Town to live with good cancer hospital

Tim Wisneski
Tim Wisneski Member Posts: 17
edited February 2016 in Kidney Cancer #1

Hello all,

Comming to terms that I may well need to move my family from SE Mexico to SOMEWHERE, USA. This is for very important insurance/financial considerations. If we do this, it will be like a brand new start for my wife and kids who have never visited the states. I want to shop around a little in various states and compare several factors like medical services & facilities, schools, cost of living, etc, etc. 

If any members feel they have good medical services in their area or can share the location of a good place please let me know.

Thanks!

Tim

Comments

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    Having had my surgery at

    Having had my surgery at Sloan Kettering, I'd recommend living somewhere on Long Island or New Jersey so you'd have reasonably easy access to it and its great staff. However I'm obviously biased and there are many other wonderful facilities with highly skilled surgons and staff. Cleveland Clinic, for example, also comes to mind among several others. I'd suggest living within commuting distance to a large city were your chances of finding RCC experienced surgeons and oncologists are better.

  • dhs1963
    dhs1963 Member Posts: 513
    MDA in houston

    Move to houston.  MD Anderson is as good as it gets.

  • Tim Wisneski
    Tim Wisneski Member Posts: 17
    dhs1963 said:

    MDA in houston

    Move to houston.  MD Anderson is as good as it gets.

    Thanks

    Thanks for the advice! I am weighing everything out (seems like 1001 factors to concider) when thinking about making a move like this. Housing costs, jobs availibe, etc, etc. I really screwed up and did not move the same day to enrol in the Obamacare, so now its a little more complicated, but like is everything these days HAHA. 

    Regards

    Tim

  • Jan4you
    Jan4you Member Posts: 1,330 Member

    Thanks

    Thanks for the advice! I am weighing everything out (seems like 1001 factors to concider) when thinking about making a move like this. Housing costs, jobs availibe, etc, etc. I really screwed up and did not move the same day to enrol in the Obamacare, so now its a little more complicated, but like is everything these days HAHA. 

    Regards

    Tim

    How exciting yet challenging

    How exciting yet challenging to move your family here.

    My questions: are they US citizens? bilingual?

    Not sure if they are Mexican, but you may want them to be around other children who are Latino.

    And to make sure they find schools with diversity, so they don't feel alone or different.

    Again, I want to make sure they and you are getting the best resources.

    Keep us informed and good luck with your discovery..

    Warmly, Jan

  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,041 Member
    Jan4you said:

    How exciting yet challenging

    How exciting yet challenging to move your family here.

    My questions: are they US citizens? bilingual?

    Not sure if they are Mexican, but you may want them to be around other children who are Latino.

    And to make sure they find schools with diversity, so they don't feel alone or different.

    Again, I want to make sure they and you are getting the best resources.

    Keep us informed and good luck with your discovery..

    Warmly, Jan

    Check out-

    University of AZ in Tucson, LA or Texas.  That said, now stomp on those cockroaches who came to visit you.

    donna_lee

  • medic1971
    medic1971 Member Posts: 225 Member

    Thanks

    Thanks for the advice! I am weighing everything out (seems like 1001 factors to concider) when thinking about making a move like this. Housing costs, jobs availibe, etc, etc. I really screwed up and did not move the same day to enrol in the Obamacare, so now its a little more complicated, but like is everything these days HAHA. 

    Regards

    Tim

    I second that.

    My vote too is for MD Anderson.  I am not sure I would live in Houston, but within 30 to 45 minutes.  That might help open some job and housing opportunities.

    Good luck!

    Jason

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    medic1971 said:

    I second that.

    My vote too is for MD Anderson.  I am not sure I would live in Houston, but within 30 to 45 minutes.  That might help open some job and housing opportunities.

    Good luck!

    Jason

    If your moving for health care

    Unless you've excellent private insurance, I'd head for Canada, Northern Europe, pretty much anywhere but the USA.

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member

    If your moving for health care

    Unless you've excellent private insurance, I'd head for Canada, Northern Europe, pretty much anywhere but the USA.

    Footstomper, can a

    Footstomper, can a non-European or non-Canadian citizen just show up there and get full health insurance coverage? In other words, if I move to Quebec or Vienna I can just immediately sign up for health insurance and get all my kidney and health issued covered? Sounds a bit too good to be true. I'm European but never heard of anyone moving there who's not a citizen and get health insurance just by applying.

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    APny said:

    Footstomper, can a

    Footstomper, can a non-European or non-Canadian citizen just show up there and get full health insurance coverage? In other words, if I move to Quebec or Vienna I can just immediately sign up for health insurance and get all my kidney and health issued covered? Sounds a bit too good to be true. I'm European but never heard of anyone moving there who's not a citizen and get health insurance just by applying.

    I dont know

    If you you fall over and break your leg they will undoubtably treat you, no question. If you turn up and say"Ive got this lump." I'm not so sure. 

  • Dave418
    Dave418 Member Posts: 95 Member

    I dont know

    If you you fall over and break your leg they will undoubtably treat you, no question. If you turn up and say"Ive got this lump." I'm not so sure. 

    Being from Quebec, yes they

    Being from Quebec, yes they will treat you, but you'll be charged for it. You have a to be a Canadian citizen to get free healthcare from the province you are in. 

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    Dave418 said:

    Being from Quebec, yes they

    Being from Quebec, yes they will treat you, but you'll be charged for it. You have a to be a Canadian citizen to get free healthcare from the province you are in. 

    Yes, thanks, that's what I

    Yes, thanks, that's what I thought.

  • Tim Wisneski
    Tim Wisneski Member Posts: 17
    Good Points

    Hi all,

    Thanks for the comments and very good points. EVERYTHING is up in the air right now as we are going to wait out the 3 month period for the SUTENT 50mg per day treatment then get scanned to see if everythig is better, worse or indiffernt. After that we will need to make a new plan. 

    Europe??? Wow wouldnt that be something! Not only my Mexican wife and my children lost, but me as well. I think that would be a bit much. 

    The only reason I am considerig the US is for the insurance issue becouse right now I have none. My wife and kids are a big concern as was brought up becouse of the cultural and language issues. Really we dont like city living at all, our ideal thing would be to find a house with a couple acres. Found a decent cabin on 5 wooded acres in north Ar for about 50k, but its hours away from anything much to speak of. So then we start looking at just a small community setting, something like Patterson, La doesnt look to awful bad, can find a decent 3 bedroom for 130k +/-. 

    I know that there are preferences to hospitals, especially if youve had some success there. But really I think that if your doctor is tuned into the current events and stays current then it shouldnt matter so much if you are in Mexico or Houston, Texas should it? 

    Soo many of my friends say "just dont tell them about your kidneys" when it comes to buying some insurance. I just cant help but thinking that that just wont work, I ask them so what, I just wait a month and say hey insrrance company I think I need a CT scan? 

    Soooooo many decisions, sooooo many considerations geeeeze. On a good note, so far I dont have any side effects to mention in regards to the SUTENT. 

    So lets all see what tommorow brings! 

    Tim

     

     

     

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member

    Good Points

    Hi all,

    Thanks for the comments and very good points. EVERYTHING is up in the air right now as we are going to wait out the 3 month period for the SUTENT 50mg per day treatment then get scanned to see if everythig is better, worse or indiffernt. After that we will need to make a new plan. 

    Europe??? Wow wouldnt that be something! Not only my Mexican wife and my children lost, but me as well. I think that would be a bit much. 

    The only reason I am considerig the US is for the insurance issue becouse right now I have none. My wife and kids are a big concern as was brought up becouse of the cultural and language issues. Really we dont like city living at all, our ideal thing would be to find a house with a couple acres. Found a decent cabin on 5 wooded acres in north Ar for about 50k, but its hours away from anything much to speak of. So then we start looking at just a small community setting, something like Patterson, La doesnt look to awful bad, can find a decent 3 bedroom for 130k +/-. 

    I know that there are preferences to hospitals, especially if youve had some success there. But really I think that if your doctor is tuned into the current events and stays current then it shouldnt matter so much if you are in Mexico or Houston, Texas should it? 

    Soo many of my friends say "just dont tell them about your kidneys" when it comes to buying some insurance. I just cant help but thinking that that just wont work, I ask them so what, I just wait a month and say hey insrrance company I think I need a CT scan? 

    Soooooo many decisions, sooooo many considerations geeeeze. On a good note, so far I dont have any side effects to mention in regards to the SUTENT. 

    So lets all see what tommorow brings! 

    Tim

     

     

     

    Homage to Catalonia

    Everyone should spend a few days in Barcalona, drinking fine Spanish wine and eating Tapas on the Ramblas and admiring the architecture of Gaudi, or have a look at some Dali fantases.

  • dhs1963
    dhs1963 Member Posts: 513
    Move to texas....

    Returning to the US is a qualifying event, so you can buy insurance on the exchange:  obamacare is your friend.  http://blogs.wsj.com/expat/2015/08/16/5-things-expats-need-to-know-about-obamacare

    Texas has a large mexican population.  Houston has MDA;  Dallas (UTSW) just poached/is poaching Hans Hammers from Hopkins Cry, according to smart patients.

    I imagine an hour out of either city, you could find a house on a few acres in an area with a large mexican population (so the family will not feel culturally isolated).  And I am pretty sure your kids will be US citizens based on you being a citizen.

    That is what I would do....

     

     

     

  • todd121
    todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member

    Good Points

    Hi all,

    Thanks for the comments and very good points. EVERYTHING is up in the air right now as we are going to wait out the 3 month period for the SUTENT 50mg per day treatment then get scanned to see if everythig is better, worse or indiffernt. After that we will need to make a new plan. 

    Europe??? Wow wouldnt that be something! Not only my Mexican wife and my children lost, but me as well. I think that would be a bit much. 

    The only reason I am considerig the US is for the insurance issue becouse right now I have none. My wife and kids are a big concern as was brought up becouse of the cultural and language issues. Really we dont like city living at all, our ideal thing would be to find a house with a couple acres. Found a decent cabin on 5 wooded acres in north Ar for about 50k, but its hours away from anything much to speak of. So then we start looking at just a small community setting, something like Patterson, La doesnt look to awful bad, can find a decent 3 bedroom for 130k +/-. 

    I know that there are preferences to hospitals, especially if youve had some success there. But really I think that if your doctor is tuned into the current events and stays current then it shouldnt matter so much if you are in Mexico or Houston, Texas should it? 

    Soo many of my friends say "just dont tell them about your kidneys" when it comes to buying some insurance. I just cant help but thinking that that just wont work, I ask them so what, I just wait a month and say hey insrrance company I think I need a CT scan? 

    Soooooo many decisions, sooooo many considerations geeeeze. On a good note, so far I dont have any side effects to mention in regards to the SUTENT. 

    So lets all see what tommorow brings! 

    Tim

     

     

     

    Existing Medical Conditions

    The new laws, they can't bar you or charge you more based on existing conditions. That's one of the best things about the new health insurance laws. Before this, you wouln't have even been able to buy health insurance.

    I live near Los Angeles. I would think anywhere from north of Los Angeles all the way to San Diego, you would find excellent care within driving distance. UCLA, USC, City of Hope, and Cedars Sinai have some of the best RCC specialists in the country. There are some in San Diego too. Not much in Orange County where I live, but I drive to LA (about 1 hour each way).

    We probably have the largest Mexican population outside of Mexico in this area. :)

    Housing is not cheap here. But it depends on lots of things (location, type, etc.) It's a great area to live.

    I've been thinking of moving myself, but also not sure how to rate the RCC care in various cities. It can be difficult unless you talk  to experienced RCC patients. My plan is to move to Portland or Seattle. However, I really can't get a good handle on how good the care is in those areas. When you're in an area with 4 top notch cancer centers that deal with RCC, it's hard to consider moving away...

    Best of luck to you.

    Todd

     

  • Tim Wisneski
    Tim Wisneski Member Posts: 17
    dhs1963 said:

    Move to texas....

    Returning to the US is a qualifying event, so you can buy insurance on the exchange:  obamacare is your friend.  http://blogs.wsj.com/expat/2015/08/16/5-things-expats-need-to-know-about-obamacare

    Texas has a large mexican population.  Houston has MDA;  Dallas (UTSW) just poached/is poaching Hans Hammers from Hopkins Cry, according to smart patients.

    I imagine an hour out of either city, you could find a house on a few acres in an area with a large mexican population (so the family will not feel culturally isolated).  And I am pretty sure your kids will be US citizens based on you being a citizen.

    That is what I would do....

     

     

     

    Obamacare

    So now what if Trump is somehow elected? Apart from cpoying the great china wall, he pledges to eliminate obamacare! I never followed an election like this before, always interesting to hear what new BS is floating around with these jokes and people seem to eat it up???

     

  • Coldbiker
    Coldbiker Member Posts: 23 Member

    Obamacare

    So now what if Trump is somehow elected? Apart from cpoying the great china wall, he pledges to eliminate obamacare! I never followed an election like this before, always interesting to hear what new BS is floating around with these jokes and people seem to eat it up???

     

    Obamacare

    if you get a job then You get insurance there. if you plan on staying self employed or not work then you really need to talk with an expert to find out your options, dont try to do it on your own. States have very different rules on Obamacare concerning costs and availability  so choose wisely :) Another thing you will have to deal with is the IRS. There are some recent tax code changes concerning citizens living abroad. Again professional advice is needed for that situation. 

  • Coldbiker said:

    Obamacare

    if you get a job then You get insurance there. if you plan on staying self employed or not work then you really need to talk with an expert to find out your options, dont try to do it on your own. States have very different rules on Obamacare concerning costs and availability  so choose wisely :) Another thing you will have to deal with is the IRS. There are some recent tax code changes concerning citizens living abroad. Again professional advice is needed for that situation. 

    Vermont may be the greatest

    Vermont may be the greatest state in the US right now for free healthcare.  They had Obamacare before there was Obamacare.  My brother just had surgery for throat cancer, and the surgery and follow up treatments will cost him nothing.