CT Tomorrow morning & losing insurance!

Momof2plusteentwins

CT tomorrow morning at 9am. Will I ever not live in fear???? So tired of this, every little pain to me is cancer. I guess I will see. Life is up in the air for me. My husband lost his job Friday, so my insurance will be ending December 31st. I hope he can find another job. We will have to move, house is going up for sale and my twins are juniors in high school. Now my whole family has more stress.

lp1964

Dear Friend,

Let's hope for the best on that scan. I had a scare myself this week, but it turned out to be ok and I wish you the same. Illness is so hard on everybody in so many ways: emotionallym, physically, financially. I need to work through the remadiation and chemo and most of the time I'm so tired, but have to pretend that everything is ok. Need to pay the bills. That's life and let's hope it will work out. We have to keep the family together. That's our greatest investment and resource. 

We all hope to hear good news from you in a few days. 

Laz

jen2012

ugh!
Sandy...just what you didn't need before a scan. Hoping and praying for good results to make the rest of it easier to figure out. I know you will get those results fast...let us know. Hang in there.

Lovekitties

So sorry

So very sorry to hear that you have added issues to deal with.

As to insurance, in the past you were allowed to continue insurance coverage under COBRA but the costs were pretty high since you had to pay all with no employer contribution.

Beginning Oct. 1 you can go to the Health Insurance Marketplace to apply for insurance.  This is part of "Obama Care".  This allows you to get gov. assistance to pay premiums based on income.  Not for everyone, but may be of some help to you in current situation.   Coverage would begin Jan. 1.  https://www.healthcare.gov/what-is-the-health-insurance-marketplace/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=new_subscriber_welcome&utm_campaign=welcome

 

The other good thing is that starting Jan.1, 2014 insurance companes cannot deny you coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

I hope that you may find some of this of help.

Marie who loves kitties

tanstaafl

making do

We don't have a lot of insurance so we watch our costs pretty closely.  

We can get a lot mileage in immune related prevention for under a dollar a day buying in bulk/half price sales through the year:

cimetidine, 5-10-15,000 iu vitamin D3, 1/4 aspirin, green tea EGCG, quercetin, milk thistle, 400 mg coQ10, 200 mcg selenium, 200mg B6, B100 (not with chemo, folic acid interaction!), triple strength mushroom extracts, zinc tab. vit C  We normally use even more from the Life Extension colorectal cancer recommendations plus others, but these are low cost and close to our initial set that produced some pretty great results.

 

Our PSK and WGP immune stimulators are bigger investments at more full throttle, say 2.4 gram (= 4x600mg) + 1 grams(=2x500mg) respectively, but I could even make do at one of each for ca $1 per day, maybe substituting PSP mushroom extract for PSK, while off chemo.

 

 

Goldie1

Hope this helps...

We have been in the same situation.  Husband Pat was unable to work during early treatment/surgery and we eventually had to pay for Cobra which was so expensive and hit our savings hard. Pat did apply for SSDI a few months after diagnosis and he was approved right away since he is stage iv.  We were not eligible for SSI because we had too many assets (sarcastic laugh).  But, if you are eligible for SSI, you usually get Medicaid right away.  If you are approved for SSDI, you are eligible for Medicare 2 years from date of diagnosis.  Pat just got Medicare (it's been 2 years since he was dx'ed) but since he returned to work last Oct and is once again back on company health insurance, he will only get Part A.  He won't have to contribute to Part B unless he cannot work again.  You may already know about Social Security but if not, hope this helps.  

I wish you all the best with your CT scan tomorrow, you are in my thoughts... 

Ellen 

jen2012

hi
Hi Sandy...been thinking of you today. Hope the scan went well.

Momof2plusteentwins

Thanks Everyone
I had my CT, my appt with onc is tomorrow, but I am calling nurse this afternoon. My husband is home starting resumes, so we are both home, really weird. It adds stress to everything, the boys are worried and embarrassed about us. We both always worked, until cancer for me last year and he just lost his job of 11 years Friday. We will have to move for him to find a job and that is hard with the boys being 16. It's just so hard. Thank you for all the replies and ideas.
Sandy

Oh and cobra insurance for our family is $1,900!

Happyhar

Wow! What a Punch!

Wish we could understand why life sometimes gives us about as much as we can take. May the Good Lord grant you and yours comfort and  guidance.

Lovekitties

Yes Cobra expensive

With both of you being unemployed, you should be able to qualify for some program.  Even if you don't qualify for subsidy from gov. due to year-to-date income, the policies at the Market Place may be cheaper.  Won't hurt to check.

Wishng you good news tomorrow...and hubby good success with job search.

Marie who loves kitties

ketziah35

I live in the state that you

I wish you the best of luck in your scan. Regarding your husband, I live in the state that you live in PM me a summary of his experience and I will see what I can do. I don't need to know his name or anything- just his experience. Any kids going to college I am a whiz at helping with that too.

Ktz

 

marbleotis

So sorry

So sorry about the job loss / insurance.

I pay for COBRA also so I know it is expensive.

Focus on your scans.....remember to take a breath, please.

Have your husband pump out the resumes.

Only worry about what you can change.

Look into all / any programs from your state.

jen2012

Momof2plusteentwins said:

Thanks Everyone
I had my CT, my appt with onc is tomorrow, but I am calling nurse this afternoon. My husband is home starting resumes, so we are both home, really weird. It adds stress to everything, the boys are worried and embarrassed about us. We both always worked, until cancer for me last year and he just lost his job of 11 years Friday. We will have to move for him to find a job and that is hard with the boys being 16. It's just so hard. Thank you for all the replies and ideas.
Sandy

Oh and cobra insurance for our family is $1,900!

I'm hoping you got good news

I'm hoping you got good news from the nurse.  I'm so sorry you have so much happening at once -  come and vent away.

herdizziness

The same thing happened to me

just two months before I was diagnosed my husband lost his job.  No insurance, it was a terrible time.  I understand your situation too well.

if you are stage IV, you automatically qualify for Medicare, if the diagnosis was over two years, you will also qualify for Medicare (2 years from diagnosis) this could save your bank account.  

I hope your husband gets another job soonest!!

Winter Marie

annalexandria

Thinking of you today,

and hoping that the CT results were ok for you.  The stress of scanning and then waiting for results is just kind of unbelievable, isn't it?  I scan on Thursday this week, and am already very anxious just thinking about it.

On the topic of insurance, I wanted to give you this link.  You can put in your info and see what's available for you in your state, under the new insurance exchange systems.  Here in WA, Medicaid has been expanded to cover a family of four making up to $38K per year.  The expansion was required by Obama Care, but I know some governors have been refusing to do it.  Can't remember where you live, but hopefully, these plans are in place for your family to make use of...it's hard enough fighting cancer, you shouldn't have to worry about insurance on top of it.

Big hugs~AA

http://www.barackobama.com/health-care/

ETA about WM's comment on Social Security Disability....it took only 2 months for me to get approved, and they paid a year of back pay.  Get to cut to the front of the line when you're stage 4.

hippiechicks

Just wanted to let you know I

Just wanted to let you know I am thinking of you.  Very similar situation here .. it was a tough time and with children it made it all the harder, but we became stronger as a family.  These times are teaching our children many lessons, they are becoming stronger people with bigger hearts and compassion.  Lessons some people never learn.   

I want to wish you the best and know you are not alone. 

One day at a time .. worry only about staying well and as stress free as you can.  The rest will fall into place.

We also did apply for SSDI and that was a huge relief. Stage 4 did bump that right along! Didn't know about medicare!! That sounds like something to look into.  Also, maybe some state programs?  I am not sure what state you live in, but often they can provide some relief until things get back on track for you folks.

Hope all went well with your scan. 

Momof2plusteentwins

So glad I came here to vent
Thanks, thanks, triple thanks everyone! I did get my results back. We are watching a node on the lung 4mm. It hasn't changed since last scan, 3 months ago. So that is a relief. I am working back at the hospital PRN - 1 day a week. They will not let me work part or full time because of cancer - they don't want to insure me. My husband is pumping out resumes. We are ok for now - 3 months severance and benefits, so no unemployment for him yet. We live in Georgia. Thank you for all the insurance ideas, I will definitely look into them. It's just scary to look at the unknown. We will definitely have to move because he is a county manager and there are very few jobs. That is all he has ever done for 27 years. We have been here 11 years, which is most of my boys life. They started school here in kindergarden. Well off to work I go for 12 hours. I'm so glad I have you guys, you have made me feel so much better!
Sandy

janderson1964

Momof2plusteentwins said:

So glad I came here to vent
Thanks, thanks, triple thanks everyone! I did get my results back. We are watching a node on the lung 4mm. It hasn't changed since last scan, 3 months ago. So that is a relief. I am working back at the hospital PRN - 1 day a week. They will not let me work part or full time because of cancer - they don't want to insure me. My husband is pumping out resumes. We are ok for now - 3 months severance and benefits, so no unemployment for him yet. We live in Georgia. Thank you for all the insurance ideas, I will definitely look into them. It's just scary to look at the unknown. We will definitely have to move because he is a county manager and there are very few jobs. That is all he has ever done for 27 years. We have been here 11 years, which is most of my boys life. They started school here in kindergarden. Well off to work I go for 12 hours. I'm so glad I have you guys, you have made me feel so much better!
Sandy

I am so thankful that your

I am so thankful that your scan results were good. I believe that you and your husband will find a way to work all of this out. Try your best to not get too stressed out over the situation and take care of yourself.

jen2012

Momof2plusteentwins said:

So glad I came here to vent
Thanks, thanks, triple thanks everyone! I did get my results back. We are watching a node on the lung 4mm. It hasn't changed since last scan, 3 months ago. So that is a relief. I am working back at the hospital PRN - 1 day a week. They will not let me work part or full time because of cancer - they don't want to insure me. My husband is pumping out resumes. We are ok for now - 3 months severance and benefits, so no unemployment for him yet. We live in Georgia. Thank you for all the insurance ideas, I will definitely look into them. It's just scary to look at the unknown. We will definitely have to move because he is a county manager and there are very few jobs. That is all he has ever done for 27 years. We have been here 11 years, which is most of my boys life. They started school here in kindergarden. Well off to work I go for 12 hours. I'm so glad I have you guys, you have made me feel so much better!
Sandy

yay
So glad things are looking a little brighter today. It will be hard on the boys to move but they may like the new place better...it will work out!

ketziah35

Momof2plusteentwins said:

So glad I came here to vent
Thanks, thanks, triple thanks everyone! I did get my results back. We are watching a node on the lung 4mm. It hasn't changed since last scan, 3 months ago. So that is a relief. I am working back at the hospital PRN - 1 day a week. They will not let me work part or full time because of cancer - they don't want to insure me. My husband is pumping out resumes. We are ok for now - 3 months severance and benefits, so no unemployment for him yet. We live in Georgia. Thank you for all the insurance ideas, I will definitely look into them. It's just scary to look at the unknown. We will definitely have to move because he is a county manager and there are very few jobs. That is all he has ever done for 27 years. We have been here 11 years, which is most of my boys life. They started school here in kindergarden. Well off to work I go for 12 hours. I'm so glad I have you guys, you have made me feel so much better!
Sandy

I sent you a PM. I hope it

Congrats on your scan!  I sent you a PM. I hope it helps!

annalexandria

Momof2plusteentwins said:

So glad I came here to vent
Thanks, thanks, triple thanks everyone! I did get my results back. We are watching a node on the lung 4mm. It hasn't changed since last scan, 3 months ago. So that is a relief. I am working back at the hospital PRN - 1 day a week. They will not let me work part or full time because of cancer - they don't want to insure me. My husband is pumping out resumes. We are ok for now - 3 months severance and benefits, so no unemployment for him yet. We live in Georgia. Thank you for all the insurance ideas, I will definitely look into them. It's just scary to look at the unknown. We will definitely have to move because he is a county manager and there are very few jobs. That is all he has ever done for 27 years. We have been here 11 years, which is most of my boys life. They started school here in kindergarden. Well off to work I go for 12 hours. I'm so glad I have you guys, you have made me feel so much better!
Sandy

So happy for the scan results!

That's a pretty tiny lung thingie, and with no growth...maybe it's not even cancer?  I've known others who had stuff show up in the lungs that ended up benign, so I'm hoping that will be the case for you.

Starting over won't be easy, but I think we can face almost anything if the cancer just gives us a break.

Btw, when you are on SSD, you can still try to work a little.  I'm completely "retired" now (at the ripe old age of 47), so I'm not sure exactly how it works, but it might be you can have SSD and your one day a week at the same time.

Big hugs!!