The cancer is back... need advise please

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tami90650
tami90650 Member Posts: 82
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
My 1st bout with cancer was stage 2A left breast. I had a lumpectomy raqdiation and chemo. Now, thd same breast again but it looks like DCIS. Precancer but I'm not sure yet. I am waiting on the pathologist reports right now. If that is correct, I will be having massectomy. My worrys are the copay for this. The biopsy alone was $400.00. Does anyone know of a starting point for financial assistance for my co pay? I tried www.copay.org but there was nothing there. Please respond asap. I'm really stressing.

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  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #2
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    I am sorry about your
    I am sorry about your recurrence Tami. You should contact the American Cancer Society and see what they say. I know they can put you in the right direction. Good luck!


    Hugs, Debby
  • tami90650
    tami90650 Member Posts: 82
    #3
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    DebbyM said:

    I am sorry about your
    I am sorry about your recurrence Tami. You should contact the American Cancer Society and see what they say. I know they can put you in the right direction. Good luck!


    Hugs, Debby

    Thank you!!!!
    I'm on the line now....
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #4
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    tami90650 said:

    Thank you!!!!
    I'm on the line now....

    Good luck! I also just
    Good luck! I also just bumped up a thread titled Financial burden with breast cancer. It has some other sites for you to check into also.


    Let us know what you find out!
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #5
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    Also, when you are
    Also, when you are hospitalized, ask to speak with your case manager. Tell them the situation and they will help you work out a plan. Don't be in a hurry to pay until you see what insurance will finally pay and call your insurance co. if they deny anything. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!
  • survives
    survives Member Posts: 254 Member
    #6
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    CypressCynthia said:

    Also, when you are
    Also, when you are hospitalized, ask to speak with your case manager. Tell them the situation and they will help you work out a plan. Don't be in a hurry to pay until you see what insurance will finally pay and call your insurance co. if they deny anything. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

    Try not to worry about that
    I know---easier said than done. Concentrate on getting well again and healing. The hospital will work with you. I had to work out a payment plan when I had my MRI earlier this year because insurance wouldn't help that much (deductable not met), and couldn't cover the cost. I offered an amount that I knew I could handle during the next few months, and they accepted without a problem. I don't think you'll find a problem here.

    Best wishes.
  • cookie97
    cookie97 Member Posts: 200
    #7
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    Here's a few I found
    Healthwell www.healthwellfoundation.org

    CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation
    www.cancercarecopay.org/

    National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
    www.naic.org

    Good luck, I hope this helps. Definitely talk to the social worker at your onc. office, they maybe able to put you on a pending status as this could take somre time.

    Best of Luck,
    Edie
  • Jennifer1961
    Jennifer1961 Member Posts: 137
    #8
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    Was that the copay according
    Was that the copay according to the facility that did the biopsy or according to your insurance company? When I was first diagnosed, a lot of dr. offices and hospitals charged my WAY more than what the actual copay turned out to be. Call your insurance company before you go to any dr. office or go for any tests, procedures to find out what the actual copay really is.
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #9
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    Jennifer1961 said:

    Was that the copay according
    Was that the copay according to the facility that did the biopsy or according to your insurance company? When I was first diagnosed, a lot of dr. offices and hospitals charged my WAY more than what the actual copay turned out to be. Call your insurance company before you go to any dr. office or go for any tests, procedures to find out what the actual copay really is.

    I first want to say how very
    I first want to say how very sorry I am, and, welcome to this great site full of wonderful sisters in pink. We will help you and encourage you however we can.

    You have been given all of the sites that I would have posted, so, I won't repeat them.

    I hope someone could help you with their excellent information.


    Good luck to you and I will pray for you!


    Sue :)
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #10
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    Ritzy said:

    I first want to say how very
    I first want to say how very sorry I am, and, welcome to this great site full of wonderful sisters in pink. We will help you and encourage you however we can.

    You have been given all of the sites that I would have posted, so, I won't repeat them.

    I hope someone could help you with their excellent information.


    Good luck to you and I will pray for you!


    Sue :)

    Tami .. I am so sorry that there is a reoccurance ..
    its hard to understand why, and what happened. **Please look a few topics down, and see 'financial burden associated' for websites Also, as previously suggested contact 'case manager' at your Onco office or breast cancer center. The stress of breast cancer is a huge burden and adjustment .. insurance or no insurance, just adds to our fun .

    Hoping the very best for you.

    Vicki Sam
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #11
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    Tami, I am so sorry that
    Tami, I am so sorry that this is happening to you again. Financial worries only make it more stressful. I wish I knew where you could call for information. It looks like the wonderful girls here have wonderful information for you, thank God. Hang in there, I am thinking of you and hoping everything will work out fine. Eil
  • Marsha Mulvey
    Marsha Mulvey Member Posts: 597 Member
    #12
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    Eil4186 said:

    Tami, I am so sorry that
    Tami, I am so sorry that this is happening to you again. Financial worries only make it more stressful. I wish I knew where you could call for information. It looks like the wonderful girls here have wonderful information for you, thank God. Hang in there, I am thinking of you and hoping everything will work out fine. Eil

    Tami
    Not trying to ignore your financial concerns in this matter, but at this point I'm still hoping you get a good report from the pathologist! God bless. Marsha
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #13
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    Eil4186 said:

    Tami, I am so sorry that
    Tami, I am so sorry that this is happening to you again. Financial worries only make it more stressful. I wish I knew where you could call for information. It looks like the wonderful girls here have wonderful information for you, thank God. Hang in there, I am thinking of you and hoping everything will work out fine. Eil

    I would say that right now
    I would say that right now your health and getting treatment is most important. Talk to the billing at your hospital and to your doctors. I know they do make exceptions. And, the ACS is good to call too, as someone already suggested. Good luck!
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    #14
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    CypressCynthia said:

    Also, when you are
    Also, when you are hospitalized, ask to speak with your case manager. Tell them the situation and they will help you work out a plan. Don't be in a hurry to pay until you see what insurance will finally pay and call your insurance co. if they deny anything. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

    So sorry about the cancer
    So sorry about the cancer coming back. Looks like the sisters here have written some good advice for you. Update us when you can.


    Hugs, Megan
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #15
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    Jennifer1961 said:

    Was that the copay according
    Was that the copay according to the facility that did the biopsy or according to your insurance company? When I was first diagnosed, a lot of dr. offices and hospitals charged my WAY more than what the actual copay turned out to be. Call your insurance company before you go to any dr. office or go for any tests, procedures to find out what the actual copay really is.

    I hope you can find some
    I hope you can find some financial help Tami. You shouldn't be worrying about that now.


    Hugs, Leeza
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #16
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    DianeBC said:

    I would say that right now
    I would say that right now your health and getting treatment is most important. Talk to the billing at your hospital and to your doctors. I know they do make exceptions. And, the ACS is good to call too, as someone already suggested. Good luck!

    Tami, what did you find out?
    Tami, what did you find out? Did the ACS help?

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