@caroljeand

Just so you know ... Actemra comes in either a self administered injectable formulation OR it can be ordered as a monthly infusion. So far, Kevzara only has an injectable formulation.

Medicare is quirky but infusions are covered under Part B (Medical Insurance) which usually handles outpatient infusions that are done at an infusion clinic or a "hospital setting" like a doctor's office. Medicare Part B pays for infusions and the medication gets covered too. An infusion can't be done without the medication ... go figure!

Another possibility since Actemra is not patented anymore --- biosimilars exist for Actemra. Think of biosimilars as "generics." Biosimilars cost less and can be substituted for Actemra in many cases.

As of late 2025, there are three FDA-approved biosimilars for Actemra (tocilizumab) in the United States.
Tofidence (tocilizumab-bavi),
Tyenne (tocilizumab-aazg),
Avtozma (tocilizumab-anoh), being the latest to gain approval.

Remember that Actemra and the biosimilars are only FDA approved for GCA but they should work for PMR as well. Doctors can get around the problem of patients not being diagnosed with GCA as a confirmed diagnosis. They can say they are treating "possible GCA" or "presumed GCA" without making a confirmed diagnosis of GCA. There are patients with both PMR and GCA so they can be treated with either Kevzara or Actemra.