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Financial Assistance Options

No matter what type of health insurance you have, and even if you have none at all, there may be some potential options available to help you afford your medicine.

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Use our financial assistance tool to see which programs may be right for you. If you would rather talk through some potential options, call us at 888-249-4918 (6AM-5PM PST, Monday through Friday).


If you have insurance coverage and need help affording Erivedge, these programs may help:

Genentech Oncology Co-pay Assistance Program

Co-pay Card Assistance

With the Genentech Oncology Co-pay Assistance Program, eligible patients with commercial insurance could pay as little as $0 per treatment for Erivedge. Co-pay assistance of up to $25,000 is provided per calendar year.

You may be eligible if you:

  • Are taking Erivedge for an FDA-approved use
  • Are 18 years of age or older or have a Legally Authorized Person over the age of 18 to manage the program
  • Have commercial (private or non-governmental) insurance. This includes plans available through state and federal health insurance exchanges
  • Live and receive treatment in the United States or U.S. Territories
  • Are not receiving assistance through the Genentech Patient Foundation or any other charitable organization for the same expenses covered by the program
  • Do not use a state or federal healthcare plan to pay for your medication. This includes, but is not limited to, Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE


The Co-pay Program (“Program”) is valid ONLY for patients with commercial (private or non-governmental) insurance who have a valid prescription for a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved indication of a Genentech medicine. Patients using Medicare, Medicaid or any other federal or state government program (collectively, “Government Programs”) to pay for their Genentech medicine are not eligible.

Under the Program, the patient may be required to pay a co-pay. The final amount owed by a patient may be as little as $0 for the Genentech medicine (see Program specific details available at the Program website). The total patient out-of-pocket cost is dependent on the patient’s health insurance plan. The Program assists with the cost of the Genentech medicine only. It does not assist with the cost of other medicines, procedures or office visit fees. After reaching the maximum annual Program benefit amount, the patient will be responsible for all remaining out-of-pocket expenses. The Program benefit amount cannot exceed the patient’s out-of-pocket expenses for the Genentech medicine.

All participants are responsible for reporting the receipt of all Program benefits as required by any insurer or by law. The Program is only valid in the United States and U.S. Territories, is void where prohibited by law and shall follow state restrictions in relation to AB-rated generic equivalents (e.g., MA, CA) where applicable. No party may seek reimbursement for all or any part of the benefit received through the Program. The value of the Program is intended exclusively for the benefit of the patient. The funds made available through the Program may only be used to reduce the out-of-pocket costs for the patient enrolled in the Program. The Program is not intended for the benefit of third parties, including without limitation third party payers, pharmacy benefit managers, or their agents. If Genentech determines that a third party has implemented a program that adjusts patient cost-sharing obligations based on the availability of support under the Program and/or excludes the assistance provided under the Program from counting towards the patient’s deductible or out-of-pocket cost limitations, Genentech may impose a per fill cap on the cost-sharing assistance available under the Program. Submission of true and accurate information is a requirement for eligibility and Genentech reserves the right to disqualify patients who do not comply from Genentech programs. Genentech reserves the right to rescind, revoke or amend the Program without notice at any time.

Additional terms and conditions apply. Please visit the Co-pay Program website for the full list of Terms and Conditions.  

View full TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

Apply for the Genentech Oncology Co-pay Assistance Program

  • Commercial insurance: An insurance plan you get from a private health insurance company. This can be insurance from your job, from a plan you bought yourself or from a Health Insurance Marketplace. Medicare and Medicaid are not considered commercial insurance. 

Independent Co-pay Assistance Foundations

Independent Co-pay Assistance

An independent co-pay assistance foundation is a charitable organization providing financial assistance to patients with specific disease states, regardless of treatment. Patients who are commercially or publicly insured, including those covered by Medicare and Medicaid, can contact the foundations directly to request assistance. Eligibility requirements, all aspects of the application process, turnaround times and the type or amount of assistance available (if any) can vary by foundation. 

These foundations may be able to help. Please check their websites for up-to-date information.

These organizations are independent of Genentech and may require you to provide personal or financial information directly to the organization to enroll in their respective programs. Genentech cannot share any information you have provided to us.

Independent co-pay assistance foundations have their own rules for eligibility. We have no involvement or influence in independent foundation decision-making or eligibility criteria and do not know if a foundation will be able to help you. We can only refer you to a foundation that supports your disease state. This information is provided as a resource for you. We do not endorse or show preference for any particular foundation. The foundations in this list may not be the only ones that might be able to help you.


If you have financial difficulty or do not have insurance coverage and need help affording Erivedge, this program may help:

Genentech Patient Foundation

Genentech Patient Foundation

The Genentech Patient Foundation gives free Erivedge to people who have been prescribed this medicine and don’t have insurance or that have financial concerns and meet certain eligibility criteria.

You may be eligible if your insurance coverage and income match one of these situations:

  • Uninsured patients with incomes under $150,000
  • Insured patients without coverage for Erivedge with incomes under $150,000
  • Insured patients with coverage for a Genentech medicine:
    • With an out-of-pocket maximum set by their health insurance plan that exceeds 7.5% of their household income
    • Who have pursued other forms of financial assistance
    • With household size and income within certain guidelines

Enrollment Process for the Genentech Patient Foundation

If you meet the criteria and would like to enroll:

  1. Complete the Patient Consent Form, which is available in English and Spanish, below: 
  2. Once you have completed the Patient Consent Form, please let your doctor's office know that you are applying for assistance with the Genentech Patient Foundation. Your doctor will have to complete another form called the Prescriber Foundation Form. Both forms are required. We must have both the Patient Consent Form and the Prescriber Foundation Form before we can help you.

What to expect next:

  • The request will be processed within five business days upon receipt of both required forms.
  • You and your provider will be contacted to discuss the application outcome and any next steps.

If you have any questions about the criteria, please contact a Foundation Specialist at 888-941-3331 (Mon.–Fri., 6AM–5PM PST).

Genentech reserves the right to modify or discontinue the program at any time and to verify the accuracy of information submitted.


Not sure which programs may be able to help you? We'll walk you through some potential options with the financial assistance tool.

Tips and links for BCC patients

Tips & Helpful Links

Find information about nutrition, exercise, and resources for people living with advanced basal cell carcinoma.

  • Commercial insurance: An insurance plan you get from a private health insurance company. This can be insurance from your job, from a plan you bought yourself or from a Health Insurance Marketplace. Medicare and Medicaid are not considered commercial insurance. 

  • Public insurance: A health insurance plan you get from the federal or state government. This includes Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and DoD/VA insurance.

  • For example, a household size of 1 with income of less than $75,000 may meet the criteria for assistance. Add $25,000 for each additional person in the household. There is no maximum number of people you may add.

Important Safety Information and Indication

Indication

Erivedge® (vismodegib) capsule is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of skin cancer, called basal cell carcinoma, that has spread to other parts of the body or that has come back after surgery or that your healthcare provider decides cannot be treated with surgery or radiation.

It is not known if Erivedge is safe and effective in children.

Serious Side Effects

Erivedge can cause your baby to die before it is born (be stillborn) or cause your baby to have severe birth defects.

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about Erivedge?
Erivedge can cause your baby to die before it is born (be stillborn) or cause your baby to have severe birth defects.

For females who can become pregnant:

  • You should talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of Erivedge to your unborn child
  • Your healthcare provider will do a pregnancy test within 7 days before you start taking Erivedge
  • In order to avoid pregnancy, you should use birth control during treatment and for 24 months after your final dose of Erivedge. Talk with your healthcare provider about what birth control method is right for you during this time
  • Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you have unprotected sex or if you think that your birth control has failed
  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think that you may be pregnant

For males:

  • Erivedge is present in semen. Do not donate semen while you are taking Erivedge and for 3 months after your final dose
  • You should always use a condom, even if you have had a vasectomy, during sex with female partners who are pregnant or who are able to become pregnant, during treatment with Erivedge, and for 3 months after your final dose to protect your female partner from being exposed to Erivedge
  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if your partner becomes pregnant or thinks she is pregnant while you are taking Erivedge

Pregnancy Exposure Registry:

There is a Pregnancy Exposure Registry for females taking Erivedge who become pregnant. The purpose of this registry is to monitor the health of you and your unborn baby. If you think that you or your female partner may have been exposed to Erivedge during pregnancy, talk to your healthcare provider right away. If you become pregnant during treatment with Erivedge, you or your healthcare provider should report your pregnancy to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

Before taking Erivedge, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including:

  • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
  • If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Erivedge passes into your breast milk. You should not breastfeed during treatment and for 24 months after your final dose of Erivedge. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during this time
  • About all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements

What should I avoid while taking Erivedge?

  • Do not donate blood or blood products while you are taking Erivedge and for 24 months after your final dose
  • Do not donate semen while you are taking Erivedge and for 3 months after your final dose

What are the possible side effects of Erivedge?

  • Severe skin reactions: Severe skin reactions have happened in some people taking Erivedge. You may need to be treated in a hospital because these severe skin reactions can be life-threatening or lead to death

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following signs or symptoms of a severe skin reaction, including:

  • Blisters or peeling of your skin
  • Blisters on your lip, or around your mouth or eyes
  • Mouth sores or genital sores
  • High fever or flu-like symptoms
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Skin pain and burning

Your healthcare provider may permanently stop Erivedge if you develop a severe skin reaction.

  • Muscle problems: Muscle problems are common with Erivedge, but can also sometimes be serious. Erivedge can increase your risk of muscle spasms or muscle pain. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worsening muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness during or after treatment with Erivedge. Your healthcare provider should do a blood test to check for muscle problems and to check your kidney function before you start taking Erivedge, and as needed during treatment if you develop muscle problems
  • Bone growth problems: Bone growth problems have happened in children who have been exposed to Erivedge. These problems may continue even after stopping treatment with Erivedge
  • The most common side effects of Erivedge are:
    • Muscle spasms
    • Hair loss
    • Change in how things taste or loss of taste
    • Weight loss
    • Tiredness
    • Nausea
    • Diarrhea
    • Decreased appetite
    • Constipation
    • Joint pain
    • Vomiting

Erivedge can cause absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea) in females who are able to become pregnant. It is not known if amenorrha is permanent. Talk to your healthcare provided if you have concerns about fertility. 

These are not all of the possible side effects of Erivedge. Because everyone is different, it is not possible to predict what side effects any one person will have or how severe they may be. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. 

You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555

Please see full Prescribing Information for additional Important Safety Information, including serious side effects, and the Medication Guide.