Surviving financially

Wernerger

I'm a new member on this forum.

 

I've worked in an environment in which I'm exposed to carcinogens for the the past 15 years. My question is, are all cancers covered under medicaid? My fear is of getting a form of cancer that is not covered under medicaid or medicare or is not advanced enough so that I end up being drained financially.

To the members in this discussion board - were you able to survive financially after getting cancer or did it wipe out or significantly deplete you of your life savings?

 

 

Real Tar Heel

I should know these things

I should know these things but I don't think those govt. insurances would only cover certain cancers as any cancer is a life-threatening illness. Things will depend on your state law, so that's the best place to look for answers regarding what those institutions cover.

SandiaBuddy

Government coverage

Medicaid - coverage based on (low) income

Medicare - coverage based on age (currently 65+)

 

 

 

beaumontdave

Gone with the wind! '07 was a

Gone with the wind! '07 was a very slow time for my contracting biz, I'd dropped coverage for myself as it was too much to carry a year earlier, then my CMT disease, a chronic genetic condition,  wouldn't allow new coverage. Then bang, the diagnosis drops, and the only thing I can get is MediCal [Medicaid] with a $5000 co-pay. Paid cash for the collectomy and all related items, [PET scans ran $3700, then as I recall]. Paid the first $5000 each month through Chemo, did the 12 treatments, then discovered the Desert Cancer Foundation, and got a grant for the co-pay. That helped when Cindy was diagnosed the following December, but I still had to separate, and leave the household so she could qualify for state aid, then Medicare. By then the savings were all gone. I got on the state's high-risk insurance program, rode that to it's limits, then fortunately the ACA was passed and I was able to get that in time for my two liver surgeries. I was within a whisker's length of losing the house and the biz, which certainly was an education about why this country needs universal coverage. Putting me on my ****, on Disability, renting a place at twice what my mortgage is, for the last, say 11 years wouldn't have served me, the younger kids and granddaughter I was still raising, nor society at large.............................................Dave

beaumontdave

beaumontdave said:

Gone with the wind! '07 was a

Gone with the wind! '07 was a very slow time for my contracting biz, I'd dropped coverage for myself as it was too much to carry a year earlier, then my CMT disease, a chronic genetic condition,  wouldn't allow new coverage. Then bang, the diagnosis drops, and the only thing I can get is MediCal [Medicaid] with a $5000 co-pay. Paid cash for the collectomy and all related items, [PET scans ran $3700, then as I recall]. Paid the first $5000 each month through Chemo, did the 12 treatments, then discovered the Desert Cancer Foundation, and got a grant for the co-pay. That helped when Cindy was diagnosed the following December, but I still had to separate, and leave the household so she could qualify for state aid, then Medicare. By then the savings were all gone. I got on the state's high-risk insurance program, rode that to it's limits, then fortunately the ACA was passed and I was able to get that in time for my two liver surgeries. I was within a whisker's length of losing the house and the biz, which certainly was an education about why this country needs universal coverage. Putting me on my ****, on Disability, renting a place at twice what my mortgage is, for the last, say 11 years wouldn't have served me, the younger kids and granddaughter I was still raising, nor society at large.............................................Dave

To answer your first question

To answer your first question, type and circumstance of getting cancer has nothing to do with public insurances. I've cut wood for 45 years as part of my work, 15 years ago, they put up notices about the risks of cancer from cutting manufactured wood products. Good to know, but a bit late for this old guy, lol........................................Dave

flutemon

Medicare

I've been on Medicare for almost 20 years due to disability (polio/post-polio syndrome).  So I was on medicare when cancer was discovered 3 years ago.  It has covered pretty much everything, with an 80/20 split.  I was doing well keeping up with the bills until I went on a trial that included cetuximab. The trial drugs were provided but medicare had to cover the cetuximab.  Good.  But my 20% of each infusion ate my lunch.  After 6 months, I was into the hospital for $18,000. Medicare will cover infusion drugs/chemo, but if you want the new stuff like Lonsurf or Stivarga you have to have the prescription plan (D).

When I hit 65 last year I picked up a supplement. Best thing I ever did.  Anything that medicare covers, the supplement takes care of the copay/coinsurance 20%.  There is very little out of pocket now, other than a monthly payment to the supplement company.  It paid for itself the first month, and then some.  I was on Herceptin and that would have killed us financially.

Annabelle41415

Insurance

I'm not sure about Medicaid but Medicare picks up 80% and if you have the part D picks up most or some of the uncovered part.  If you get a good part D, it should help you greatly, but you will have to pay extra for that up and above Medicaid/Medicare.

Kim

beaumontdave

Annabelle41415 said:

Insurance

I'm not sure about Medicaid but Medicare picks up 80% and if you have the part D picks up most or some of the uncovered part.  If you get a good part D, it should help you greatly, but you will have to pay extra for that up and above Medicaid/Medicare.

Kim

Medicaid picks up the 20%, if

Medicaid picks up the 20%, if you're low enough income...............................Dave

Wernerger

Thanks to all for answering

Thanks to all for answering my question.