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← Return to Infusion vs injection of tocilizumab (Actmera)
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Infusion vs injection of tocilizumab (Actmera)
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jul 20 1:07pm | Replies (23)Comment receiving replies
Thank you all for your contributions. I am newly diagnosed with Giant Cell Arteritis. Making tocilizumab a part of my therapy is in the plan but before reading this discussion I didn’t understand the insurance ramifications about choosing self-injections vs infusion. Appreciate your comments.
Replies to "Thank you all for your contributions. I am newly diagnosed with Giant Cell Arteritis. Making tocilizumab..."
I have a Medicare Advantage plan that covers Actemra injections with pre-approval. The injections are covered under Medicare Part D, so there is a $2000 maximum this year for all Part D prescriptions combined.
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Actemra (tocilizumab) is FDA approved for Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA). You have the right diagnosis but treatment with Actemra is expensive. If you have Medicare + Supplement, your best option is a monthly infusion.
Reimbursement for the Actemra injections gets complicated. It depends on what type of insurance you have.
Self administered injections compared to monthly infusions are equally efficacious in my opinion. I currently do a monthly infusion but I have also done the self administered injections in the past.