Thank you all for thoughts and prayers, now venting on insurance problems.

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iluvmykids
iluvmykids Member Posts: 49
in Breast Cancer #1
Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers after my surgery last week. I am feeling very good, and am really trying hard to keep off my bike for a week or so at least. I do have a little swelling and tenderness in my right arm pit, but other than that I feel pretty normal.

On to worse things - it sucks having to go through this anyway, but yesterday we found out that it looks like our insurance won't pay for any of what has been done so far and possibly not for the surgery, chemo or radiation because it is all outpatient and we don't have an outpatient rider. This is partially our fault for not talking to the insurance company when I was diagnosed, but my husband and I apparently misunderstood our coverage and now it appears we will have to pay for it all ourselves. My husband and I both asked who would buy this kind of insurance, because they don't pay for anything - except if you are in the hospital 18 hours or more - I guess I should have had a mastectomy.

It makes me feel like our whole future is going down the drain in doctors and hospital bills. It's hard to believe 4 months ago we were contemplating purchasing a vacation home where our kids and grandkids would come and spend time with us. Now I can't even buy a shirt without thinking I'm spending money I won't have.

Thanks for listening to me vent and for always being there to brighten my day.

Eileen

Comments

  • grams2jc
    grams2jc Member Posts: 756
    #2
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    Don't forget
    All fees are negotiable. They will take a smaller price from the insurance company so don't forget to ask for their best deal. I know that doesn't solve your frustration and I am sorry you are going though this but be sure to call finance depts and make arrangements for discounts..in advance of treatment if you can.

    Just another stress you don't need.

    Will be thinking of you and sending positive thoughts your way,

    Jennifer
  • ReelJiggy
    ReelJiggy Member Posts: 14
    #3
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    grams2jc said:

    Don't forget
    All fees are negotiable. They will take a smaller price from the insurance company so don't forget to ask for their best deal. I know that doesn't solve your frustration and I am sorry you are going though this but be sure to call finance depts and make arrangements for discounts..in advance of treatment if you can.

    Just another stress you don't need.

    Will be thinking of you and sending positive thoughts your way,

    Jennifer

    Jennifer is right.
    So sorry
    Jennifer is right.
    So sorry you have to go through this.
    There is no price for good health.
    Keep on fighting, you'll get through it!
  • mwallace1325
    mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
    #4
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    ReelJiggy said:

    Jennifer is right.
    So sorry
    Jennifer is right.
    So sorry you have to go through this.
    There is no price for good health.
    Keep on fighting, you'll get through it!

    I'm sorry
    I'm sorry you now have to deal with this. Besides trying to negotiate, speak with the oncology team. There are alot of services they can point you towards that may be able to help, along with making payment plans where needed.

    That does sound like crazy insurance cause fortunately as horrible as all of this is, it is generally out patient, thank goodness.

    Three months before I was diagnosed I had the option to apply for cancer insurance, but I declined cause no one in my family had ever had cancer. Dumb Dumb Dumb.

    Hope it all works out and you can get back to concentrating on feeling better.

    marge
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #5
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    mwallace1325 said:

    I'm sorry
    I'm sorry you now have to deal with this. Besides trying to negotiate, speak with the oncology team. There are alot of services they can point you towards that may be able to help, along with making payment plans where needed.

    That does sound like crazy insurance cause fortunately as horrible as all of this is, it is generally out patient, thank goodness.

    Three months before I was diagnosed I had the option to apply for cancer insurance, but I declined cause no one in my family had ever had cancer. Dumb Dumb Dumb.

    Hope it all works out and you can get back to concentrating on feeling better.

    marge

    not dumb- depends
    If your insurance covers cancer adequately then a specialty insurance isn't needed. We had a small deductible and copays and only paid a little more than $4000 total.
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #6
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    Ouch that would hurt but you
    Ouch that would hurt but you can set up a payment plan to pay everyone in monthly payments. We know someone who didn't have insurance and she set it up to pay $75 a month. They finally forgave her the balance. I guess they got tired of having her on the books. You also might call the ACS to see if they know any agencies that might help. Good luck.
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #7
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    Marcia527 said:

    Ouch that would hurt but you
    Ouch that would hurt but you can set up a payment plan to pay everyone in monthly payments. We know someone who didn't have insurance and she set it up to pay $75 a month. They finally forgave her the balance. I guess they got tired of having her on the books. You also might call the ACS to see if they know any agencies that might help. Good luck.

    Insurance companies have a great deal
    They collect and collect but don't want to pay out. We got lucky with a good one but had opted for the lower premiums and high deductable because we've been pretty healthy. BAM! I got my diagnosis. Fortunately our insurance year starts Oct. 1 so when it came time we could change to the higher premium with a lower deductable and we had received a small in heritance to cover the first deductable. It was a lousy way to have to spend in heritance though.

    In addition to checking with the ACS, and they may be able to help with this, ask around to see what other help might be out there. We have a breast care alliance that can help women with some expenses and some churches have emergency helath funds also. I know it's hard to ask for help but sometimes people are looking for ways to help someone out and may even do a fund-raiser for you.
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    #8
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    mwallace1325 said:

    I'm sorry
    I'm sorry you now have to deal with this. Besides trying to negotiate, speak with the oncology team. There are alot of services they can point you towards that may be able to help, along with making payment plans where needed.

    That does sound like crazy insurance cause fortunately as horrible as all of this is, it is generally out patient, thank goodness.

    Three months before I was diagnosed I had the option to apply for cancer insurance, but I declined cause no one in my family had ever had cancer. Dumb Dumb Dumb.

    Hope it all works out and you can get back to concentrating on feeling better.

    marge

    I am so sorry. These darn
    I am so sorry. These darn insurance companies! I pray you can find a resolution to this that will be alright with you.


    Hugs, Megan
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #9
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    skipper54 said:

    Insurance companies have a great deal
    They collect and collect but don't want to pay out. We got lucky with a good one but had opted for the lower premiums and high deductable because we've been pretty healthy. BAM! I got my diagnosis. Fortunately our insurance year starts Oct. 1 so when it came time we could change to the higher premium with a lower deductable and we had received a small in heritance to cover the first deductable. It was a lousy way to have to spend in heritance though.

    In addition to checking with the ACS, and they may be able to help with this, ask around to see what other help might be out there. We have a breast care alliance that can help women with some expenses and some churches have emergency helath funds also. I know it's hard to ask for help but sometimes people are looking for ways to help someone out and may even do a fund-raiser for you.

    Yes, contact the American
    Yes, contact the American Cancer Society and see if they can help some. Also, talk to your hospital and see if they can work out a payment plan you can afford, or, even reduce your bill. This is so unfair and I am so sorry.

    ♠♣ Love, Susie ♠♣
  • iluvmykids
    iluvmykids Member Posts: 49
    #10
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    mwallace1325 said:

    I'm sorry
    I'm sorry you now have to deal with this. Besides trying to negotiate, speak with the oncology team. There are alot of services they can point you towards that may be able to help, along with making payment plans where needed.

    That does sound like crazy insurance cause fortunately as horrible as all of this is, it is generally out patient, thank goodness.

    Three months before I was diagnosed I had the option to apply for cancer insurance, but I declined cause no one in my family had ever had cancer. Dumb Dumb Dumb.

    Hope it all works out and you can get back to concentrating on feeling better.

    marge

    We are looking at all options,
    and talking, talking, talking to the insurance company. We did find out yesterday that they will cover the surgery minus our deductible and 100% of chemo and radiation up to $2,000 a day or $200,000 maximum. So the news is not as horrible as we initially thought, but still can't help thinking down the road to possible recurrence. It is hard not to get ahead of ourselves.

    We also had the opportunity to buy cancer ins., in retrospect yeah what a dumb thing to turn down, but with no history who'd ever thunk it?

    Thanks for the support and suggestions, we will be doing everything we can to keep on top of it now.

    Eileen
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #11
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    iluvmykids said:

    We are looking at all options,
    and talking, talking, talking to the insurance company. We did find out yesterday that they will cover the surgery minus our deductible and 100% of chemo and radiation up to $2,000 a day or $200,000 maximum. So the news is not as horrible as we initially thought, but still can't help thinking down the road to possible recurrence. It is hard not to get ahead of ourselves.

    We also had the opportunity to buy cancer ins., in retrospect yeah what a dumb thing to turn down, but with no history who'd ever thunk it?

    Thanks for the support and suggestions, we will be doing everything we can to keep on top of it now.

    Eileen

    My recommendation is to have
    My recommendation is to have everyone at least attempt to file with your carrier. My daughter also has just major medical right now, but often there are discounts given even if they don't pay.

    Also, after all claims are done and either settled or denied, if you can't afford the amount you owe, ask to speak with your case manager at the hospital or outpatient facility. They may be able to help set up a payment plan.
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #12
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    CypressCynthia said:

    My recommendation is to have
    My recommendation is to have everyone at least attempt to file with your carrier. My daughter also has just major medical right now, but often there are discounts given even if they don't pay.

    Also, after all claims are done and either settled or denied, if you can't afford the amount you owe, ask to speak with your case manager at the hospital or outpatient facility. They may be able to help set up a payment plan.

    Please speak with the
    Please speak with the billing or financial dept. at your cancer center. I am sure they will allow you to set up some sort of payment plan that you can afford. This is so sad that this happened to you.

    Good luck!

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