Has anyone had experience with Jakafi?

Straight Medicare does not pay for Rx. Feds are trying to set caps on some common drugs like insulin, but a drug like Jakafi for orphan diseases like ours won't make it on that list.

You can buy advantage plans during open enrollment that may limit your co-pay. You can see if the drug mfctr will float you a lower price due to financial hardship. (Usually these last for just a year.) Or you may have been given a Medicare plan with drug coverage from your employer as a benefit when you retired that covers meds. Some seniors here in Michigan get their drugs cheaper from Canadian pharmacies.

Most Medicare drug plans do have "tiers" of meds in their formularies that are covered at certain rates. The formulary changes frequently. Call your Medicare plan to see what it pays.

If you are a low-income senior, your best bet is to ask for generics. And to consider writing your elected officials about those 20-year patents that drug makers are given during which they can charge prices for new drugs that put them out of reach for many of us.

Is Jakafi covered by Medicare? What is the cost for a monthly dosage? Thanks.

Everything fine so far

How are you feeling today, @ann7449, after being on Jakafi for a couple of days?

I had the same experience with hydroxy after 3 months, tried again after 1 week and problems came right back. I've been on only aspirin for 5 months but started Jakafi yesterday. I'll be praying for you that the Jakifi works well for you and would appreciate your prayers as well.

I was on hydrea for a short time as I did not tolerate it well and switched to Jakafi 10mg 2x/day a month later (diagnosed PV June ‘22) and increased to 20 mg in Dec. as platelets were still fluctuating too much. It has stabilised bloods and platelets but continued to cause fatigue and irritability. It doesn’t completely eliminate side effects of PV (scrungy toes, feeling of heavy legs but allows you to lead a “normal” life.
Just recently reduced to 15mg 1x20mg & 1x10per day, and continuing “aspirin” as previously; my haematologist is trialling this with me for the next three months….
Hope this info is what you were looking for. Always keep in mind that we are all different and react differently- Be well moving forward.

I started Jakafi about two weeks ago and so far so good. Medicare now as a plan when you pau 3,300 in the coverage you pay no more for brand name drugs for the remainder of the year. Jakafi was 3,300 a month and now its free for the rest of the year. Save me 36,000 per year. Check it out.
Larry

Yes same thing here. My husband took it for graph vs host disease and didn’t have any trouble. But very expensive. Hope all continues to go well.

Can I ask you if you suffer from the itching ? I have yet found anything that helps that except antihistamines. I’m on Hydroxyurea with no side affects but it doesn’t do anything for the uncontrollable itching. Thx

I took Jakafi, but for a different reason. I took it for Graft Versus Host Disease following a Bone Marrow Transplant. It worked. I had no problems with it.