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Old 04-01-2010, 07:43 PM   #1
juanita
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insurance questions

i will soon be having no insurance and before i get to that point i want all of the info i can get on what to do and how to get help. so any advice or information PLEASE pass it on to me. thank you!
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st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
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1 yr herceptin,
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Old 04-01-2010, 08:56 PM   #2
Soccermom
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Re: insurance questions

http://www.statehealthfacts.org/prof...&cat=7&ind=603

http://www.cobrahealth.com/statehighriskpools.html

Hope these links are somewhat helpful,Juanita. I am on COBRA coverage right now as our insurance was taken away by my husbands employer, but its pretty $$$.
Also want to add that Indiana is the opnly state w a 3mo. wait...the rest are 6+!
I hope you are able to get coverage!
Marcia

Last edited by Soccermom; 04-01-2010 at 09:28 PM..
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Old 04-02-2010, 10:25 AM   #3
naturaleigh
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Re: insurance questions

Hey Juanita,

I am in the same boat as you and I know how scary it is. One thing I am checking into, is buying my retirement. It is expensive but, I have to decide which is better, my health or the money. There is no way I could afford Cobra, so that is not even an option for me.

Darleen has been extremely helpful to me and other people on this site and has recommended looking into life insurance. Sometimes you can cash in your life insurance to help with expenses.

I have also been told, I don't know yet how true it is, that doctors still have to treat you, insurance or not and usually at a cheaper rate.

I know many people are opposed to the new health care plan, but I think that those are also the people who do not have serious health issues. I am hoping it goes through, so even though I can't afford the high premiums of insurance, I will still have some coverage. I, unfortunatley, do not understand alot of the pros and cons of the new policy, but if it helps people that do not or loose their insurance because of health issues, I am all for it!!
Good Luck to you Juanita, maybe we can both help each other through this aspect of the journey.
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er, pr-, Her2+++
Stage 2b, grade 3
negative nodes
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Old 04-02-2010, 12:25 PM   #4
Joe
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Re: insurance questions

Juanita,

Several years ago we held a teleconference with Johanna Morales of the Cancer Legal Resoiurce Center.
She spoke on the topic for an hour.

Here is an MP3 recording of Ms. Morales' Presentation

It is worth listening to.

Regards
Joe
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Old 04-02-2010, 10:52 PM   #5
Jackie07
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Re: insurance questions

Juanita,

When I lost my job, I got on COBRA and used it for 18 months. While I was talking with my insurance company, I learned that there's a federal program that allows people who had lost their coverage during certain time period to qualify for a reduced premium. My job loss in 2008 was just one month before the effective date (From September, 2008 to March, 2010) and my previous employer refused to continue my coverage with the reduced rate according to that law. But Blue Cross Blue Shield told me I could continue by paying the full premium. So that's what we are doing right now.

Since I've been granted a partial disability, by July (two years after I qualified) I will be able to apply for Medicare. It might just cut a couple of hundred dollars since I will have to buy extra coverage to maintain my current level of care.

There's a free clinic in our town for persons who are below certain income level but not low enough to qualify for Medicaid.
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http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html
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NICU 4.4 LB
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Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement (600mg x2)
10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016
7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence.
7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule.
1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule.
"I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa

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Old 04-03-2010, 06:56 PM   #6
juanita
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Re: insurance questions

don't know if cobra applies. i should explain more i guess. i'm currently seperated from my husband and am in the process of divoricing. whenever all of that is done i'm sure i will be without insurance. currently i am unemployed but am trying to find a job that i can get my own insurance.
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dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
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Old 04-03-2010, 07:13 PM   #7
Jackie07
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Re: insurance questions

Whatever insurance you have right now, I think you are entitled to keep it for a certain period of time. Just be sure to pay it on time and always check directly with the insurance company about your status.
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http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2

NICU 4.4 LB
Erythema Nodosum 85
Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d
3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills
CN 3 GKRS 52301
IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen
Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET
6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove
H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M
Diastasis recti
Tamoxifen B. scan
Irrtbl bowel 1'09
Colonoscopy 313
BRCA1 V1247I
hptc hemangioma
Vertigo
GI - > yogurt
hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410
Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk
DEXA 1/13
1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer.
3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer.
Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement (600mg x2)
10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016
7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence.
7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule.
1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule.
"I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa

Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe
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Old 04-03-2010, 09:04 PM   #8
undecided8
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Re: insurance questions

Jaunita,
I too am about to face this issue and am scared to death about what's going to happen. After June 30th, I no longer have coverage. The insurance company tell us that we can purchase Cobra but it's $1,100.00 a month. My husband is unemployed and I've just been approved for disability. His unemployment benefits are too much for us to qualify for medicaid. I have NO idea how I'm going to continue treatment. If I find out anything that will help us that are without insurance I will surely pass it along. I too agree that if there's anything that will help people like us in this new health care bill, I'm ALL for it. It's hard enough to face this disease without having to worry about not being able to be treated or lose our homes and everything we have to pay for it.

Suzanne E.
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Old 04-04-2010, 07:49 AM   #9
Becky
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Re: insurance questions

Juanita

Make sure your lawyer insists that your soon to be ex's insurance continues to insure you. See if this can be part of the settlement.

It's worth a shot.
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Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
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2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
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Old 04-04-2010, 10:47 AM   #10
Patty F
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Re: insurance questions

Juanita....Cobra would apply for you because it is a change of life event. You would be covered for 18 months. They only way they could discontinue it for you would be if you did not pay the coverage or if the company your husband works for discontinued insurance for their employees. That should give you enough time to find a job that would offer insurance.
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10/15/07: Diagnosed at age 46 lymph node removal (2)
ER/PR - Her2 +++
11/07: Port Installed
11/07 - 1/08: AC
1/30/08: Right Mast Stage lllC
2/28/08: Start Taxol and Herceptin weekly.
5/15/08: Finished Taxol
8/12/08: Finished 33 Rads
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Old 04-04-2010, 10:51 AM   #11
Patty F
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Re: insurance questions

Juanita...Sorry I gave incorrect information. It is up to 3 years...see below.

In cases of divorce or legal separation, the dependent-spouse and his or her children can buy COBRA insurance from the covered spouse's employer for up to three years. (When employees lose their jobs or have their hours reduced, employees and their dependents can buy coverage for an 18-month period only.) Regardless of the qualifying event, COBRA coverage can be terminated by the employer if you fail to pay COBRA premiums or if the employer stops offering health care coverage completely.
__________________
10/15/07: Diagnosed at age 46 lymph node removal (2)
ER/PR - Her2 +++
11/07: Port Installed
11/07 - 1/08: AC
1/30/08: Right Mast Stage lllC
2/28/08: Start Taxol and Herceptin weekly.
5/15/08: Finished Taxol
8/12/08: Finished 33 Rads
1/29/09: Finished Herceptin
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