How would you pay for new Alzheimer’s drug?

Big Pharma continues the money grab dance , preying on vulnerable people and their loved ones that are desperate for answers and treatments. The politicians are rich enough to afford them...and their beholding lobbyists continue to fund their campaigns and PACs.

I could not afford the 28k so would not get it and would not go in debt either. "Delays the progression" I would want a drug that stops it in its tracks for that kind of money. Slowing it down means the person suffers longer. Even the early stage can be frustrating for the person suffering from ALZ.

This is like putting a steak in front of a dog's face and then saying, "Ha ha, you can't have it, nah nah." Ridiculous.

The politicians need to get OUT of the pockets of Big Pharma once and for all, for crying out loud.

Then $3 worth of pills won't cost us $28,000 + $5K for MRIs that cost another $5, but Medicare or insurance is billed $2K per.

But the corrupt politicians don't care about US, they never have. All of their needs are met with no problem whatsoever b/c money comes to them by the millions, at the taxpayers expense. How that ever happened, that a congressperson like AOC can be worth $29 million in her short 'service' as a politician is beyond RIDICULOUS. While an Alzheimer's patient is turned down for a new medication which isn't 'approved' by Medicare is a very sad statement of what our country has devolved into.

It's irrelevant whether I'd choose to take this drug or not; that it's NOT available to me as a Medicare recipient IS the relevant issue.

I wouldn't, prove it to me first, years of positive results later, perhaps.

My wealthy uncle was on Aricept and it did very little for him for just a short time, then it did nothing at all. I work in medtech... I think Lecanemab needs to be out in public use for a while and accumulate a track record before anyone can make a decision as to whether it is worth the $$$$.

If this drug made a huge improvement for a longer time, then I'd consider paying for it out of pocket. This does not seem to be the case. There's a lot of hype when new drugs come out. Most of the time they don't live up to it.

Plus, I'm sure there are will be side-effects to manage. I'm sorry your LO and your family is on this journey. May you gain wisdom and receive peace in your hearts.

So, you start writing to your elected officials now.

Find a neuropsychologist to start the evaluation process (they are in short supply). Medicare WILL pay for a comprehensive neurocognitive evaluation (there was no special process to get my mom or my DH approved for this extensive testing).

There is a suggestion perhaps patients with AD will be funded by Medicare in the same way that End Stage Renal Disease is.