[Merridith]

Hi Dawn:

I have just read your answer and would like to provide a rebuttal to your post.

Yes, Herceptin is covered. Lucky for you, me and others that can use it. Yup - so is transit to the chemo center - and yes - volunteers supply wigs etc.

Now what about Tykerb? That is a chemo that HER2+++ women might need. NOT covered by the Canadian government & provinces. What about neupogen? - not covered unless you have extremely special circumstances while on chemo. There are others that I can think of -including certain types of anti-nausia medication. Luckily, you didn't need them. Or you were covered by your extended insurance and didn't realize that others around you couldn't get it.

The medications that I mentioned above are shockingly expensive. I have sat in the chemo infusion ward and talked to fellow cancer victims who wish that they could afford them. They have been told point-blank that they aren't covered. I have a girl friend who was diagnosed shortly after me. And guess what - SHE didn't have extended medical. She couldn't get the access to the stuff that I could because I like you had a platinum extended health. (And yes, she needed it. She spent a long time agonising over whether to use the family funds to buy this stuff. And given her diagnosis - she decided NOT to deplete the family resources - great situation eh? )

What about the infusion costs for Tykerb? Not only do you have to pay about $50,000 for the med, but $250 @ time for each infusion. That's why there are private chemo infusion clinics springing up across Canada. Certain chemos are OUTSIDE of the paid portion our healthcare system. ONLY chemos that are not covered by the Canadian medical can be legally infused there for profit. And yes, these treatments are recognised by the Canadian government. They are not weird fly-by-night nut treatments.
The other main issue that I addressed was employment. You mention how well you were treated by saying "My employee, personally, checks in on me to see how things are going ". I assume that means that you are SELF-employed. The situation that I was discussing in my post is about employee situation. SELF-employed have much more control about how they are treated in the workplace.

You also say " when you go for an interview for a job, you are under no obligation to tell them that you have been dx with an serious illness, and it is also illegal for them to ask." This is true.

But in the real world info leaks out. It is legal for an employer to ask the reference "What type of attendance did your employee have?" hmmmmmmmmm ya think that someone might mention a two-year abscence? What about when you sign up for benefits at your new work site. It is illegal to lie by omission when you fill out the form. Is it possible that the new employer might have the opportunity to spot the information? It is much less likely to happen with a large employer who has well-trained human resources, but lots of little employers can slip up and take a peek and it would be almost impossible to prove.

And here is the final point that I would like to address - insurance. Once you're diagnosed you can't buy it. And since the Canadian government has just recently decided to put the cap on cancer treatment costs - there was no opportunity/motive for people to buy extended private insurance in advance of the announcement.

People like me thought that we were TOTALLY covered. Now we can't be. EVER. Once you're diagnosed it's too late to buy in. And the new employer's extended health insurance usually comes with riders to EXCLUDE previously diagnosed conditions. This doesn't apply if you are going back to the SAME workplace. You would still be covered. But I was trying to highlight a serious problem as I saw it. It is in the financial best interest of the employer to get rid of you one way or the other. Many employers don't do this. But many do. And then you DON'T have insurance. And won't be able to reasonably get it quickly again.

Again, this situation doesn't apply to you - you are not likely to fire yourself, or want to quit for one reason or another.
In answer to your final point - yes, I was treated extremely well. I had the best treatment that money could buy. Money was no object for me. I had the best doctors, nurses & the best everything. But being financially well off doesn't mean that I'm oblivious to the things going on around me and see the consequences.

Best Regards,

Merridith