Angry to High Heavens

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Shrek4
Shrek4 Member Posts: 1,822
edited June 2014 in Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts

Well, I was supposed to start my chemotherapy after the PS would give the OK.

The PS gave the  OK, I switched to another center to have the chemo (as I wasnt' happy with the one before), and then boom! My insurance benefits were changed for 2010and I was suposedto pay $761 per treatment! And that being 30% of the cost.

Anyway, we figured out we cant' go with that healthinsurance anymore, with the high premium AND the high co-pay, I asked left and right, found a few financial help companies, still was too much, and finally I found an Oklahoma program , SoonerCare, for people with low income (yes, that is where we are, and I bet lots of the women here have gotten to that).

So my ex-health insurance was federal BCBS through  the Cobra program following my divorce. It took me 23 phone calls to figure out how am I supposed to cancel it, as SoonerCare requests a letter of cancellation from the previous insurance.

I found out. I sent the letter, it will take them TWO WEEKS to process it. Two freaking weeks! I called and tried to tell them again and again that it is a life or death situation, to no avail. "I'm sorry, Ma'am that is all we can do". These are government employees. With their freaking paychecks coming out of my taxes!

At this point I am feeling ready to call the news.

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  • ladyod
    ladyod Member Posts: 152
    edited March 2010

    Hi Day!  I am so, so sorry that you are having to go through this...is it not enough stress to have to deal with your bc, much less the stress of dealing with insurance?  I also am in OK and wish that I had some answers for you.  Have you tried asking for a supervisor?  Many times they can expedite the request quickly.  You may talk to your onc:  sometimes the pharmaceutical reps have programs for situations like this.  And if all else fails, yes, call the news!  This is ridiculous!  In Tulsa, we have Channel 2 works for you and they are looking for stories like this!  The insurance company does not want bad publicity and it sure seems like things happen fast when the media is involved.  Don't think of it as being mean, you would be doing a  service for other women in the same situation!  Again wish I had a connection for you to go to!  Good luck and stay strong!  Call your onc and then the media!  God Bless you!     Tammy

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  • moogie
    moogie Member Posts: 499
    edited March 2010

    My advice: document everything in writing, including all phone calls you make and who you talk to, with the time. Then, FAX EVERYONE. I did this with my insurance company and freaked them out. I had over 12 pages of single spaced history, and I began faxing every number I had....daily. The paper blob and documentation got me results in under a week.

    FIGHT WITH PAPER VOLUME !!!

    Moogie 

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  • Shrek4
    Shrek4 Member Posts: 1,822
    edited March 2013

    I was actually thinking to write to Senator Imhofe. I know his team is excellent in taking care of things.

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  • Shrek4
    Shrek4 Member Posts: 1,822
    edited March 2013

    Just found out that it is going to take them a total of FIVE weeks to process my health insurance cancellation. Three weeks for the federal government and two weeks for BCBS. In the mean time they dont' care if I die. Not in the exact same words, but the meaning was the same.

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  • cary1
    cary1 Member Posts: 372
    edited March 2010

    Wow. This is terrible. I can identify. My chemo also got started months late (for another reason) and it continues to be a source of anxiety that I was delayed, and then the radiation was delayed, etc. etc. I think the Senator is a good idea, or your Congressman/woman since they have more of a local connection. The news is also a good idea, I just would worry that some retaliation could be taken against you that would make the process even slower. Good luck.

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  • Shrek4
    Shrek4 Member Posts: 1,822
    edited March 2013

    I finally got the letter in the mail. Tomorrow I am going to the Department of Health to get on the state program. Yoohoo!

    And not only that, we finally managed to get the income tax returns in, and there will be enough refunds to finish paying all the medical bills!

    *dancing with joy*

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  • MrsBee
    MrsBee Member Posts: 124
    edited April 2010

    I'm glad to hear that you've gotten this worked out and can proceed with your treatment.

    {{{{{Day}}}}}

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  • Shrek4
    Shrek4 Member Posts: 1,822
    edited March 2013

    I just came back - I'm in the program and should be able to start soon. They need to send me the card and it will take about a week to process. It took them about 10 minutes to do the paperwork!

    Edit at 3:24 p.m.

    They already called me to give me the policy number, so I can start my treatment and Dr's appointments before the card comes in the mail. I already have lined up the appointments and probably next week will start the chemo. Yay! So, it took BCBS over five weeks to process a cancellation letter, and the state program 4 hours to approve me, do the paperwork and process the policy.... does that tell something about value given to human life in both cases?

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