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StephN · 11-03-2008, 12:39 PM

My medical cost now may be less than I would pay if I lived in France!

I should say that I am now on early Medicare with a supplemental that includes prescriptions. I have the most inclusive plan I could find, and it does not cost much more than the others out there.

But, I was with Brenda in that since we have a small business my medical plan (since I was age 36) was an Individual Preferred Provider plan and was not cheap. Fortunately I had a business to pay for it as a benefit, but that meant I took a smaller paycheck in exchange for that benefit.

But something (like an inner voice) told me that I should DO THAT. So, I went without some things and personal services that some women find important. But, I knew I would never have to "go broke" from an unexpected disease or accident. Peace of Mind does not come free.

There was a while in the 80's that I had a string of auto accidents - 5 out of 6 were other people's fault. The other one I was blinded by the setting sun and did not see a small car jumping a light. I was able to have any medical care I needed at that time and was extremely lucky never to be very seriously hurt.

I am thankful that I had that insurance as my coverage was very good when I had to begin treating my cancer. Yes, I did have a deductable and annual stop loss to pay, but you can make payments over the year so the bite is not so big.

11-03-2008, 12:39 PM	#22
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	My medical cost now may be less than I would pay if I lived in France! I should say that I am now on early Medicare with a supplemental that includes prescriptions. I have the most inclusive plan I could find, and it does not cost much more than the others out there. But, I was with Brenda in that since we have a small business my medical plan (since I was age 36) was an Individual Preferred Provider plan and was not cheap. Fortunately I had a business to pay for it as a benefit, but that meant I took a smaller paycheck in exchange for that benefit. But something (like an inner voice) told me that I should DO THAT. So, I went without some things and personal services that some women find important. But, I knew I would never have to "go broke" from an unexpected disease or accident. Peace of Mind does not come free. There was a while in the 80's that I had a string of auto accidents - 5 out of 6 were other people's fault. The other one I was blinded by the setting sun and did not see a small car jumping a light. I was able to have any medical care I needed at that time and was extremely lucky never to be very seriously hurt. I am thankful that I had that insurance as my coverage was very good when I had to begin treating my cancer. Yes, I did have a deductable and annual stop loss to pay, but you can make payments over the year so the bite is not so big. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018. Last edited by StephN; 11-03-2008 at 03:27 PM..