Anyone Retired?

tos

Hi,

I am trying to find some women who have had bc or are presently going thru treatments that are retired.

You can private message me if you like, thanks.

lolmarsha

 Hi galnok,  i retired when I run out of my sick at work. Then Joined SS D. with the two and my husband checks we are getting by. Not old enought for medicare yet. what would you like to know?

tos

Hi Marsha,

My husband and I are retiring early at 62 and will have his insurance

but what I am wondering about is the co-pays for instance.

When you are on a limited income and your Onc for example

wants you to get a PET it is going to be hard to do.  I wondered

how others got by.

I'm triple negative, have been diagnosed twice and so am supposed

to have a PET before I see my Onc and I'm worried about the co-pay.

I'm afraid I will have to give up scans because of the money and that doesn't make me

very comfortable.

Thanks!

junie

Hi!   I've had bc--IDC--am retired....sent you a PM

junie

LOL!!! Ignore my PM !!  I jumped the gun...

Insurance issues are so tricky--every coverage/company seems to have different criteria.    So much depends on the type of insurance coverage that you have and reading their coverage booklets is like reading Greek to me!   Recently, I had to make a choice between 3 drugs prescribed to try and combat osteoporosis that has developed in my hips.   I wanted to know the costs of each drug--the pharmacist couldn't help me because I didn't have a dr's written prescription for each w/dosage.    So, I called my ins co.   It took a couple of transferred calls, but I finally got ahold of someone who very patiently listened to me, understood what I was asking, and spent almost a half hour on the phone with me, figuring out  what each drug would cost each month basis my coverage.

I've been sent for two breast MRI's in the past couple years...have a $15 co-pay and maybe $150 out of pocket cost for each MRI--which cost $2,000 to $3,000 each.

Because individual health insurance plans vary so widely based on co-pays, yearly deductibles to meet, etc., it is difficult to answer a specific question.   Try calling the company and see if you can get some answers.    Good Luck!!!! 

SoCalLisa

Hi me too...

over 65 and enjoying retirement

tos

Thank you ladies.  It just scares me if I can't scan once awhile because

I might not be able to afford it but I will call my insurance company on

the upcoming PET, I know they are expensive and I don't want to

pay $200-$300 out of pocket!

Appreciate your writing.

iodine

One of the ways i manage that is to discuss with the doc the necessity of everything!  Ask what other options are available and the benefits of each as well as the negatives.

Also, docs today are SO accustomed to just ordering tests of all varities with little thought of cost to the patient, esp. if they have ins.  Somehow they forget about co-pays and deductibles.  And they mostly seem to go for the most expensive test or med.

Please have a talk with your doc and explain that you will be on a fixed income, even with ins, and that, of course, you want to do all NEEDED to stay healthy, but that you would appreciate discussions of the treatment plan.

We have to be responsible for our own care and needs.

Example: Ortho was injecting my shoulder for chronic pain---wanted to do an MRI.  I asked what we would do with the results and she replied surgery.  I will likely never agree to surgery on my shoulder, at least not until it's very painful on a daily basis, so I declied the MRI and she agreed that it was not necessary, really, at this time, but that so many of her patients wanted testing on chronic stuff, even tho not much could really be done for them, it made them feel better.

Now, I love my ortho, but I HATE that response/attitude.!!!!