Hi - I've been on Enbrel almost five years (March 31, 2005).  At first I got mine from the local pharmacy  - I had to request it a couple of days ahead of time so they could order it, it was kind of a pain for them.  If I had only my husband's insurance I would have been paying a 20% copay at that time - about $250/month!  But I have my own as primary from my employer and that's a $30 co-pay, which the secondary insurance will reimburse me.

    After a few months, the insurance situation changed (my husbands ins. company bought out my ins. company's specialty pharmacy), and I had to call Express Scripts and set up a home delivery.  They were a real pain, didn't bother to tell me I could say no signature was required.  They wanted me to be available between 9 and 5 ! Duh - Then it changed again, and now I order direct from Curascript, which is still owned by Express Scripts.  Curascript, for the most part, has been terrific. (Today was an exception but I won't go into that!  A mix-up all around...)   They have replaced a dose kit one time when it didn't seem to dissolve and left something...They let me know right away I could OK it without a signature.  They leave it in the garage in a styrofoam box with gel paks.  EVen once when the overnight delivery got hung up somewhere and I was very upset, thinking either it wouldn't work or I'd have to pay for it anyway, they said it would still be OK.  And it was.  The square foam-paks stay colder even longer than the gelpaks.  They've stopped using a cardboard box to hold the styrofoam, unfortunately, because it was easier to give away clean styrofoam rather than dirty, for recycling purposes.  They are also now using UPS rather than
FedEx but that has not been a problem. 

    For those who may not know, there is also an insulated travel bag available through Enliven Services (1-800-4ENBREL) to take your Enbrel on the plane or whatever, and a card that your doctor can sign to say, you need to take this with you.  They won't guarantee it for too many hours as far as temperature - I've found that a plastic hardshell six-pack carrier with a handle-top that slides over to open can hold a gel or foam pack without leaking and keep it cool longer than the cloth bag.  If we're traveling in the car, I save one of the smaller styrofoam boxes and put my Enbrel in that with the foam or gel pak(s). 

I'm not longer on Enbrel but on Cimzia. But both were/are obtained from the Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy that is in another state (required by my Insurance). They call a every month and set up a delivery before the next dose is due. I find that the specialty pharmacists are excellent! They ship it overnight in a cooler packed with dry ice. This system works very well.

I hope that Enbrel works well for you!

Andrew

http://livingwithra.wordpress.com/

I received my first shipment of enbrel by regular mail, but now I get it at my local pharmacy.

 I get my enbrel at my local Kmart pharmacy. They missed a shipment once and I had to get it at Walgrens. To one of the posters who only had to pay $45 co-pay---wow be thankful for that...with our insurance we pay $495/mo. Ugh!  I have been on enbrel for about 6 years along with methotrexate.

Poppy

2/11/10 9:25pm

You might try calling the maker of Enbrel, sorry I don't have the package in front of me.  But they sent an offer that they will pay up to $750 after your insurance pays the first amount.  Also, different syringes are available and many types are less expensive.  You are paying way too much!

bikergirl

2/12/10 6:54pm

I do receive some assistance through Enbrel...every year...and that does help a little....I have never heard of different syringes though...do I just ask the pharmacy for those...or is it something my Dr. has to prescribe?

Poppy

2/12/10 8:20pm

It is actually how the prescription is written.  I asked for prefilled syringes so that I don't have to draw them up from a vial (the old way I used to) and NOT the auto-inject syringes.  They come in 25 mg and 50 mg depending on if you take them once or twice a week.  I do the 50 mg and take it just once a week.  I think it is maybe about half the price.  I can't remember exactly, but I did it to help with the burning on injection and was pleasantly surprised with the price.  There were actually several choices for how to receive them.  Good luck.  Do ask the company again about covering the total price.  It is something new that they just sent a couple of months ago and you give the pharmacy an Enbrel subscription card when you pick yours up and pay NOTHING!  It has saved a lot. :-)

bikergirl

2/13/10 11:46am

Mine are prefilled...at 50 mg and I use them once a week. I do have that Enbrel card...I only get about three actually paid for.....the rest is on us.thanks for your help anyway! 

Michelle

3/ 4/10 12:00pm

Hi, I live in Canada and am wondering if Enbrel would help with the dispensing fee I have to pay which is about 45 dollars.  I oder mine in through my pharmacy and pick it up there. 

I get mine from Walgreens every month.

I receive my enbrel in the new pen style injection format.  It is easier to use and is delivered to my GP for collection.