No insurance = just die?

Mareny109

So if you're trying to take care of yourself and you have no insurance is the message from the Drs to just die already? So many of us work and can barely make ends meet. I guess like I was reading on someone else's post they already work 75 hours, but heck, maybe they can get in 20 more to pay for medical. The make this big deal about get your mammograms and then scare the hell out of you or God forbid you do have it and then -oh, no money. Oh well. WTF. ( hope I can type that)

Or are we supposed to become homeless from medical bills? The only thing you should have to do during cancer is fight for your life. Not worry about what will you have left to live for. So disgusted by the system. Then all the advise is- you have to not stress. HA HA HA . So the cancer won't get you but the stress heart failure from the damn bills will.

Usa here. Florida.

blah333

This is why I stay below the poverty level, to get free healthcare. It's a miserable life. The only other option is to magically get a job that pays $50k and has benefits. Not sure where those are anymore. I am trying to go back to school to learn a trade but might be undermined by a recurrence that will make it difficult to do physical labor. I'm 37, been poor since the 2009 recession, hard to feel hopeful. Another round of cancer would bankrupt me. I still have debt from last time, 2 years ago, and owe friends money, even though I did not have medical bills.

AliceBastable

The U.S. health care system certainly sucks. That being said, if you have teaching hospitals in your area, they usually have clinics that charge on a sliding scale, or will write off the fees. They include doctor visits, tests, procedures, and in-patient stays. There are also some hospitals affiliated with religious organizations that have similar clinics. And many of them aren't terribly pushy about the religion! If you're in an urban area, there may be People's Clinics set up for the uninsured or under-insured (my son has used them and was quite satisfied).

pupmom

One word: VOTE

Anonymous

A lot depends on the city and state that you live in. Where I live, if you go to a hospital cancer center there is charity care available, based on income and assets. From there, they would work to get you on some kind of government insurance depending on what you might be eligible for. But if you have a higher income and/or some assets, the only alternative is getting some kind of insurance, either through the healthcare.gov marketplace, your job or privately.

gb2115

Can you get insurance through the affordable Care act? I admit I don't know much about it, having employer paid group health, but I thought that was supposed to fix the insurance problems. Maybe it's too expensive, thus not really affordable?

Mareny109

Open enrollments and then you can't get in any other time. The last time I checked it the monthly was three something and a $7,000 deductible. When you're just making ends meet and not feeling well enough to work 24-7 3 jobs then 3 something is not happening. Plus I've run into people that have said you're better off without it as if you can't pay the deductible then they won't do anything for you. Most households don't have an extra $100 in savings.

My favorite is everyone says make sure you get a second opinion. Sure. If you're rich.

AnnC2019

Mareny109,

That is dreadful. I am fortunate to have health insurance through my work even still co-pays etc., really are expensive. I sat with a mound of bills on my lap not knowing what was what.

The billing system is crazy here in the US. Six months of treatment and almost 200,000 billed to insurance without chemo.

Have you thought about a GoFundMe page? I would contribute something as I am sure others would. Even if you collected enough for a year of premiums and deductible that might help reduce stress

DogMomRunner

I don’t know what you have been diagnosed with (and so what kind of treatment you might need) but tell your doctor about the financial problem. If they have a treatment plan then their financial office should help you find resources. Google search for financial help for cancer patients in your area. Sometimes pharmaceutical companies have financial programs.
What is your age? Do you qualify for any assistance like medicaid? It’s going to take you doing some research on the resources available to you.

But the US healthcare system sucks. I wish we could have Medicare for all but that apparently is too liberal of an idea

mac5

The American Cancer Society is the best resource to find out what help is available for you. There can be rides to the doctors or treatment. Or gas cards for transportation costs. Or co-pay assistance if your Medical Facilities won’t absorb all the costs.

I worked all my life to take care of myself and mine. But when you need help, please don’t be too proud to ask.

Best wishes and you truly don’t need the added financial stress when you are fighting a killer disease.

Love and hugs to all

Mareny109

Thank you Ann and DogMom and Mac. I'm really still in the not diagnosed but worried category. I need a biopsy and am trying to figure that out fight now. But I started reading everything on here and am trying to absorb as much as I can in case it's my worst case scenario. I'm 50. Not ready to start a go fund me yet. But, Not sure even how I'm going to do this biopsy or when. The Nurse Practitioner was saying to at least go to the BS and ask about a payment plan. I wasn't going to go, but psychologically this is wrecking me. You shouldn't have to wonder or wait. But funny how they say go get your mammo every year and then when you can't afford the biopsy they're like- so you decline it right now? Um, yes. I have to. And then you rot in the worry of is it? Is it getting worse? Could I have saved myself? I only got the mammo and call back diagnostic/ultrasound b/c my husband put it on his credit card.

Anonymous

There is this program which is supposed to be nation wide. BUT - I think you have to start with getting a mammogram through their program in order to qualify for any more services after that. There are also income guidelines which look pretty low. I guess if I really needed the help and I qualified financially, I would just go and ask for the mammogram and not say that I just had one.

https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/screenings.htm

peaches1

The hospital should have somebody to help you sign up for medicaid or research other avenues to pay for this. One of my sisters has Obamacare, and she only has to pay $3 a month, but she has a $6,500 deductible. She has that much set aside in a health savings account so she does not have to pay taxes on the money. I don't understand how a HSA works and if she gets her money back if she does not use it all. Her husband also has a $6,500 deductible, but he is going to be eligible for medicare in April. He is a veteran, and we asked him at Christmas why he does not just go to the VA, and he told me that the VA has started charging for services, and plus it takes you forever to get anything done.

The one year I had Obamacare before I became eligible for medicare, my premiums were very low, but I had a high deductible, and ended up with $7,000 in medical and dental bills that year, and that was before I got diagnosed with BC. The hospital did let me pay in installments though. After I got diagnosed with BC, my medicare and supplement paid for everything but my dental and $50 for a vision exam.

You might try Susan Koman for financial help too.

Mareny109

Thank you.

UpstateNYer

peaches1-- I am very familiar with HSA accounts. Had one for 2019 and 4 years prior to that. You can only have one when your health insurance is a high deductible plan per IRS rules. The amounts carry over from year to year, they are never lost. You can put in around $7000 tax deferred per year, and if over 55, $8,000 per year. Amounts change yearly. You can put in money for 2019 in 2020, as long as it's before tax filing time , like when contributing for an IRA. You never lose the money. Withdrawls are tax free as long as money is used for medical (including dental, vision,prescriptions etc. ) I heard that you can even use HSA money for massages. When you turn 65, you may withdraw the HSA money for any reason, but if not medically related, you would be taxed as you normally would for an IRA withdrawl, but not be penalized. Once you are on Medicare, you can no longer contribute to the HSA. Hope that helps someone. If your insurance is a normal copay plan, you can contribute to an FSA account for medical bills, but the yearly maximum you can tax defer is a much lower amount than the HSA, $2700.