Information on Medicare & Costs

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lizper
lizper Member Posts: 199
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Can anyone tell me how Medicare works? I´m evaluating if I enroll my Mom so that she can revieve treatment in US, in Mexico she has nothing.
I would also like to know how much are you charged for each administration of chemotherapy?
Tks Liz.

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  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #2
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    Medicare is a health insurance program for U. S. citizens on Social Security retirement. Is your mother a citizen of the US and over 65 years old? Has she ever paid into the S.S./Medicare system with the U.S. government? I don't believe that she will be able to enroll if not.
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #3
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    Liz:
    Great tips from Saundra. As far as costs, my Carbo/Taxol treatments, along with all the meds given before and during the infusion ran around $5,000, I'm sorry to say. So, it will depend on the type of treatment your mom receives. Also, I'm sure that 'administration' of the drugs was included in that (they charge separately now), and I was there from 6-8 hours each time.
    My best to you and your Mom. I hope you find a source of financial aide for her.
    Prayers and Hugs,
    Monika
  • lizper
    lizper Member Posts: 199
    #4
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    saundra said:

    Medicare is a health insurance program for U. S. citizens on Social Security retirement. Is your mother a citizen of the US and over 65 years old? Has she ever paid into the S.S./Medicare system with the U.S. government? I don't believe that she will be able to enroll if not.

    Thks Saundra yes I know, my Mom already has SS number and card with Part A I'm seeing if it is better for her to enroll in Part B if eligible or stay in Mexico. Tks Liz
  • lizper
    lizper Member Posts: 199
    #5
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    mopar said:

    Liz:
    Great tips from Saundra. As far as costs, my Carbo/Taxol treatments, along with all the meds given before and during the infusion ran around $5,000, I'm sorry to say. So, it will depend on the type of treatment your mom receives. Also, I'm sure that 'administration' of the drugs was included in that (they charge separately now), and I was there from 6-8 hours each time.
    My best to you and your Mom. I hope you find a source of financial aide for her.
    Prayers and Hugs,
    Monika

    Was this 5,000 US per month. How much do you pay per each Dr. Visit?
    I ask because she gets free administration and Dr. consultation because he is a friend of the familiy. Medication, PETS, and Surgery if ever needed again comes out of her pocket. So Avastin, Genoxal, needles,etc all she need for 1 chemo is around 4,500 USD (each time) tommorrow will know if Dr. wants Avastin 2 times per week. So I must know how much medication, Dr. Visits, and chemo administration is approx in the US... beacuse I understand that with Medicare she will still have to pay 20% so then I`ll know were it will be cheaper. Tks for the help!!
  • floridajo
    floridajo Member Posts: 480
    #6
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    Lizper,
    You should also have her in Part B as well,Part A is for hospital..part B is for Dr.visit,labs,tests etc. Also appy her for a supplemental plan as well. I have Humana. They pay even more than Medicare,it costs me 49.00 a month for it. Then you must make sure that she has treatments and Dr. visits that accept Medicare, and the supplemental plan as well. It helps alot...my weekly Topotecan cost 4500.00 and my share is 222.00. My Onc is 100.00 per visit and I pay 15.00. So it should help her alot to have Medicare,especailly if she is able to have it. Good Luck..(((hugz)))~~~Joanne
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #7
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    Ditto, what Joanne says. Each of my treatments with Taxol and Carbo were billed to Medicare were close to $9000, now that I am on Taxol only it bills as $3540. Medicare pays 80% of the amount that they approve which on the taxol is $290 and my supplemental (Mutual of Omaha) pays $207. So my treatment center only gets paid about a seventh of what they bill. I, so far, have not had to pay any additional as they accept what Medicare says they will get. We patients don't get to see the list of what Medicare pays usually. I only get an Explanation of Benefits from my supplemental. There is no way to explain the crazy Medicare. If a doctor, clinic, hospital, etc accepts Medicare they have to make do on the little they pay. Part B is what pays for all of the chemo...Part A only pays for hospital. Medicare does not pay for most of the shots given to build up the blood counts as of this year. Every year they drop more and more and now there are lots of doctors that do not accept Medicare but most big cancer centers like M. D. Anderson in Houston do, I think... It is probably the hardest thing to understand that I have come across when I was dealing with my mother's payments which was handled different that mine because of different supplemental insurance carriers. It will take awhile to get the paperwork done and accepted since it is a government agency. So, far I have not had to pay anything, but I never know from one treatment until the next when the shoe will drop. Hope this helps. Saundra

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