Man Denied Breast Cancer with Medicaid

EricV

Just found this article.  I really feel for this guy.

 http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44065422/ns/health-mens_health/#.TkFJEYLcDdA

 He was denied financial assistance because he is male.

gamergirl

I read this and it seriously upset me.  With the BRCA2 mutation in our family, we have had multiple men with breast cancer.  And since I have 4 brothers and a son with a 50/50 shot at the gene it really hits home.  It makes me worry because where medicaid treads, private insurance companies will follow.  Cancer is cancer is cancer.  I don't care WHOSE breast it is in.  

lago

I also just read this in the Chicago Tribune today:
Men with breast cancer: Medicaid won't cover treatment for men 

Somebody wrote that up incorrectly. It should be "patient with breast cancer can be covered" not "woman with breast cancer can be covered" This needs to be fixed pronto. 

EricV

I am so happy to hear that I am not the only who thinks this is crazy.  Since I have Breast Cancer and I am a guy, it really makes me mad.

If I have to take disability due to treatment, I would end up on medicaid, and lose my chemo coverage.  What a weird system we have.

Wabbit

https://www.cms.gov/MedicaidSpecialCovCond/02_BreastandCervicalCancer_PreventionandTreatment.asp

In order for a woman to be eligible for Medicaid under this option, she must:

*  have been screened for and found to have breast or cervical cancer, including precancerous    conditions, through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP)

*  be under age 65; and

*  be uninsured and otherwise not eligible for Medicaid

I am really surprised that this issue has not come up before!  It's not fair at all ...

The other glitch in the program is the first point ... about being screened and diagnosed through the Program.  Many women are denied the Medicaid benefits simply because they were diagnosed before they found out about it ... by doctors and facilities that do not participate in the program.  

Hopefully the publicity on this will get some changes made. 

dreaming

He needs to contact his Senator or Representative, there are many men that had breast cancer, one that brought awareness to it is the original actor from Shaft, one can not fight to get the medical  care that is needed.

We take care of millions of "medical tourists"that are in the USA to get free treatments, transplants. It makes my blood boil.

NatsFan

Not to hijack the thread, but I've never heard of the millions of medical tourists getting free medical treatments and transplants here in the US that you wrote about, Dreaming.  Can you provide a link to that information?

Letlet

I think more importantly aside from discussing this. How can we help this man?? I read on several articles that he already has $4000 in bills. He has no insurance, works for $9/hr, a physically demanding job and his treatment consists of chemo, surgery which he has not started yet. I read that he may lose his job while on chemo since he is working in construction.

NatsFan

According to a local news story: 

"If you would like to help give support to Raymond Johnson, you can call Susan Appelbaum at the Charleston Cancer Center at 843-576-1353."

http://www.abcnews4.com/story/15239952/another-man-denied-federally-funded-breast-cancer-medicaid-because-of-his-gender 

ithaca

It is crazy. The federal law requires the coverage for women, but not for men. But individual states have the option of providing the same coverage to men. I know that New York and California provide coverage to men with breast cancer under this program. It's clear that South Carolina doesn't. I'm not sure how the other states shake out.

Letlet

NatsFan, thanks for posting that link to help him!

NatsFan

Hooray - he's got his Medicaid coverage!!!  S. Carolina decided to cover him under its program after all.  

http://www.abcnews4.com/story/15294161/man-battling-breast-cancer-gets-medicaid 

Bren-2007

Nats .. thanks for posting the link.  So happy he was covered under the Breast and Cervical Cancer program.  What a great step forward for this program.

Bren

AnnNYC

NatsFan -- thanks for posting the good news!  Whew!   Hopefully this will set a precedent for any other states that aren't covering treatment for men with BC...

dreaming

Nats fan, I know because I work in a hospital,  we had not to long ago a teen that came for a transplant, the reason why he did not have it in his country, because it was too expensive, the surgery, follow up will reach over $1 million.

The irony the parents are staying at  a very expensive condo. In many states they have Tittle 11 to cover costs. I cant not give you a link, because of Federal Laws regarding privacy for medical care.

The only people that are foreign that pay are from the Gulf States, Saudi Arabia, Turkey.

Their Government pays for their stay and care.

My daughter in law father died waiting for his insurance to ok a liver transplant, he was a victim of Agent Orange in Vietnam where he was a pilot.

At the same time, I was working in a hospital with undocumented parents and child, he was getting a second liver transplant.

They are millions because they have to have care for years to come, and they keep adding thought the years, I have been in the medical field for 20 years.

hymil

Natsfan, that's a great result, thank-you for updating us.

EricV

Nats,  Thats awesome thanks for updating!