Just found out today that my insurance company is not going to pay for my radiation treatments because it is considered "pre-existing." The estimated cost is between $25,000 and $35,000 !! Hold on a second, and let me get my checkbook....... This is all because there was a period of 1 or 2 months when I wasn't covered due to my husband losing his job. It's almost as if my ins. is saying "Let her die." My "cancer coverage" will not come into effect till Jan. 1. So that means I will have to wait till then to do chemo. I'm not freaking out just yet. I'm applying for financial assistance so they can say we make too much money. I dont care HOW much you make, you can't pay that! I have had to pay for every scan, every blood test, anything I have had done this whole year. And I have had 3 scans! I have had to put them on my credit card. Its so frustrating to think what I have spent on insurance premiums this year and not been able to use it. That money could have paid alot! I don't mean to gripe, but gimme a break!! .......I have come to this conclusion:
THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN HAVING CANCER,
IS HAVING CANCER AND WORRYING HOW YOUR
GONNA PAY FOR IT !!!
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My newest dilemma
- By katelynsmamaw
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 3:01 pm · 22 replies
- In Financial and insurance issues
- Shared with the public
22 replies
- Oldest first
- Newest first
- By FavoriteAunt
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 3:13 pm
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Oh you are so right! When I try to follow what is going on with the health care system I really get crazy. Like you said, it's bad enough we have cancer and we should not have to go bankrupt trying to survive.
Can you have your doctor get involved and push the insurance company? Sometimes that helps. I just started Avastin and they had to get me approved for that. Good thing because my ins. statement showed they charged $16,464 for one treatment!
Also have your doctor work with the drug company to get financial help with the chemo until January. You need to get well and not get an ulcer in the process of trying! I hope you get some good answers soon.
- By koh847
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 3:38 pm
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I agree with you...how crazy....I am sorry you have to deal with that in addition to your bigger concern. Just not fair. I was just thinking today about all the people who abuse their bodies, do drugs, smoke etc etc and they somehow stay healthy. Just seems unfair, but who am I to say...it is in God's hands... so I should just not let my mind go there.
Hope something works out for you.
Kim
- By lovemnms
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 4:58 pm
- Report post
Oh Shonna,
Why is this happening?
I hope it gets straightened out and you won't have another thing to be concerned with.
I still don't know if my PET scan is covered. I guess I won't know until I get a bill.
All the best.
Your friend,
Lisa
- By DianaS
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 6:46 pm
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I feel so badly for you. It's bad enought to fight this cancer without having to fight insurance companies. These tests are so important and so is this radiation. You wonder how they can live with themselve putting people through this.
I'll be praying for you.
Diana
- By katelynsmamaw
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 6:06 am
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I dread going to my treatment today, because I know every time I go its adding thousands to my bill. Almost makes me want to stop going. This is a huge burden.....
- By kibbitzqueen
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 7:32 am
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Your post made me literally sick to my stomach. I think it's a fear we all have at one time or another! Social Security and Medicare did the same thing to me... No SS $ and NO Insurance for over 6 months until the corrected their mistake! It was an absolute NIGHTMARE! Not only that it happened... but that I had to FIX it with all the doctors, hospitals, x-ray readers, Blood drawers... any health care person I owed money to!!!
I am SO SO sorry this has happened to you! Why does the struggle with cancer have to involve finances anway? Don't we have enought to deal with on a daily basis?
Wow! My heart is truly heavy for you. So is the Pit of my stomach. I feel really bad this has happened.
If you feel it might help you... read my post on tackling doctor bills.
Call your local Medicaid office and ask them if they do a spend down for Medicid benefits based on your doctor bills!
Remember those commercials with Montel Williams and the Prescription bus? Chemo is a prescription...
I just googled this and here are the top three
Montel Williams Bus
www.myrxadvocate.com Prescription Assistance Programs As Seen on Montel Williams
Free Prescription Program
www.FreeMedicineRevolution.com Get Completely Free Medication from Over 270 Assistance Programs Today
Prescription Assistance
www.scbn.org Brand Name Medication Help for Low Income Americans Below Age 65
I know if you DO have Medicare they WON'T pay for your chemo.. but if you are INSURANCE AND MEDICARE/MEDICAID free... they help!
Good Luck and I'll be thinking of you and will PRAY REALLY hard that good things start coming your way!
~Kibbie
- By lifeisgrand
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 7:51 am
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That really bites. Since you have insurance, will they at least accept what the reimbursement costs are for your current insurance company rather than making you pay full costs? I know when I get receipts from my insurance company it seems they pay about half of the charges. You should be able to get that same reimbursement rate even for an illness that is deemed pre-existing. I know that is still a lot but could be a lot less. Can you negotiate with the radiology facility to give you the lower rate?
Back in Feb when I had my surgery my husband was wanting to move to a new job but put it off due to my surgery. Every day he complains about how he hates it where he is and is going to leave. It scares the crap out of me thinking what would happen with the insurance. I have checked into this just in case and you have the option for COBRA which means you can stay on your current medical plan for up to 18 months after leaving a job but you have to pay both the employee and the employer portions of the insurance premiums. It can be pricy to say the least but for those of us with this "pre-existing" status we need some assurances should the demon present itself during the period we are waiting for new insurance to kick in. I know it's too late for you Shonna to go back and do this but the info might help someone else in the future.
- By lovemnms
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 7:51 am
- Report post
Don't think like that. Go to your treatment. Finish up and "worry" if you want to later. Now is not the time.
- By katelynsmamaw
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 7:59 am
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Not only do I have to worry about paying the radiation, I was to have internal radiation at another facility next, then another scan. ( I havent paid for the last scan yet!) I hate doing this to my family.... I'm in tears right now...... Damn you cancer for doing this to me!
- By TvlBeach
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 9:20 am
- Report post
I would take that info you wrote to us and start sending it to all the newspapers around you and also send it to a Washington paper.
This is what exactly is making our country nuts at this time.
I think if anyone wants to be a citizen of the US, they should help us fight the war on terrorism and show how much they love this country.
You are making me so nervous, by putting those on your credit card - Call your congressman of your state. Somebody will listen!!!!!
- By Shamrock2009
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 11:58 am
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I am so sorry that you are worrying about paying for treatment. Please call your Senators and Congressional Representative-- sometimes they can help--they have people on their staff to assist with this type of problem. Sadly many people with cancer go through similar problems that you are experiencing. When I was on the other side of cancer--oncology nursing --I saw what is happening to you all to often.
Pre existing issues in insurance needs to be erased. Ironically today the Senate finance committee is debating this and other issues at this very minute.
Health care is a right for all not a privilege for the few.
All of us need to support our fellow cancer patients and call our Senators and Congressional Representatives and demand healthcare reform.
I will pray that the Lord gives you the strength to deal with this. Do not give up.
- By kmeha
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 3:13 pm
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I totally understand what you are going through. I pay 260.00 a month for mine and just covers myself and they are refusing to pay for my chemo and all of my surgeries. I owe the hospital roughly 30,000.00 and when i have to pay my monthly rate i think why they are not paying for anything. I do i agree with you you get the impression that they would wether have you die then pay for what they are suppose too. Something needs to be done now on health care!
- By God_Is_Faithful
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 6:50 pm
- Report post
I am very sorry to hear this. It is very sad that insurance companies do that to people. I know its hard to understand certain things, but by God's grace its going to be ok. Just like other people have given you advice, call the people in office that you need to call, get financial assistance wherever you can.
Personally I just said a prayer for you, for God to make a way out of no way. I believe it will be all right. God heals too, and I pray he heals you.
Please calm down, and don't stress out. Stress is the last thing you need now. Make all the calls you can get for assistance and God will make a way.
- By katelynsmamaw
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 7:09 pm
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Thank you ALL for your support. Everything will work out. It always does. ;)
- By Kathy85301
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 10:14 pm
- Report post
I am going through the same thing. Thought I had decent insurance coverage but it turns out I don't. I applied for Arizona's version of Medicaid only to be told my 3 small IRAs that amount to about $21,000 are the reason I was denied. Found out at the hearing I requested that I had to liquidate the IRAs within a 60-day window after my application for help. I had called the Medicaid office repeatedly but never received a return call. I think they deliberately wait until it's too late and then inform you what you should have done. My bills add up to over $100,000 so I sure feel your pain.
Kathy
- By esther3kids
- Posted October 14, 2009 at 12:12 am
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Sorry to hear about your problem. Insurance companies always seem to have some problem with the cancer treatments sooner or later. Right now I'm waiting on our insurance to give me the okay for the ct scan that I need to do. I have been calling them and I still can't get any answers.
You're right, it's bad enough that we have this cancer, we shouldn't have to worry about the cost of our treatments.
I will be praying that everything works out for you. Try not to worry too much about it. Take it one day at a time.
God Bless you!
- By kennebec
- Posted October 14, 2009 at 9:08 pm
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I'm guessing you've already done this...but just in case you haven't, appeal! And see if the medical people can make any headway with the ins co.
Bug the billing office at the hospital/clinic. Bug them. Maybe there is something they can do to at least reduce the bill. Anything they can shave off the bill will be helpful. And frankly, many of these people will work hard for you if you sit down and talk to them.
Perhaps you have already tried that.
My heart goes out to you.
- By Jennali
- Posted October 14, 2009 at 10:28 pm
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You know what? I have quit worrying about the bills. They have already reached an unbelievable level. We have no health insurance, have too many assets to qualify for Medicaid, aren't old enough for Medicare, don't have enough recent work credits to qualify for SS disability.
My gyn onc gives me a discount, so I have worked out a payment plan with his office. The hospital is working with us. So I figure, what can they do...repossess me? I have better things to worry about...like staying alive.
- By verlinda
- Posted October 15, 2009 at 2:38 am
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I am so sorry you have to deal with this. I'm praying for you.
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