IVIG and Medicare

I had a good experience with my insurance co., Blue Shield of California. It was an HMO-type policy provided by my employer — I didn’t pick it for any particular reason. I went into the hospital diagnosed with GBS (it was actually CIDP) where I stayed 18 weeks and received nearly every kind of procedure and treatment available for this disease, including IvIg. There were no problems I am aware of wherein the insurance co. balked at a procedure my doctors thought medically necessary.

By the time I went home I was retired, and I continued my policy under Cal-COBRA, even though the costs of carrying it were huge. With this insurance, my costs were manageable; without it, the hospitalization would have been disasterous. I carried it for a year and a half until I reached Medicare age this month. Then I switched to a BSoC supplemental plan without even considering others, because my BSoC experience had been so good. I signed up for every option and the cost is about one-quarter of my pre-Medicare cost.

I don’t have any experience with IvIg under Medicare, however, because I have not received it after the two rounds I was given early in the progression of the disease.now, the only treatment I receive is medication, and there are no difficulties with that.

I have cidp and I am starting IVIg in a few weeks, but I am going into the unknown world and would love to know what I can expect to feel after the treatment. I am self employees and have appt. through out the day. If I have a four hour IVIg treatment what will i feel like when it’s over, will I be able to work directly after. We are set to have 5 in a row for the first week!

I am on Medicare (due to visual disability) and have had no problems with them covering IVIG every 4 weeks. I’ve read elsewhere that medicare allows for IVIG as frequently as every 2 weeks, but cannot confirm this.

Is CIDP a medicare approved diagnosis for IVIG treatment?

New to this forum and this  disease.  I’m interested in finding information on whether Medicare will approve 3 in-home IGIV treatments for a CIDP patient in Indiana.  Thanks.

@Henstock: I’m currently on Medicare and am on Kaiser’s gap/supplemental coverage (it’s called Senior Advantage). I have not had any problems with either covering my IVIg. I was going every 4 weeks and am currently going every 7 weeks. However, Kaiser requires the IVIg infusions to be done at their infusion center at the hospital, it will not allow it to be done in your home.

@Caveman: Everyone’s different but after my infusions I’m exhausted and prefer to go home and lie down. Many a times, i will be achy after the 2nd day or have an IVIg migraine. I wouldn’t recommend scheduling work appointments on the days you have IVIg.

i have home ivig and they handle medicare and my supplement…i have had gbs/cidp 12 months and they just ok 5 more months….time will tell….but contact whomever will provide it….good luck