Just Diagnosed... Maybe a unique situation

kellya81

I'm a 45 year old woman, who was technically diagnosed in June 2015. IDC Stage IIB. My situation is a bit unique because at the time of my diagnoses I lived with my husband of 13 years. Of course the news was devastating being a woman that had never had any serious medical issues. Always very positive and upbeat, but this news damaged my mental state considerably.

Today I have not undergone any treatment as of yet: That is what makes my situation a bit unique.

Two days after I found out I had cancer my insurance was discontinued because my income exceeded what was allowed to have it. I had to wait almost 30 days before I was able to get new insurance through Marketplace because they opened enrollment for me due to extinuating circumstances. I am not responsible for almost $200 per month premium. After resolving my insurance issue with the help of a hospital social worker. I scheduled my surgery date, lumpectomy. However, while awaiting this date, my husband, who had not been supportive of any of what I was going through started behaving in a fashion that ultimately destroyed our relationship. I was faced with the decision of whether or not I could go through my entire treatment while enduring such heartbreak and disappointment. Long story short...

I left the home, no home, a small income from a part-time job I am working, no place to really go that i would be comfortable going through chemo, surgery and radiation. The following day I was returning to grab just a few of my things and I had what I thought was a heart attack. I was so afraid and was taken to the hospital, it turns out it was a mini stroke. And they believed it to be brought on my severe stress. While in the hospital, my husband took my car, my house keys, just everything from me as I lay in the hospital bed. After I was released I literally had no place to go, so I jumped on a plane and came to the one person I knew I could count on, my best friend in Texas. Now I am here, having to start all over, it's October, I have had no treatment, I feel different, like physically different and I'm afraid if I've made things worse.

I have to wait again because I had to transfer my insurance to Texas, pick doctors and a hospital and now find a job to support myself and the medical expenses to come.

Does anyone have any advice for me. I'm so afraid.

bluepearl

The months you have been waiting may not affect your cancer because typically, it takes years for breast cancer to develop. That said, I am so sorry that this has been your journey. In a civilized country, this should NEVER happen to anyone. I hope you can go forward with your treatment, fairly confident that your breast cancer has;t progressed much, if at all. Take one problem at a time, take some deep breaths, hug your friend, and take one day at a time. You need a soft place to fall and I am hoping that is your friend. You haven't made things worse....this is a bad patch of the road.....you WILL find a way around it...and move forward. It took GREAT courage for you to get from there to here, a lot more than many people could handle. (((CYBER HUGS)))) girlfriend!! You inspired me!

Moderators

We agree with blue pearl! You will get there, one day at a time. Look how far you have come already. You will be okay, just take it easy on yourself. Start to knock through your list, and you'll get there! We're backing you up!

windingshores

I am wondering if you could use the insurance safety net that is part of, at least, our state health insurance, which will cover things as you wait to be enrolled. Did the hospital social worker mention strategies for getting surgery while waiting for your insurance to fully kick in? If you are low income, you may be eligible for social security payments while you recover.

A series of events after my surgeries led me to also be without a real home, and I have been afraid the stress will make the cancer come back. I can only imagine what that would be like before surgery and treatment.

Is your cancer responsive to estrogen? While you wait, perhaps you could take anti-estrogen medication. Most likely tamoxifen if you are not through menopause. I honestly don't know if this is a possibility, but you could ask.

I hope you can have surgery soon. Have you seen a surgeon or an oncologist in Texas?

kellya81

Thank you so much for the encouragement. I've been a wreck. I have no choice but to take one problem at a time and my friend is an absolute blessing in my life right now, something I needed in the darkness I was experiencing. I so appreciate you replying. (((Cyber Hugs)))

To answer the question about estrogen, I haven't taken any. I can certainly ask about it. I don't have a doctor yet, as my Texas insurance does not kick in until Nov 1. I do still have my Michigan insurance until 10/31. I plan to phone my former surgeon in Michigan to see if they can assist me with finding someone here in Texas.

I was really concerned about progression, as one of the things my surgeon said to me a couple months back was that I had to remove the stress. Didn't do a very good job of that at the time. I'm going to remain positive that everything is okay and come November I can schedule my surgery and start my treatment. Thank you.

MelissaDallas

Kelly, Windingshores was asking if your cancer is estrogen receptor positive, not if you are taking it. She's saying that perhaps you could be taking Tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor to keep your cancer from growing while you wait for surgery if your cancer is ER+

windingshores

What pathology results do you have so far? How do you know you are stage IIB?

I wonder if you could explain your health insurance situation. If your income is "small" are you on Medicaid? Or are you on private insurance? Do you qualify for the subsidies/tax breaks available for those whose income is just a little above the Medicaid threshold? (Rhetorical questions, I realize these things are private...)

Whether Medicaid or private, you should not have a break in health insurance coverage when you move to another state. Michigan coverage can cover you just as it would if you visited Texas, for the time it takes you to apply for insurance. Medicaid coverage in Texas begins the very moment you finish the application, which can be done online or, better, in person at a hospital financial resources office. The text below says that Texas Medicaid will even pay retroactively.

Why are you having to wait for coverage for treatment? And also, you don't have to wait to schedule appointments. You can get a referral from Michigan if you have to, then change it when you go on Texas insurance. Do you have someone counseling you on health insurance? I would call and make an appointment tomorrow with surgeon and oncologist.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_6370867_medicaid-guidelines-moving-out-state.html

Processing Your Application

• Contact your new state's Medical Assistance Office to find out where to apply for Medicaid benefits in the local area where you will be living. Most states also give you the option of applying online. Once you file an application form and provide documentation verifying your income and assets, your application will be processed to determine your eligibility. The date on which you requalify for Medicaid usually is the date on which you applied as long as you meet all of that state's eligibility requirements.

Getting Coverage for Back Bills

• Although most states provide retroactive coverage from the time you apply, you may have to pay for medical services out of pocket until your new application is processed and approved. The Medicaid program in your former state may pay medical bills you incurred in your new state before you officially moved if you were still eligible for Medicaid in that state at the time you received services. If not, your current state of residence may pay the bills provided you had already started the process of applying for Medicaid there.

MelissaDallas

Winding, she probably doesn't qualify for Medicaid in Texas. Very few adults do, unless they are women with minor children

kellya81

Melissa, I misunderstood. I can't remember if it is or not, they gave me so much information and technical terms, I will have to look when I travel back to Michigan in a few days to get my belongings and my medical records. And I will ask my doctor in Michigan if she suggest that I take Tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor to keep your cancer from growing while you wait for surgery. Thank you.

kellya81

Ok, Windingshores...

I can't remember technical terms and I'm in Texas, came rather abruptly so I don't have any of my paperwork with me. Will have all that next week when I return. But in terms I can understand. I have a tumor 3.2cm. I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I didn't have any genetic testing. It was Grade 1 or 2. It wasn't spreading fast but it had spread just from the time we found the tumor on the mammogram late last year. (We watched to tumor for 6months before they even did a biopsy.) It has spread to the ducts, and it is possible that it has spread to the lymph nodes but won't know that until lumpectomy. Was going to schedule me for a I believe its called a sentinal biopsy, but my life went haywire. And i ended up here.

Health insurance: I have private insurance now through marketplace, I have a monthly premium, but I had to transfer it to Texas in order to select a primary care physician and get a referral to see a specialist (surgeon, etc.) That goes into affect November 1st. In the meantime I still have my insurance from Michigan, again private, which they just given to me before I came out here so I had not picked a primary in Michigan with that insurance. I'd just been paying everytime I went to see the doctor after I found out about my diagnoses. I'm not on medicaid, they denied me because albeit my income is small, to me, it isn't to them I suppose. But my insurance is fine, and I can and will get back on schedule, I just can get a new team of doctors or a primary until my Texas insurance goes into affect. But if there is an emergency or I need to go to urgent care or something, I still have my Blue Care of Michigan.

To answer question about my wait and referrals, I can't get a referral because I don't have a primary care under the BCBS of MI plan. It's an HMO. So I can't select any doctors until I get my TX BCBS which is a PPO. I talked to the social worker at the hospital in Michigan I was scheduled to have my surgery at. And I can't just make an appointment with a surgeon, I have to have a referral. And only my primary care can give me that referral. I found a primary care I am interested in here in TX, but cannot even select her until I receive my TX insurance in the mail, which could be next week.

I'm not so much worried anymore about not having the surgery and treatment, it's a process I know. And I'm doing what I have to do. I am/was afraid of the time that has lapse already. When I go see a new surgeon, will I find out that the stress I've been under has changed my diagnoses for the worse.

I hope i explained things more clearly. I wish i could give you more detail than that. I'm typically a paperwork in your face kind of gal, but I have nothing with me and winging it off of memory.

Thanks for your help.

windingshores

So the missing link is the lack of a primary care doctor in Michigan. That explains it. Otherwise that MD could still be doing referrals. And that plan could still be paying. Good luck on November 1.

I just want others to know they can move to another state without a break in coverage if they do have a primary care MD and coverage in the first state. (Medicaid is much more available in my state.) You never know who might be reading this and what their situation might be.

I worry about stress too, but not sure really how much it contributes. Women with breast cancer were often living healthy lives with relatively low stress before diagnosis. The science isn't there yet, only our intuitive fears! Take care!