I am not sure how the cost is calculated. I am taking Humira every alternate week. That makes the total Humira cost 19,200 CAD/year. I take methotrexate injections once a week. The cost of Mtx is 123.86 per 3 months, so about 500 per year. Other than that I see the doc 2 times a year, blood work also twice a year.
Help with the medical test...IBD
- Thread starter ahmedhere
- Start date
I don't know Humira is so cheap compared to Remicade. RAMQ price is 1428$ one package (40mg total, 2 shots). I assume this is the price per month? Do you see any professional fees on it? This sounds better than Remicade.
Hello, I explained my specialist about my immigration situation and he agreed to switch me to Inflectra which is biosimilar to Remicade and proven to work similar to Remicade. Actually Remicade costs $9.77/mg and Inflectra costs $6.5/mg. Even if they say they add professional cost; it is cost of medication from http://formulary.drugplan.ehealthsask.ca/SearchFormulary ( for Saskatchewan), they consider. The switch to Inflectra will bring down cost below limit; i hope. Still working on the response.
Application received July 2016
Upfront medical Feb, 2017
1st Procedural fairness Oct, 2017
Response received Dec, 2017
Application transferred to Niagafalls office June 2018
2nd Procedural fairness letter August, 208
Now working on 2nd response letter
Thanks, Basan, your information is very useful. So in Saskatchewan, 977$/100mg for remicade and 650$/100mg for Inflectra. In Quebec, the price is 940$/100mg for Remicade and 525$/100mg for Inflectra. The professional fees varies depend on different clinic, but generally, it is around 700$ per injection, you can estimate the total expense based on your dosage and the frequency plus the doctor fee and blood test fee (usually 2 times per year). It is very likely, they calculate the expenses based on the individual provincial public drug plan price. I wish you good luck with Inflectra and please update the good news. For me, as I was not using a insurer before Feb,2017, arguably they will not cover my remicade and will only cover the inflectra price. But I have to confirm it. Usually, doctors have no problem to make interchange from biosimilar to brand-biologic, but they are very careful to make the opposite interchange.
I think, apart from the difference in price/dosage for the drugs, the frequency of dosage also matters. I take Humira once every other week, whereas some people need to take it every week. In that case, the cost will be double. I use the Humira Pen and self inject, so no professional fee.
I think, tosinosho1992 is correct in that most physicians have no clue about how immigration works! My specialist asked me what all to put in the letter!!! I was very shocked! I just told her that she should mention the fact that I am not physically handicapped, never had any surgery, have 100% functional limbs/joints, working full time for the last 10 years, gave birth and raising a child without any problem. She later told me that she wrote a very good prognosis in the letter. There is no 'lying' involved whatsoever. It is only about how to present the information that you have in your hands in an appropriate manner. Moreover, only fools will lie in such scenarios. 'Being truthful' is the reason that people declare their medical conditions/costly drugs upfront in the medical examination. So, a 'deep meaningful conversation' may actually help to better your application/case.
yes, i changed to inflectra whose cost was significantly lower than remicade. Actually i am secondary applicant to my spouse's application. They asked for second medical for my wife as it was expired. After 1 week of medical, there was update in account as medical passed. I wonder they did not ask my medical as mine was also expired; except mine medical was being complicated. Still not sure it is passed in total or passed for my spouse only.
You must have already cleared the medicals in the first go, only your wife’s results had issue because of Ramicade. That’s why they didn’t bother you with new tests again, I think
Hi Guys, I have Crohn's and I was asked for specialist report. I provided them with the additional information. After 21 days my profile went to 'medicals under review'.
My time line-
Jan 11 - request for specialist report.
Jan 13 - AOR
Feb 21 - medicals under review.
No update after that.
How long after medical status goes to 'under review', there will be an update regarding medicals? It's been 17 days since my medicals under review, but I didn't get any request for procedural fairness letter. Is it going to be a long wait? Should I call them for status?
My time line-
Jan 11 - request for specialist report.
Jan 13 - AOR
Feb 21 - medicals under review.
No update after that.
How long after medical status goes to 'under review', there will be an update regarding medicals? It's been 17 days since my medicals under review, but I didn't get any request for procedural fairness letter. Is it going to be a long wait? Should I call them for status?
I don’t want to sound negative but my last update was in July 25th, after I submitted the specialist’s report. My profile says ‘medical under review’ since then. It’s been nine months since I submitted my application in June 2018. No change in my GCMS notes either
Did you receive any updates yet? Also what were you asked to include in your Crohn's medical report? Many thanks.