How Much Does IVIG Treatment Cost?
IVIG (immunoglobulin therapy) is a plasma product formed by taking antibodies from donors and mixing them together to combat several immune system disorders, including CIDP and GBS. At this moment, the FDA has approved IVIG to treat six diseases: primary immunodeficiency; immune thrombocytopenia purpura; chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy; multifocal motor neuropathy; B-cell lymphocytic leukemia; and Kawasaki syndrome.
For an immune deficiency, where the body does not make enough antibodies, these IVIG infusions will supply them.
After these infusions, patients often see a response in less than 48 hours.
How much does IVIG treatment cost?
Since IVIg is obtained from plasma donors and then send to a processing center to mix, remove the antibody, treat chemicals and filter it to remove viruses, the costs can be quite high. A single infusion can cost as little as $100 to more $350+ per gram, with most treatments costing at least $10,000+ each or close to $30,000 per month without insurance. The cost of the treatment will greatly depend on your body weight and where you have the injections done.
We had browsed the Internet to see what patients had paid for their IVIG treatments. With quite a few statements posted online, we listed our research inside our table below:
Amount (grams) | Price Paid |
---|---|
35 | $9,000 |
36 | $13,000 |
40 | $7,200 |
50 | $5,100 |
70 | $40,000 |
100 | $10,000 |
108 | $27,000 |
140 | $82,000 |
160 | $25,000 |
210 | $96,000 |
210 | $32,000 |
According to ChoosingWisely.org, they claim the procedure can cost more than $30,000 per year.
A forum member on this gbs-cidp.org forum thread had five treatments in the past 14 months and the first three were billed at $32,000 or close to $152 per gram, while the last two were billed for $96,000 or closer to $457 per gram. Another member on this same thread claimed they paid close to $7,500 per day in 2005.
As long as the procedure is deemed medically and you are diagnosed with an immune disorder, then most insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid will cover the injections and you will be responsible for your co-pays and meet your deductible. Talk with your insurance company before making an appointment to make sure you’re working with a facility that accepts your insurance.
IVIG treatment overview
During the process, the IVIG will first be mixed inside of a bag, which is then attached to a tube that runs to a vein inside of your arm.
For an adult infusion, the entire process can take four to five hours. IVIG can be administered at a local doctor’s office or inside a hospital outpatient center.
Tips to know:
Common side effects can include headaches, an allergic reaction, fatigue, rashes or an odd reaction.
How can I save money?
Always check with your insurance company ahead of time to understand your policy and help you choose a facility that’s covered. As mentioned prior, your treatments should be covered as long as you meet the insurance company’s criteria. Medicare and Medicaid are also known to cover the sessions as well.
On LivingwithPolyneuropathy.org, one recommended a home infusion since these infusions can be much cheaper than a hospital setting.
If you don’t have insurance, some companies will work with you if you pay in full with cash.
Also, for those who don’t have insurance, always compare providers as each one will greatly vary with their pricing.
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Average Reported Cost: $20814.29
How much did you spend?
- Walter Parks (Durango, Colorado) paid $ and said:
Im still alive
Was it worth it? Yes
- R Castro (Thousand Oaks, California) paid $200 and said:
The cost was $5000 but I only paid $200 after Medicare and Anthem Blue Cross paid their share. Definitely worth it to treat my Myasthenia Gravis.
Was it worth it? Yes
- allen (henryetta, Oklahoma) paid $17500 and said:
have not had it at this time ,
the 17500.00 was for (5) treaments
but don’t have the 700.00 copay
for each treanment.Was it worth it? Yes
- james hayes (CHANDLER, Arizona) paid $2500 and said:
unsure
Was it worth it? Yes
- jay (bountiful, Utah) paid $7000 and said:
sucks, copay is $700.00 and I am on SSA.
Was it worth it? Yes
- Melissa wilson (Sherman, Texas) paid $100000 and said:
Told me it would be over 100,000 dollars I had to refuse treatment
Was it worth it? Yes
- Don (Honolulu, Hawaii) paid $18500 and said:
Sept.2015-Sept.2016, 70g-2X/month, for auto-immune Pyoderma Gangrenosum($444,000)+lots of oral Prednisone. I think Humana paid 100%! Healed after 6 years.
Was it worth it? Yes