Your copay works out to $14.70/day = $7.35 per pill.
The 'standard' pill seems to be 500mg, and dosage is twice per day for 14 days (standard course of treatment) so make sure what you're pricing/talking about.
BUT, dosage can be 1000mg/pill (2000 per day); and there are some 'aggressive' treatments for breast cancer at 2000/dose, 4000 mg/day).
So for a 3 week treatment cycle with 14 days of pills and one week off for rest, you need 20 days/40 pills per month; basically a co-pay of $295/month
Cash price is $33.32/pill from an online Canadian drugstore, here:
http://newyorkcostumes.com/store/xeloda ... ption.html*Assuming* your insurance has worked out a pricing schedule with the local pharmacy where the net pricing is similar to the Canadian street price, then your co-pay of 7.35/pill = 25% of the pill cost.
The insurance would then be paying the other 75% (885/mo).
Definitely try to negotiate pricing with your insurance and with Roche (they actually have free 'scholarships' for the destitute, as well as other assistance programs).
Your cancer center should have a financial counselor who is skilled in making contacts and preparing paperwork.
* * *
There is an alternative, being 5-FU infusion every 14 days.
5-FU is pretty cheap (wholesale to the clinic pharmacy), but the clinic charges insurance a lot for the service; however, the co-pay to you might only be about $100/doctor visit.
This can be a negoiating point with the pharmacy, if your onc will consider that treatment.