As a senior who's had stem cells, etc. already, I don't believe that getting insurance and Medicare to pay for treatment will be a problem at all as long as it's approved by the FDA.
DCVax-L should become a part of the SOC for brain cancer, not just GBM. If that becomes the case, it won't be denied to anyone as long as their Doctors make a proper case for it being of benefit.
I frankly believe that costs will be negotiated in time, though I believe that Medicare pays retail list price right now, I don't believe insurance companies do. I don't know what the retail list price will be, and I believe that whatever it is in the U.S., it will be less in most of the rest of the world. I do suspect that the full course of treatment will go into six figures practically everywhere, and that's not unreasonable for several years of treatment.
I am lucky to be a patient at City of Hope, which is a World Class Cancer Organization, but stem cells would have been available to me at other local area hospitals. I was told by others I met there that as seniors they couldn't get stem cells in top flight hospitals in their areas, not because Medicare and Insurance wouldn't cover it, but rather because mortality is higher with seniors and they don't wish to lower their statistics. My point is that if you have a Dr. who agrees with the treatment from a reputable organization, you'll get it and it will be covered. I frankly didn't have to fight to get such treatment, just being introduced to the right Dr. by my Oncologist was all it took to be accepted.
Gary
