price of treatments!!!

GC
It's never about the cancer, is it?

It's always about "The Benjamins" and whose got 'em.

I've got medical bill collection agencies all over my a$$ every hour of the day, and twice on Sundays. No joke. They call and harass constantly. I just could not keep up then and I can't keep up now.

I pay what I can but the bills after 7+ years continue to rise. It was because of money last year that I cancelled all scans and a lung surgery 'cause I just could not do it anymore and figured they would cut me off for non-payment of services.

That mistake would have been the one to kill me, 'cause I had a nasty tumor that had grown to the size of a tangerine and embedded itself in my rib cage and was dangerously close to my spine. My bone-headed decision certainly would have ended my life if not for some timely intervention.

But even after the intervention, the bills just continued to mount up.

There are two things to consider. First, everyone will tell you to look for help - that it's available. But that's really alot of lip service, unless your income is so LOW that you QUALIFY for assistance. If that's the case with you, then there is a chance.

But most of the places I checked had INOME QUALIFYING restrictions that prevents most people from getting the help they need. You have to be very low income to qualify.

Most of us make over the required amount and if you have a working spouse, then you can just about forget it from that standpoint. You can certainly look around, but I was quickly frustrated and the door was shut where I was looking.

Or, you can just continue to get treatments and let the bills roll until they cut you off - pay what you can - talk to a financial counselor at your facility and see if they can arrange more affordable monthly payments.

It is very hard for most people to hang on and the longer the journey goes, the harder it gets financially as well. Your employer plan does make it harder for you at only 50%. I have to pay 25% out of my pocket and my company's insurance takes care of the other 75%.

Most people at my work think our insurance is terrible - and I tell them that's because you don't have a major illness and can appreciate how it really is pretty good, especially in today's age, where companies are shifting more of the burden and responsibility to the employee.

This is all that I know to tell you and wish I could be of more help. But, I'm drowning as well every time I step on the hospital campus.

I wanted to give in as well as I was at the 6-year mark and was frustrated because, cancer, radiation, chemo, and treatments did not stop me - this piece of green paper with little numerals in each of the four corners sure threatened too, though.

But, what I would say to you before I let you go is this:

GC, you have fought 4-years and come this far - please don't give it away like I almost did last year - it's a life-saving decision and I surely would not be here writing to you today if I had followed through by letting money dictate my decision.

Just keep going and pay what you can pay and see where it goes. You might get back to another ned period for yourself and find it over for you. If you stop now, you already know what will happen. I was too naive to believe it myself at the time - I did know, but refused to let myself truly believe something bad would have happened.

I hate the financial battle of the cancer wars - they are every bit as ugly as the cancer itself and so many good people get hurt so badly.

Check into some places and if you find no relief - keep going until they close the door on you...at least that way you will have gotten more than you have today. If they play dirty - then we must as well.

I'm sorry you find yourself in this stew as well. It's been hard for us and because I spent so much time on disability last year with only 50% income coming in each month, we slipped further down the hole than ever. It's so deep now, I'll never be able to pay it out, even if I got 2-lifetimes.

I'll be on a monthly payment for life. You've still got some quality left in your life, so please consider what I've said and don't throw it all away now what you have worked so hard to attain. We can mail it in at a later date.

-Craig

same problem
We have had similar issues with my husband's bill for Avastin. You can contact Genentech Access Solutions and apply for assistance with them. They offer a 2 different assistance programs. you can also negotiate with the doctor's office to write off the amount that your insurance does not cover. That is what we are doing. Just talk to the director of Finance-Patient Accounts--whoever is in charge and tell them your situation. Good luck. I know it is very frustrating dealing with all this when your are trying to fight cancer.

Your money or your life or both
I would encourage you to press forward in your health care. You've worked hard, sacrificed, and contributed most of your life.  Please don't allow the societal rules governed by CEO corporate moguls to intimidate you into drinking the Jonestown Kool-Aid.  

Your moniker suggests who you are and what you stand for. I don't have to tell you being a grandparent is the absolute ultimate experience. You have much more to give and to savor with those little ones. I know they want you to hang around too.

Finally, I'm going to get a little cheesy and redundant and express things that everybody here already knows.  I and many others, because of our cancer, have experienced riches far greater than could ever be measured in dollar bills.

So please march on. 

Norm