therapy Compared With That of Other Hematologic Malignancies.”
Blood Advances: “Current evidence on the efficacy and safety of generic imatinib in CML and the impact of generics on health care costs.”
GoodRx: “imatinib.”
Lancet Regional Health: “CostPlus and implications for generic imatinib.”
UpToDate: “Patient education: Coping with high prescription drug prices in the United States (Beyond the Basics).”
The National CML Society: “Assistance programs.”
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: “Financial Support,” “Co-Pay Assistance Program.”
