medicaid anyone???
 

I was fortunate that I still had my health insurance through my previous employer for a period of time after I was released due to a worker comp issue. Now they are offering COBRA for 1100.00 a month. My insurance was 240. which was being paid by my boyfriend, as I have been unemployed since the worker comp issue. I found out that I qualify for Medicaid ( my boyfriend can't afford 1100. For me - I am grateful for him taking care of me as he does); however,Medicaid scares the crap out of me. I am in Colorado. Does anyone have Medicaid? Will it cover all my future herceptin treatments? Hormone therapy? What about doctors? Are they scarce like I hear? Thanks for any feedback.

Re: medicaid anyone???
 

I'm in Colorado too. I don't have Medicaid, I have private insurance but there was a program through the drug company that makes Herceptin that covered all my Herceptin treatments. My oncologists took care of applying for me. My husband wants to retire early next year and the thought of how much we will have to pay for insurance scares me! Good luck

Re: medicaid anyone???
 

Hi,
Towards the end of my treatments my husband lost his job, and with it my medical insurance. After talking with the financial dept. at my hospital I signed up for Medicaid, or is it Medicare? Here in PA there is a special state sponsored program for women like me, women who have been diagnosed with cancer of either breast, cervix or ovaries. I was immediately accepted into this program and there is minimal (as in $21 is the most I will ever pay and that is for 7 days of inpatient treatment. My out of pocket expense maxes out at $21) expense on my part. As long as I am being treated, and Tamoxifen counts as treatment, I can keep this insurance.

The down side is a need a referral for every MD I visit other then my OBGYN. So every follow up with every onc needs a referral. Luckily my PCP has been great with that.

Also, check to see if your hospital/treatment center has a reduced cost of care program. Mine did/does. They based it on my salary alone and since I was physically unable to perform my job after BMX and during chemo. They reduced the amount I would have to pay after insurance did their part. This was a big help.

Now, every time I have a question regarding my insurance I call the 800# on my card and I speak to a lovely person. Not scary at all. I feel like for the first time I have an insurance co that really has MY best interest at heart. My calls are answered quickly, my questions are answered thoroughly and I am always pleased with their support.

I did, at first, take issue with (and was embarrassed by) having a state funded ins co but the truth is I have been working all my adult life, I worked as a teen. I worked during college and pregnancy. I have worked for a very long time and I deserve the help I get now. And so do you. Don't be scared.

Best
Leah

Re: medicaid anyone???
 

This was in my Slate feed yesterday:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slate...52b8870b00b18f

The report is here:

http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-02-13-00670.pdf

Although they've cast this in the worst light possible (in the article), I've experienced similar problems obtaining appointments even though I have very good private insurance.

One of my neighbors had Medicaid coverage throughout her breast cancer treatment, and she received comparable care, except in a couple of situations where she didn't know she needed to jump up and down to get attention for certain comfort issues. But that was her, not Medicaid.

If you can, change your doctors before you switch. Practices keep existing patients even when they switch to Medicaid, even if they have a cap on acceptance of new Medicaid patients.

Re: medicaid anyone???
 

Thanks rhondalea and everyone for the words of wisdom. I did find out my GP/Obgyn will accept Medicaid, same with radiation doctor. The plastic surgeon I saw once on regular insurance takes it too. I will check and swap if need be for oncologist and surgeon.
You are right.....I do deserve to have it and not feel guilty. I have worked for 40 years....payed taxes every year.

Re: medicaid anyone???
 

Make sure your primary care doc accepts the plan you want. Especially if you will need referrals