Chemotherapy & financial assistance

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naty41
naty41 Member Posts: 28
edited June 2014 in Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues

I am freaking out. Just got a letter from the Oncologist that each Chemo treatment co-pay is $1,232.00. I have Secure Horizons Part B and Medicare. The Oncologist send me a list of organizations that could possibly help me out. I will not know how many treatments I will have until June 24 when I have the educational class.

Has anybody been able to get financial assistance from Co-payment Assistance Foundations?  Any suggestions as to these Foundations will be greatly appreciated.

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  • naty41
    naty41 Member Posts: 28
    edited June 2011

    Nancy: Thank you!

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  • naty41
    naty41 Member Posts: 28
    edited June 2011

    2Tzus my co-payment is 20 percent of the total bill. I called the insurance company and they said that the maximum I will have to pay for co-payment is $6,700.00 which is a lot of money. I checked immediately and the insurance company said that the Oncologist was correct. I am going to have Taxotere, Herceptin, Carboplatin, Aloxi and Decadron.

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited June 2011

    I applied to one & qulified to get $75.00 reimbursement, but I never seem to send the the correct paper work so I finlly gave up.  Didn't have the energry to fight it.  NJ

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  • lauri
    lauri Member Posts: 267
    edited June 2011

    As I undertand it, your 20% is based on what Medicare approves as payment, NOT what the provider wants to charge -- maximum allowabvle charges are only 15% above what Medicare allows.  Just got started with Medicare and I've been amazed by the difference between what is originally charged and what Medicare allows.

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited June 2011

    Do you have an out-of-pocket annual maximum?   .  

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  • naty41
    naty41 Member Posts: 28
    edited June 2011

    Mrsnjband: I called the Oncololist Account Manager and she said the paperwork isn't too difficult and the financial assistant program lady said to call her if I have problems filling out the paperwork so maybe I won't have problems filling it out.

    Nancy: Thanks I will look at that link to see what it has to offer.

    Lauri: I have had problems in the past with Medicare, they say one thing and then do another thing.

    2Itzus: Thanks. 

    Thank you all for your great information: 

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited June 2011

    Naty, I'm telling you Altpink does not pay medical co-pays.  They will tell you that upfront.   I dealt with them, and they approved me for gas cards.  

    These organizations do NOT pay co-pays.   They (CancerCare and others) pay for the treatment itself - if treatment is not covered, and will sometimes assist the patient directly with grocery cards, sometimes rent monies, etc).

    Your best bet is to make financial arrangements with your medical facility, through their financial assistance department.

    Do you have an out-of-pocket maximum?

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  • naty41
    naty41 Member Posts: 28
    edited June 2011

    Fearless One: Cancer Care is the foundation that said they will send me an application. I called the Oncologist and they didn't mention any financial assistance so will have to call them back if Cancer Care doesn't approve me. Thanks for your help.

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited June 2011

    Cancer Care has two divisions; one that pays medicine co-pays and one that pays for treatment.   I am very familiar with them, have a grant with them.   They pay my Rx co-pay.  

    Did you tell them when you called that you are seeking treatment co-pay assistance for chemo?  

    I'm just trying to save you some time here.   I would just call and ask them upfront.

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  • naty41
    naty41 Member Posts: 28
    edited June 2011

    Fearless One: Yes I told them that it was for co-payment and what my insurance pays. So hopefully they can help me.

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited June 2011

    Naty, my apologies - I did not think they paid insurance co-pays for treatment....   I hope they can help you, too!  :-)

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  • naty41
    naty41 Member Posts: 28
    edited June 2011

    Fearless One: No problem.

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  • cycle-path
    cycle-path Member Posts: 1,502
    edited June 2011

    naty, here in Southern California there's an organization called Breast Cancer Solutions that may be able to help you. www.bcsurvivors.org

    Do contact them and find out if they can help. 

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  • naty41
    naty41 Member Posts: 28
    edited June 2011

    cycle-path: Thanks I will call them Monday.  Where are you in Southern California?

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  • cycle-path
    cycle-path Member Posts: 1,502
    edited August 2011

    naty, I am in Orange County.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited June 2011

    naty41 I do  have some knowledge regarding insurance due to my own experience but I have none when it comes to medicare. The first place I would go is the American Cancer Society. They have social workers there that can help you for free.

    Check out the PDF on the ACS site:
    Health Insurance and Financial Assistance for the Cancer Patient  

    I highly recommend you call your local office. They can even get you a free wig. The list your onc gave you probably incldues them as well as many other soruces I am not familiar with. It's work but well worth it.

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  • naty41
    naty41 Member Posts: 28
    edited June 2011

    Lago:  Thank you: I called the ACS  and they gave me additional information as to organizations that can help me.

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  • gale1525
    gale1525 Member Posts: 232
    edited June 2011

    I used the healthwellfoundaton.org for co-pay help.

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  • naty41
    naty41 Member Posts: 28
    edited June 2011

    lluistro1525: I will keep the healthwellfoundation in mind if Cancer Care doesn't help me. Thanks for the information.

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  • 37antiques
    37antiques Member Posts: 643
    edited June 2011

    naty41, since you have medicare, I would also try calling your local Office of the Aging (regardless of age), they are fantastic at navigating the medicare system and finding other prescription drug companies that fit your formulary.  It never hurts to check as many resources as you can.

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  • naty41
    naty41 Member Posts: 28
    edited June 2011

    37antiques: Hey thanks, I never thought about that.  Will check on it on Monday.

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  • naty41
    naty41 Member Posts: 28
    edited June 2011

    I just received the application for the Cancer Care Co-payment Assistance Foundation and it is very easy to fill out. If anyone wants to obtain assistance from them PM me and I will give you their phone number and address.

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited June 2011

    Good luck Naty!   Sounds like you are on the right track!  

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited June 2011

    Naty this is great!

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  • naty41
    naty41 Member Posts: 28
    edited June 2011

    Fearless One and lago thanks.  I should hear in a couple of weeks if I qualify!

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  • JSB2011
    JSB2011 Member Posts: 21
    edited July 2011

    Hello naty41... I am about to start my first chemo treatment next week on the 28th of July. I have been wondering how much my chemo is going to cost as well. I see you suggested the Cancer Care Co-Payment Assistance Foundation. How did that work for you? I spoke with someone from the American Cancer Society and she gave me a couple of links to look into. Cancer Care was one of them. The other was: Chronic Disease Fund, Inc. (CDF)   http://www.cancer.org/Resources/81094.pdf

    I am going to look into both since I have already been getting some medical bills in the mail and they are stacking up. Ugh. I hope it went well and you were able to get the aid you needed. Take care!

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  • naty41
    naty41 Member Posts: 28
    edited July 2011

    JSB2011 Hi: The Cancer Care Co-Payment Assistance Foundation approved my application but it took them a month to approve it.  Do apply right away as they are back logged. They require the application and verification from your Doctor (Oncologist) to approve the application. I suggest you follow up with them on a weekly basis until you get an answer.

    The Chronic Disease Fund is a good one to try also as their application is very short and easy to fill out. However, they do not have funding for Taxotere. I don't know what chemo you will need but when you call them ask them about what chemo medicines they have funding for.

    I have Secure Horizon/Medicare so they pay 80 percent of my bill but my 20 percent co-payment is $1232 each treatment until I reach my maximum of $6,700.00 for the year. 

    I hope this helps and good luck  - If you need additional information don't hesitate to ask me. 

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