No Insurance

Shayne

My friend is going thru BC, has no insurance.  She is trying to get on some kind of county assistance as she is just barely above the poverty line.  Wondering what the health care is like in situations like this?  Just worried about my friend - we live in a small town and I drove 2hrs to get better docs as I had insurance.   

sheila888

Shayne...I found a link hoping it can help your friend

http://azdhs.gov/hsd/healthcheck/treatment.htm

♥

Shayne

thanks!

Moderators

Hi Shayne,

You may also be interested in checking out the main Breastcancer.org site's page on Help for People Without Health Insurance.

Hope this helps!

--The Mods

BarbaraJo50

Shayne,

Have your friend ask to speak with a financial counselor at the hospital where she will be receiving treatment. They very well could help push forward an answer from the assistance office. Some states have a special "cancer fund" for people in your friends situation. Also some hospitals have funds for special help. Once I said to one of the radiation techs that I was worried about gas money to get back and forth to the hospital. She filled out this paperwork and I received a check for $500.00 a week later. It was such a surprise and truely a lifesaver for me. 

There is help. I hope she asks for it. She needs to be treated asap. Blessings to you both.

Shayne

Hey thanks BarbaraJo50!  I sent my friend the suggestion!  Im concerned not that her treatment will be covered, as much as the type of care she will receive.  This helps!

QuinnCat

Based on one's zip code, the American Cancer Society will issue a prepaid American Express Card worth $300 for gas, no questions asked.  My zip code qualified me, probably because we have no oncologist closer than 60 miles away.  They will issue one $300 card every fiscal year.  I believe their fiscal year starts either Oct 1 or Sept 1.

Shayne

I love ACS!  We got free boarding at HOPE LODGE because we were 60miles away from treatment.  Such a gift!

purple32

Hmmm.... starting to FEEL like I have no health ins!  I live in MA and my ins is charging me $2700 of my LX costs. I disputed this and ' lost' . They now say the appeal has been exhausted ( what ???!) and I can no longer  continue in any way.  Does anyone know if there is something that can done?  MGH does not offer aid - I did check.

Chickadee

I got one of those ACS gas cards through the RO's office but it was only for $50. Love to get one for $300. Did a little digging around. The gas cards vary state to state and may depend on your driving a minimal round trip.

purple32

Arimidex for those w/out INS

http://www.arimidex.com/arimidex-direct.aspx

Moderators

That article from the main Breastcancer.org site in our earlier post is just one part of the section Paying for Your Care. It has information that can apply to anyone undergoing treatment - including help with the costs of living expenses, medicine costs, transportation costs, and dealing with insurance if you have it.

patwhitehouse

God Bless her heart!! I am facing no INSURANCE myself unless I am willing to pay $1,434 per month! It is a disgrace to realize you are treated as if you have the plague when these insurance companies know that you are at their mercy!! Please anyone ready this post if you have faced this issue or have any suggestion of a company that would be reasonable please let me know.

My cobra insurance expires 11/16/12

I would appreciate any help or suggestion.

God Bless All,
Pat

Edited by Mods to remove member's personal email address.

Moderators

Pat, check the links and suggestions in the posts above for resources to help those who are uninsured or underinsured. There are programs and organizations that can help you!

• The Mods

Vlady4848

Hi. My name is Vicki. I just recently lost my job after 9 years. I live in LasVegas. I am a 2 year survivor. I am due for my checkups and mri, bloodwork and mamogram. Its very upsetting not being able to go to my doctors whom Ive had since my diagnosis. Any advice would be great.  I also cant get my meds either. I take tamoxifen,

marywh

Hi Vicki I live in nc so things may be alot different here, but I went through my hospital, they have a charity care program there. They covered 100 percent of my bills for about three months, also check with the pharm. company that makes tamoxifen, they may have some kind of assistance program for people who cant afford it. I know one chemo drug that I was on the company covered the cost for anybody making less than 100,000 a year. Its worth a shot. Best wishes, Mary

peggy_j

Is it possible to go on COBRA for a month or two, then drop it? I know the premiums aren't cheap but the B-MRI alone costs $5000, so you may be able catch up on all your screenings and get a 90-day refill of tamox while you look for other options.  Not sure how it works in your state, but in CA you have 60 days after being notified to sign up for COBRA (and..it's possible your company is already covering you during those 60 days).

purple32

Vicki

Google the Burton Hill fund and ask if your hospital as it.

I had no luck trying to get help from the ACS , but you may want to try them as well.

Good luck to you.

Shayne

A lot of breast care centers and even hospitals have scholarship type help - but you have to ask!  A patient advocate (if the place has one) should be able to find out for you.  Even Mayo Clinic offers scholarships that pay for everything or almost all care.  

DeborahC

Vicki, You should be able to get tamoxifen from the pharmacy pretty cheaply if you shop around - I only pay $5 per month.  I don't even use my insurance because it's cheaper to pay cash.  I think Target and CVS have similar pricing.

tjr71

I have no insurance but I recently started having pain in my right breast, its swollen and I just noticed a red spot on the underside of my breast. That spot used to be a size of a head of a pen. Any suggestions on where I can go to get it looked at my cousin's girlfriend was diagnosed ibc last year they caught it in time. But now Iam worried I might have inc.

lago

If you are in the US call the American Cancer Society. They have social workers there that can navigate for you and make suggestions. All their help is free regardless of income: 1-800-227-2345 (24 hours)