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Get Help with Co-Pays

LucyP
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I spotted this on another support group CancerCare. I hope it will be of help to some of you struggling with finances: The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation was created in 2007 to meet the needs of those individuals who have private or Medicare health insurance coverage, but have difficulty paying the co-payments of their cancer treatments and medications. Visit our website, CancerCareCoPay.org, to learn more about the CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation.

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Cancer

5 replies

lynnwv

Thanks so much for the info Lucy. I never heard of this. I've been struggling with my disability retirement budget because my major medical out of pocket is pretty high and medicare won't kick in for 2 years. I'm definately going to investigate.

LucyP

wait a minute! I thought Cancer Stage IV is an AUTOMATIC immediate medicare? or is it just SSDI? Can you get Supplemental Disability in addition to SSDI? Do you live in a state with something like "medical"? Check with your congressional reps/senators, too. Sometimes they can pull strings.

kleighk

Even tho a StageIV dx is an automatic Disability, your medicare doesn't kick in for 18-24 months-I forget which.
And for me that was the longest 18 months!!!! It was a monthly fight to qualify for Medicaid benefits and rx help. But once you are past that point, and if you are on just SS disability, you may qualify for help with your medicare premiums. You also qualify for MedicareD prescription drug coverage (free if you qualify for premium help) Check with your state Family and Children Department. Hope this clarifies things a little.

Karyn

kleighk

PS---even though you can get medicare, you are still responsible for 20% of the covered expenses. I worked hard for 27 years and because I couldn't afford the Cobra payments when I left my job, I am reduced to state assistance. But I worked hard for it, and so did you---so go for it!!

chloemom

There's an advocacy movement to change that 24 month waiting period but so far we still have it. I have a friend who found a BC/BS supplemental policy via a cancer center advocate. She told me it covers everything Medicare doesn't and is really affordable, less than what she would have to pay out of pocket. I'm pretty sure she had this prior to Medicare kicking in as well. I'll get the policy info and post here tomorrow.

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