Help!!!How could I afford the treatment cost ??

Clarecy,

I admit that understanding the intricacies of insurance coverage isn't my forte and hopefully someone else will weigh in with more comprehensive and particularized advice.  You said that you are a foreign student who was covered by your employer/academic institution and that the plan is not approved for the following year. Does that mean that the plan will not be offered in 2014? It seems like you would still then be eligible to pay out of pocket to continue coverage of the plan for the remainder this (2013) calendar year. Have you talked to human resources or the health insurance/financial aid office at your school (if applicable) about this?  Also, calling the 1-800 number on the back of your insurance card and having a discussion with an insurance rep about how to arrange continuous coverage would also be a good idea if you have not already done so. Make sure you take notes and get direct lines and full names of whomever you speak with.

If continuous coverage is indeed not an option and you are uninsured, I would contact various breast cancer and cancer advocacy organizations to see what guidance they can provide. The National Cancer Institute has a Support Services Locator web site that might be of help. There are other resources, such as Angel Flight(?), that offer free plane transportation for patients seeking treatment, etc. You could also see what information and help your treatment center can provide.

Sorry that you have to deal with this situation in addition to facing treatment. 

Best of luck,

Deb

I know in Illinois when I was dx with breast cancer, back in 2009.  I was over 18 without minor children and thus ineligible for Medicaid. Luckily there was a special Medicaid program for Breast and Cervical cancer that any low income woman was eligible for.  They paid for all my treatment.  Now that I'm stage IV I'm on medicare.  I don't know what state you're in so you need to check into various possible government programs.  Also contact the American Cancer Society.  http://www.cancer.org/treatment/findingandpayingfortreatment/managinginsuranceissues/the-cost-of-cancer-treatment

I'm not sure about foreign exchange students being eligible but starting in January 2014 the new health act might help with getting insurance since no one can be turned down for pre-existing conditions.  The registration period begins in October 2013.  I'd check to see if you can get insurance under this program.  Any health insurance provider should be able to give you info on this.  Your hospital/doctor's financial office should be able to help too.  They might be able to waive some costs and accept a payment plan for the rest.

As for your current insurance company..if the plan you're currently covered under is no longer available they should be required to transition you into another plan under their company without a lapse in coverage.  It should count as continous coverage.  Keep going higher up in the company if need be.  If it is a well known insurance company like Humana or Aetna they also have social media sites like Facebook/Twitter that people have complained on and they have employees specifically hired to review and resolve problems post there.  Those companies have realized that social media can greatly effect how people view their companies and will not want to be seen as heartless.

Sorry for the long post but I wanted to list whatever help I could think of.  I hope you can get the financial help you need.  Going through cancer treatment is hard enough without added stress.

I've just gone through this when my COBRA coverage ended on June 30. The insurance company turned me down for continued coverage. What is available now, before 1/1/14, varies by state. Where do you live?



In Minnesota, there is a high risk pool available when you are denied coverage and that's ultimately where I got coverage. It was a scary few weeks before I figured it out. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Jane, Clarecy is a foreign student. I'm not sure if she has the same access to insurance rights or even some forms of coverage as a NY State resident. I do agree that she meet with the financial people or a social worker at MSKCC, as well as trying to continue with a student plan. I referred her to the bs she is scheduled to see, so I fervently hope it works out.

Here is the federal web site for insuring pre existing conditions. As I said previously, it varies by state. You qualify even if you're not a US citizen as long as you are living here legally. We also live in FL and there is no program available. It was discontinued when the Affordable Care Act was passed. Minnesota agreed to cover me until 12/31/13 at which time the Obamacare Marketplace will be up and running (I can start shopping for coverage on 10/1/13). It sucks to be caught during this short time period without coverage. BTW, I'm paying $412/mo for a $5000 deductible individual plan.



There is no guarantee of continued coverage in any state except MA which has a type of universal health care.



https://www.pcip.gov/

Clarecy, if you are from a country that has national health care, perhaps you could get treatment there, if that's not possible here.