How My VYVGART Path helped me get on treatment

I remember checking for traffic before crossing a street and seeing two cars on top of each other. The double vision didn’t pass, and my friends on the volleyball team had to help me walk the rest of the way home. I didn’t realize it then, but gMG had changed my life forever. I was only 21 years old.

Up until that moment, my life seemed normal. I was born and raised in Colombia and played volleyball in college while I studied Civil Engineering. I was in my fourth year when the blurred and double vision started. I began wearing an eye patch, but the symptoms were so inconsistent that I was constantly switching the eye it would cover. Something was off. Then the symptoms progressed to the rest of my body and my volleyball days were over. I’d sit down to rest and think, “This is nothing I had planned for.”

Finally, I saw a neurologist who ran a test and diagnosed me with anti-AChR antibody positive gMG. After more than 40 years of trying different treatment options, I saw a commercial for VYVGART for IV infusion on TV. My doctor and I decided that I should try it, and I was prescribed VYVGART for IV infusion. Before I started, my doctor explained that the most common side effects are respiratory tract infection, headache, and urinary tract infection.

Figuring out insurance, cost and coverage can be a complicated process, and I had two keys for success. The first was my doctor, who submitted the paperwork to the insurance company and signed me up for My VYVGART Path. The other was Cyndi, my Nurse Case Manager at My VYVGART Path, who provided me with resources on navigating the insurance process. She was a fantastic resource for me.

Once I was prescribed VYVGART, Cyndi sent me a welcome kit with resources for my treatment journey and called me to introduce herself. I could tell right away that she was going to be a great resource during my treatment journey. She was extremely nice and friendly. She described what I could expect from my treatment journey. From there, it only took about 2-3 weeks for the insurance to approve coverage for my VYVGART prescription.

There’s a lot that a Nurse Case Manager does behind the scenes that may help you get on treatment sooner. First, they’ll do a benefits verification to find out what your insurance covers. Next, they’ll help you determine your treatment location. For me, this was already taken care of because my doctor and I decided to use the infusion center at the hospital where he worked. Nurse Case Managers can also educate you on the prior authorization process, which is also called a pre-approval.

Luckily, I wasn’t denied coverage. But it’s reassuring to know that if that had happened, Cyndi would have provided me with information on the appeals process and helped me understand potential financial assistance programs. For instance, with the VYVGART Co-pay Program, I might have paid as little as zero dollars for VYVGART and related administration costs, depending on my eligibility.

As I reflect on that time before I started my first treatment, my biggest takeaway is that communication is the key. Since the doctor submits the forms to the insurance company, I made sure that I was talking to him as much as possible to help him build that case. And, once I was prescribed, I know that talking to Cyndi about the insurance process made all the difference to getting me on treatment sooner.

I believe that open communication set me up for success with getting on my VYVGART treatment. I’ve been able to do some of the normal things in my life again, like ride my bike. The volleyball player in me from all those years ago is happy that I am able to be more active.

Information provided by the Nurse Case Managers is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified and licensed physician or other healthcare provider regarding your medical condition, treatment, and healthcare needs.

AChR=acetylcholine receptor; gMG=generalized myasthenia gravis; IV=intravenous