Anyone not have health insurance? I have a question.

Options
Giraffeattack
Giraffeattack Member Posts: 9
edited December 2019 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

i went to the appointment with the surgeon. He did a physical exam on my boobs and got the right one to have the clear discharge come out a little bit. He said the mammogram and ultrasound findings were very vague and that i needed an MRI and ductogram to get a clearer picture of what is going on.

He sent his nurse in and she said she knew my mammogram was paid for by race against breast cancer and asked if i had any other insurance and i said no, but i did get the reference number for earlydetectionworks (not sure if just in my state, but basically they say they will pay for ALL diagnostic tests for breast cancer. If that just means mammogram and ultrasound i dont know and their website isnt clear about it and getting someone on the phone is nigh to impossible.)

Then the nurse said "oh, i guess ill try and figure something out so we can get you in for the mri, you want it sooner rather than later, right?" Then she said she would call me back after lunch (my appt. Was at 10:15). She wrote down my name and try mri on a post it note and asked for my phone number.

No one called me at all yesterday about setting up the MRI and i am just wondering if i can't get it because earlydetectionworks doesn't cover that and i don't have any insurance, but i dont want to call and ask, because i figure they are very busy there. Maybe thats also why they havent called back yet.

How long should i wait to call them back and ask about it and also, since i dont qualify for medicaid or whatever in my state (have to have children, be disabled, or over 65) is there any other way i can get this done?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Yogatyme
    Yogatyme Member Posts: 2,349
    edited December 2019

    it’s very possible that she had trouble getting through on the phone and with yesterday being the first work day after a holiday, they may have been even more busy than normal. I think waiting until Wed or Thurs is reasonable, but you certainly could call any time. Surely they understand the importance. I hope you hear from her today

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited December 2019

    In the event that there is not coverage... you can get one on your own. Shop around. Negotiate. Some hospitals are non profit so they won't hound you for payment or will let you pay in installments.

    You should be able to sign up for an Obamacare plan right now...

    I agree w yogatyme's advice just thinking ahead in case.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2019

    open enrollment for Obamacare ends on December 15th so if you need to go that route, you have to act quickly.

    Being uninsured with a health problem does not qualify as a reason to apply outside the enrollment period, unfortunately

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited December 2019

    Depending on what state you are in - it varies from state to state greatly - and also on your finances you might qualify for free care in your state. Please explore this option too.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Giraffeattack
    Giraffeattack Member Posts: 9
    edited December 2019

    So the nurse just called me and said i need to call early detection works and get another reference number so the mri and ductogram are covered by them. I am going to try and get obamacare because i dont qualify for my states medicaid insurance since i dont have children, am not disabled or over 65.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Giraffeattack
    Giraffeattack Member Posts: 9
    edited December 2019

    so i tried to enroll in obamacare "marketplace" insurance and because my job offers insurance (that i also can't afford) i don't qualify for any subsidies or credits or anything. Cheapest plan is 375 a month which is just not affordable for me at all. I don't know why they think if i couldn't afford 100 a month for insurance through my job that i will be able to afford 375 a month for insurance on the marketplace. Overall, today has been a disappointing lesson that i need to either move to another state or get a 3rd job on top of the other 75 hours a week i work. Feelsbadman.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited December 2019

    do the one through your job if you possibly can. Maybe your cancer center has a social worker who can help you find stipends. Treatment is very expensive, way way way more than $375 a month! You will need the coverage.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • HersheyKiss
    HersheyKiss Member Posts: 550
    edited December 2019

    For many companies, December is their insurance open enrollment period. Please sign up for coverage if you can. Your HR department should be able to assist you with enrollment in the best plan depending on your individual circumstances.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Giraffeattack
    Giraffeattack Member Posts: 9
    edited December 2019

    Well earlydetectionworks called me and said they dont cover mri or ductogram. Just biopsy. The hospital complex that i was going to is the only one in the area and only offers financial assistance AFTER you rack up all the bills. And that's a maybe at best. My jobs open enrollment for insurance ended nov. 22 and i couldnt even afford it anyway. All the marketplace plans are double what my jobs plans cost so i am out of luck. Guess i will just never find out what is actually wrong with my boob.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited December 2019

    IDEAS:

    -Sign up with obamacare, and you can drop it in one month or two months, after your tests come back-- if you find out it's nothing. If you do have a problem, You can't afford NOT to have insurance. My chemo was about $60K per infusion! $700 seems a lot better....

    -Self pay the MRI... might be about $900 (I believe?) if you phone around to find a good center.

    But I worry you might not have time to do this and THEN get insurance. So I think getting it secured is very important. You can use your first insured month to get a pap smear, flu shot, etc. LOTS of preventative care is free on Obamacare. Then if it's all a big nothing, drop the insurance if you must.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories