OTTAWA -- An Ottawa 23-year old with cystic fibrosis says shes in need of a life-saving medication which costs $300,000 dollars a year, but says her private insurance wont pay for it.<\/p>\n
I have been basically told that this is my last option, Sara Aldrich says.<\/p>\n
Aldrich was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at an early age, and has lived a mostly active life.<\/p>\n
Both my brother and I played competitive soccer, I played for eleven years, she says, we were always out and doing something - some kind of sport.<\/p>\n
But she says over the past three years, that changed. Her condition, which affects the lungs, got worse - making everyday tasks difficult.<\/p>\n
When I was healthy, I never even thought about how easy it was to do, but now , walking up the stairs I usually cough, I usually end up throwing up. So my life has kind of completely altered since my lung function has gone down.<\/p>\n
Aldrich says a new treatment, called Trifakta would change her life.<\/p>\n
My lung function is the lowest its ever been, and I cant see it ever going back up unless I get Trikafta.<\/p>\n
The drug is approved for use in Canada, but not covered by her private insurance.<\/p>\n
The price would need to be reduced by at least 80 to 90 percent for them to be able to pay for it; and, they said that the price of the drug is currently outweighing the benefits of it.<\/p>\n
Kim Steele, director of government and community relations with Cystic Fibrosis Canada, says Aldrich is not the only one to be denied,<\/p>\n
Were in this weirdly unique situation, in which Canadas public-payers, so our governments, have moved to cover this drug more quickly, than most private insurers, and that just doesnt happen in Canada, she says.<\/p>\n
Not everybody can get public insurance; if you have private insurance, depending on where you live in Canada, your government wants to bill them first; and, if your private insurer is not covering it, its a whole bunch of work to try and get it through the public system.<\/p>\n
Steele adds that Trikafta treats 98 per cent of the cystic fibrosis community,<\/p>\n
Its the single biggest transformation in the history of cystic fibrosis. Its a therapy that is not only slowing the progression of the disease in people, but it is helping people get off the lung transplant list and get on with life.<\/p>\n
Aldrich is applying for an OHIP program aimed at young people to hopefully pay for the drug. But her goal is to raise awareness about her situation and help others.<\/p>\n
Continuing to fight for everyone else that has CF, and needs this drug - I dont want to stop here.<\/p>\n
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See the original post here:<\/p>\n
'This is my last option:' Ottawa woman with cystic fibrosis says insurance won't cover life-saving medication - CTV Edmonton<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" OTTAWA -- An Ottawa 23-year old with cystic fibrosis says shes in need of a life-saving medication which costs $300,000 dollars a year, but says her private insurance wont pay for it. I have been basically told that this is my last option, Sara Aldrich says. Aldrich was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at an early age, and has lived a mostly active life Continue reading