Private insurance in Canada

Diana1993

Yesterday, the day before Christmas I received a letter by way of Peralator, from my insurance plan.  My monthly cost is going to jump from $440.00 a month to over $1600.00 a month.  I don't have a hope of getting insurance with this 'pre existing' condition.  Can any of you give me ideas on where to turn?  I live in Ontario.   I just can't work this amount into any kind of budget.

When I retired in 2003, I made sure I kept my health coverage so I would never have to face the decision as to get treatment or die.  Now that I'm taking Xeloda at the cost of $800.00  a month, I think they want to cut me loose.

I would appreciate any help.  I can't seem to think straight at the moment. 

Hugs,

Diana 

Beesie

Diana,

I quit my job around the time that I was diagnosed.  I spent a lot of time investigating insurance options and trying to decide whether or not to buy supplemental insurance.  In the end, I decided not to.  What concerned me was that all the insurance options I looked at had a cap on drug costs, unless the premium was very expensive.  I figured that most of what I would need in terms of medical care would be covered by OHIP except, of course, drug costs.  But if my insurance would cap the coverage of drug costs, what would be the point of getting the insurance?  And, most importantly, I found out through PMH about the Ontario Trillium program.  This is a drug benefit program that's available to anyone in Ontario who has OHIP coverage.  There is a deductible based on income level and family size, but if you have a low income, the deductible may be as low as $500 a year ($125 each quarter).  And even if you have a higher income, if you require a really expensive drug, the program might still be a help - in the scheme of things, a $10,000 deductible may not be that bad if you need $40,000 in drugs.  All drugs that are on the Ontario formulary are covered by this program.  Xeloda is on the formulary. 

Here is information about the Trillium Program:

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/drugs/trillium.html

http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/AttachDocsPublish/014-S46850E-87~15/$File/TrilliumBookE.pdf

Hope that helps!

mke

My onc at PMH suggested the Trillium Fund too, but I didn't need it as I had very good drug coverage through my husband. I had a friend who used it and I gather it's a bit of paperwork but not too bad.



Good luck.

Diana1993

Thank you Beesie and Mke. 

I wish I had known about this Trillium plan when I retired.  On Monday I will get the forms from the drug store and apply.   A couple of months ago 'my very good insurance plan' asked for a special authorization form for Xeloda.  That should have been my clue, tough times were ahead.  In the mean time I will stock up on Xeloda for holidays and hope for the best. 

I was really shaken when I received the news that my cost for private insurance was going to jump to $1600. a month.  I have since calmed down and I know that there is always a reason for these trials.  Thank goodness for this web site where I can vent and ask for help.

Hugs,

Diana.