Man with BC denied coverage because of his gender

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thepinkbirdie
thepinkbirdie Member Posts: 212
edited June 2014 in Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues

This is rediculous!

 http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/15214888/man-with-breast-cancer-denied-coverage

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  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited August 2011

    What a sad story.  It could be he didn't qualify for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program because cervical cancer screening is part of the program. 

    I wish him well,

    Bren

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

    That's just terrible.  

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  • hymil
    hymil Member Posts: 826
    edited August 2011

    That's ridiculously discriminatory, what if he was a woman but had previously had a total hysterectomy so wasn't a candidate for cervical screening? I too hope he gets the help he needs, and soon.

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  • Medigal
    Medigal Member Posts: 1,412
    edited August 2011

    This is true insanity in our health system!  Cancer is cancer!  The person should be treated and covered by their insurance (even Medicaid!) for the disease not discriminated due to their gender, imo!  Maybe the poor guy can have a sex change and become a woman.  Then I guess Medicaid would pay for his treatments!  I am so disgusted with our healthcare system, I could scream.  He needs to get media coverage for his problem and then maybe he can get payments for the treatments he needs.  It is a known fact that MEN can get breast cancer so what is the problem? Sheer stupidity and insanity.  Must be something in the drinking water in this great land of ours!

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  • Haljen
    Haljen Member Posts: 45
    edited August 2011

    This is absolutely Outrageous! Cancer is cancer! MEN GET BREAST CANCER TOO!

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  • steelrose
    steelrose Member Posts: 3,798
    edited August 2011

    Very shameful. Thank you for posting this, Marie. I feel strongly about MBC because I lost my Dad to the disease, and I speak out about it whenever I have the opportunity. Slowly... verrrrrry slowly... word is spreading. I echo what Haljen said... MEN GET BREAST CANCER TOO!

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  • thepinkbirdie
    thepinkbirdie Member Posts: 212
    edited August 2011

    I wonder if he could get some help from Komen??  I think I might look into that somehow.

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  • lrr4993
    lrr4993 Member Posts: 937
    edited August 2011

    This is illegal. I would be surprised if that decision does not get reversed.

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited August 2011

    Apparently the program was originally designed to cover routine mammograms and other screening for breast and cervical cancer for the uninsured.  Since it is rare for men to get b/c, they were excluded from coverage for routine mammograms.  It is not standard medical procedure for men to get routine mammos in the absence of symptoms, and I believe most private insurance also does not cover routine mammos for men.   

    The program was expanded when it was realized that when these routine screenings found cancer, there were no funds to actually treat the women.  So funds were added to pay for treatment, but no one went back and changed the original wording that was meant to exclude men from routine mammos.  My guess is that now that this has been brought to light, the language will change to allow the fund to be used to treat men, even if they are still excluded from routine mammos.  Good for this fellow to stand up and shed light on this.    

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  • hymil
    hymil Member Posts: 826
    edited August 2011

    Thanks for the update, Natsfan, and the explanation. It is certainly unjust that women without cancer can get routine mammos from the fund but a man with diagnosed cancer can't get treatment, Hope he succeeds. In time.

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