No Insurance and don't qualify for medicaid

caring4animals

Hey all, I am brand new to this. I was diagnosed April 9th with DCIS high grade. I got in under a Susan G Komen grant for the diagnostic and biopsy and paid out of pocket for the screening, family doctor visits, and surgeon consult (over $600 so far). Tomorrow morning I go in for a genetics counseling consult, I asked up front this time and there is no charge for tomorrow. I could feel something in my duct but had brushed it off until Heart day when they offered mammograms for $50 (which I was later billed another $247, a reading fee). I did it and got a call back with in a 2 hour frame. I just knew, not fear or over worry, I just knew. It was God getting me to the right place at the right time. Now I can't afford $376 a month I have been quoted for insurance, which is less than Obamacare offered and I am slightly, I am talking $800 above the mark for Medicaid. Is there anyone else out there who has been in my boat and has advice to offer?

flatnfab54

Did you look in to the Medicaid for Breast and Cervical Cancer program which has a income limit of $1915 a month. There is also a John Fleming Cancer clinic at Gibbs Cancer  in Spartanburg you might qualify for.

caring4animals

I did apply for (BCN) Medicaid and have not heard back yet, I am very close to the income limit, I have a feeling I won't make it.  I have also put in an application for financial aid at the hospital. I will check into that clinic, thank you for letting me know!

Laurais50

Check into a program called "Every Woman Counts" They may help, but I'm not sure.  

 

Sunshineinky

Does your state have a "spend down" program? It's with Medicaid but the income requirements are more lenient.  It will normally cover you for a period of time.  Your local hospital may be able to help as well with programs.  

Akevia

You can go to your local health department and apply for the breast and cervical cancer program. I'm on that now I lost my job last year when I was diagnosed. I work part time now but it was approve in about 2 weeks. They didn't ask for any check stubs or anything. Goodluck!

ibcmets

Caring4animals:  Log into patientresource.net.  They have pages of financial support in their booklets.  You could also order online or call

816 333-3595 X26  

The info is free to cancer patients.

Terri

Moderators

The main Breastcancer.org's section Paying for Your Care has lists of resources to help with many aspects of the costs around BC, from medicines and help for those who are uninsured or underinsured.

• The Mods

Anonymous

In 2007, at age 46, and just after three years of many, many, major losses, I was diagnosed with Stage III.

I had just divorced my husband and was not working. My temporary alimony had been calculated at half my monthly living expenses. I had other medical conditions. NYS gave me a 'choice' -- if I earned a penny, I would have been over limit and ineligible for treatment under a special program.

I went through everything I had or could sell while I fought for 2+ years for Disability. I ended up paying a law firm $5,300 to get it after my alimony ended and I was on welfare and homeless. My gene pool had run for the hills and I had just moved somewhere that I knew only my mother, who ignored the fact that I had cancer, but would run around helping others and telling me about it.

After treatment, the economy was in the midst of the Depression. I was an "overeducated, long-term, unemployed adult" and could not find work. So, I started a second Master's to go into a different area of my field and ride out the projected short recovery.

My 7 year anniversary was last Saturday. Pre-existing conditions worsened, plus the effects of treatment. I get a low paying temp job once a year, if I am lucky. I have no QOL, cannot afford decent housing, medical care, etc.

As bad as this may sound, I didn't bargain being put out to pasture in the prime of my career. I should have stuck to Plan A -- enjoy the time I had left and then get the morphine and O2.

Single, professional women without a support network are more likely to get financially and emotionally devastated. I struggle with major clinical depression. For me, no, it wasn't worth it. I am just the living dead.

caring4animals

Bluepalace, I am so sorry to hear your pain. I too am suffering with depression and have parents that ignore me, my mother even took up money to help me and will not give me what she raised. Please don't feel alone. If it were not for God I would have given up myself.