Insurance!!!

json_2011
json_2011 Member Posts: 100
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hello hope everybody is haveing a good day. I am in G.A. and mother is haveing trouble getting insurance for her ec. They told her to get on disability ? This makes no since to me. Her tumer a large one need to be addressed ASPAP . Hope we can cross this problem off the list fast! She was laid off her job more than a year back.

Comments

  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #2
    There is help for Ec
    There is help for Ec patients. I know the booklet I received at Georgia Cancer where I had chemo Had a lot of info. in it. Didn't pay too much attention because I had insurance.

    Concerning ss---I had disability insurance at work, but they insisted I put in for ss disability. I did and was approved the first time I put in for it. I was shocked. I thought I would have to go through the appeals process.
    I got the check every month, but did not receive any medical help since I had insurance. There is a posibility she could receive medicare or medicade to help with the bills, since she is uninsured. My disability turned into regular social security when I turned 66. Take mom to the ss office and see what is available.
  • Peg59
    Peg59 Member Posts: 18
    #3
    sandy1943 said:

    There is help for Ec
    There is help for Ec patients. I know the booklet I received at Georgia Cancer where I had chemo Had a lot of info. in it. Didn't pay too much attention because I had insurance.

    Concerning ss---I had disability insurance at work, but they insisted I put in for ss disability. I did and was approved the first time I put in for it. I was shocked. I thought I would have to go through the appeals process.
    I got the check every month, but did not receive any medical help since I had insurance. There is a posibility she could receive medicare or medicade to help with the bills, since she is uninsured. My disability turned into regular social security when I turned 66. Take mom to the ss office and see what is available.

    We're facing this one.
    Mo and I run a small non-profit and we have no insurance. That was a real eye opener to us with this.

    SS will approve right away for EC. They fast tracked Mo and he received his first payment within weeks. Unfortunately Medicare has a 24 month delay and SS will often put you over the top for Medicaid. We have been doing a LOT of research for help and can not find much. The hospitals themselves, however, are doing their part with us.

    Bottom line is this: get the treatment and deal with the bills as they come in. They can be negotiated down (sometimes to 10-20% of the bill) then put on payment plans but they can't refuse you treatment. True non-profit hospitals with staff doctors working as a team will help. We just signed a $44,000.00 estimate charge for the port placement and node biopsies. Cough, cough say WHAT?
  • json_2011
    json_2011 Member Posts: 100
    #4
    sandy1943 said:

    There is help for Ec
    There is help for Ec patients. I know the booklet I received at Georgia Cancer where I had chemo Had a lot of info. in it. Didn't pay too much attention because I had insurance.

    Concerning ss---I had disability insurance at work, but they insisted I put in for ss disability. I did and was approved the first time I put in for it. I was shocked. I thought I would have to go through the appeals process.
    I got the check every month, but did not receive any medical help since I had insurance. There is a posibility she could receive medicare or medicade to help with the bills, since she is uninsured. My disability turned into regular social security when I turned 66. Take mom to the ss office and see what is available.

    Thanks Sandy
    Hey Sandy , thanks again for this , I will pass it on to mother who has no insurance.
  • json_2011
    json_2011 Member Posts: 100
    #5
    Peg59 said:

    We're facing this one.
    Mo and I run a small non-profit and we have no insurance. That was a real eye opener to us with this.

    SS will approve right away for EC. They fast tracked Mo and he received his first payment within weeks. Unfortunately Medicare has a 24 month delay and SS will often put you over the top for Medicaid. We have been doing a LOT of research for help and can not find much. The hospitals themselves, however, are doing their part with us.

    Bottom line is this: get the treatment and deal with the bills as they come in. They can be negotiated down (sometimes to 10-20% of the bill) then put on payment plans but they can't refuse you treatment. True non-profit hospitals with staff doctors working as a team will help. We just signed a $44,000.00 estimate charge for the port placement and node biopsies. Cough, cough say WHAT?

    Thanks Mo
    This was great to hear. You know , you dont know unless you've gone through it. I will relate this to mother. We will let you know what stage next week - so scared.


    Jason

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