Average annual medical costs for IC patient?

**VJgirl** · 09-14-2004, 08:20 AM

Hi there,

Does anyone know how I would begin to come up with a figure for this??? I was diagnosed with IC in June 04. I'm taking Elmiron 3xday, Effexcor for anxiety/depression and Zestril (high blood pressure medicine), due to anxiety/pain from this chronic condition I'm in. I've had 6 DMSO installations and just went to a new specialist. He is a uro/gyno who specializes in Urinary and pelvic floor disfuntions. He also treats IC. I just had a cysto under anethesia, which confirmed my IC. I believe he will be treating me with physical therapy, nerve stimulation and those kind of things. I will meet with him next week. He is wonderful.

I read somewhere on the internet that the annual average medical costs for a patient with IC in the year 2000 was $5800. I'm sure it it substantially higher now with healthcare the way it is. You seasoned IC'ers out there, you may be able to tell me what medical expenses I will be having/needing.

Any information you can provide me will be very helpful.

Thanks
VJ

**VJgirl** · 09-14-2004, 09:04 AM

Thanks Dianne,

I'm not sure what plan my uro/gyno has for me. I know what I've paid for in the past 6 months. I'm just wondering how much this condition averages in costs for the next ten years. I guess I need an economist for this one!!!!

VJ

**Katrina** · 09-14-2004, 09:18 AM

I can only say that so far this year for IC I have already had 6 DMSO treatments and 1 Heparin treatments....Elmiron everymonth, Neurontin every Month, and Codein every month......alternative treatments and just recently a antispasmodic.

Which doesn't count all of the other meds for all the other diseases. Without insurence that all would not be possible....With insurence it is still expensive.....I am sure the treatments and doctor visits are 20 dollars....meds can be high or low co pays depending on it....and alternative treatments add up fast! Now I probably had the disease for 10 years before diagnosis...makes a big deal as to how much treatment I need. I am probably higher end of the average.

**nogoodimvoid** · 09-14-2004, 10:32 AM

I just got diagnosed with IC but i pay 25$ for a 3 months supply of Elmiron...

**work it** · 09-14-2004, 10:49 AM

wow sasha I want your insurance plan I pay $30 for one month. (I am crying here..

Teisha

***kadi*** · 09-14-2004, 01:49 PM

One thing that has helped me with the financial aspect is I've set up a Section 125 plan at work. I have money taken out of my paycheck each month, pre-taxes & can use it for healthcare expenses if they're not already covered by insurance. So I reimburse myself out of it for my office visit copays, prescription copays, over-the-counter meds, even bridge tolls& parking fees for doctor visits. That it's pretaxed means it saves me a little money.

The downside is that you have to estimate it at the beginning of the year how much to take out each month and if you don't use it, it's gone, you can't get it back. (A friend of mine buys herself eyeglasses if she has extra left over at the end of the year to use it up.) And of course, you have to fill out claim forms with receipts.

**Lyn40** · 09-15-2004, 12:38 PM

I have had IC now for 4 1/2 years. I believe for now until new treatments are invented, I have already invested in my biggest expenses. I have been through the Elmiron, hydro, DMSO's, and various other drugs. I never wanted to add all that up. The elavil, prelief, BCP's, pain meds, heating pads, organic & special foods I buy are enough of an expense. It is upsetting to put so much into this.

I always tell my husband I am worth so much more now!

**VJgirl** · 09-16-2004, 12:33 AM

Thanks everyone for your information. You have been very helpful. I know there is a study out right now that will give us an idea of the up-to-date economic impact of this chronic condition. However, that will not be out for a few years. I'll let you know what figure my attorney comes up with and his economist. Thanks again.

VJ

**VJgirl** · 09-18-2004, 02:51 AM

What does it mean that my question has a check under the rating column? Does anyone know?

**blondiecat** · 09-19-2004, 02:23 AM

Well since I started to go to my Dr. I have now. I have spent a small fortune on treatment. My first surgery to correct a bladder neck obstruction was a whopping $12,000. Since then I have had the Cysto/Hydro/Biopsy, started taking Elmiron, Elavil and had my first DMSO treatment not to mention the other prescriptions for pain meds, pyridum plus etc. I am scheduled for my second DMSO treatment this coming Tuesday.

I haven't gotten the papers on what those cost me yet so I really can't say. Thankfully my insurance has picked up most of the expenses of these procedures. My copay for an office visit is $15 and $25 for the Elmiron at the drugstore. So you can say a small fortune to get this beast that lives in my body under control. So far it's the beast 4 me 0

Hope the DMSO treaments will work.

***Julie B*** · 09-19-2004, 03:05 AM

I know I would never be able to do it without insurance.........I would be my medical costs without insurance would be well over 12,000 a year, that in medication alone.......I often pray for the women in developing countries who have this disease and don't have the diagnostic testing or medications or physicians available........

**kelly McC** · 09-19-2004, 03:41 AM

I am one who has insurance and works and still 3 years after all this began I can not afford it anymore. My husband has medical issues as well. We started collecting information. We got pharmacy print outs for the last year and doctor visits print outs for the last year,hospital er copays,and chiropractor visits I was shocked I was pretty much working much of the last 2 years to pay doctors. I hads to stop working fulltime and now work partime and it is hurting us in the pocket book. We just had to file for bankruptcy. I did not want to go the route but had no other choice. I can not imagine how people do it that dont have insurance.
Kelly

**VickiB** · 09-19-2004, 08:40 AM

I am one of those who has no insurance to cover my IC expenses. I do carry 'catastrophic', with a $5000.00 deductable, but will likely need cancer or a heart attack to ever make that pay off.

Anyway, since all my costs come out of my pocket it was easy to add up the dollar amount. Since March 2nd 2004 (diagnosis) I've spent $2014.79 on Urologist office visits, proceedures, and prescription drugs related to my having IC. If everything remains the same, it will end up costing me approximately $2420.00 a year.

Vicki

**greghh** · 09-26-2004, 02:34 PM

Good info on drug cost available at this site-http://www.efamilypracticenews.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?

I take Elmiron, amitriptyline, hydroxyzine HCl, and an alpha blocker. Elmiron price is around $200.00/month and alpha blocker is around $60.00/month. Other two are cheep. My out-of-pocket for medicines is around $150.00/month.

I've been taking Elmiron, amitriptyline and alpha blocker for about 5wks, and hydroxyzine for about a week. After a long painfull summer, I finally got a correct diagnosis and medicine has made me a lot better.

Hope this helps

Hope this helps