Jims journey on Skilarence

[Kat]

I will ask my doctor to be referred to a dermatologist and go from there.

I would assume that if it is ordered from another country it would not be covered by insurance.

In the case of the friends of my parents, it was partially covered.
Just try and explain to your insurance that it is their choice, a relatively cheap medicine from abroad or an expensive local biological. Try to get into a dialogue with your insurance. I get it that is difficult as those people only work by the rules. But hey, if you don’t shoot, you will never hit something.
For you it is only your health you are working on.

The derm can always contact doctors in the Netherlands for enquiries, or get into contact with the Dutch patients association. A call is quickly made, you only have to type 12 numbers on your phone. And every Dutchman speaks English.

Not sure about Canada but I do know that in the US trying to talk to your insurance company about something like that is practically impossible. Most of the people that customers talk to do not have the authority to approve a medicine. Those with that authority rarely (if ever) would speak to a customer. Basically (here) most insurance plans are drawn up documents that show what they pay for and what they do not. If they refuse payment you can argue your case (I did that once for a medical claim) but medicines are pretty cut and dried as in they are either on the approved list or they or not. It certainly never hurts to try but for the way our insurance companies here operate I would put it in writing with as much data as possible enclosed. Of course again in the US there is the US-FDA to consider. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera, Biogen Idec) for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. So I'm thinking that for the US until the FDA approves it for psoriasis, insurance companies will not be on board. Don't know if that's an issue with Canada or not.