Cancer Insurance

buckeye2
buckeye2 Member Posts: 428 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
I believe that the insurance agencies who sell cancer insurance are taking advantage of people's fear of getting cancer in the selling phase and then taking advantage of the stress of cancer patients in the settlement phase. I was sold a Cancer policy on three premises: 1) there are many expenses associated with a cancer diagnosis not covered by insurance. 2) a cancer diagnosis is a stressful time without being burdened with financial difficulties and we pay you directly..

Buying the policy in Oct. of 2010 turned out not to be very lucky for me as both my husband and myself were diagnosed with cancer this Spring. Since that time I have found that the first premise is correct, there are many expenses not covered by insurance. The problem is that the cancer policy pays the policy holder direct which requires the cancer patient to bill the cancer insurance company. This is extremely difficult due to the unique restrictions put on what they reimburse. For example they reimburse for surgery based on something called a "surgical unit". So the policy holder has to get an itemized bill with this information to the cancer policy company in order to be reimbursed. Secondly the process for getting any reimbursement is held back with bureaucratic minutiae. They have requested the same paperwork from me three times. At this time I probably have six hours invested in billing for reimbursement and have received $75.00.

This leads me to my point. I believe this cancer policy is counting on the stress associated with cancer to disable the holder from getting through the processes necessary for reimbursement. Because I believe I am being harassed based on my disability, I am mad. Are any others out there having similar experiences with their cancer insurance. Lisa

Comments

  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #2
    First I've heard of cancer insurance
    But your premise is most likely correct.
  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #3
    Hi Lisa
    I did some checking on-line and found that states have a Department of Insurance which is supposed to regulate and help the state citizens with issues such as yours. I checked my state (VA) and sure enough there is such a place.

    You may want to check for your state and if there is one, contact them regarding your concerns.

    Marie who loves kitties
  • mukamom
    mukamom Member Posts: 402
    #4
    Buckwirth said:

    First I've heard of cancer insurance
    But your premise is most likely correct.

    Robert took out a cancer
    policy through the guys that have the duck.... anyway,it is true that you have to send in itemized bills from hospitals, surgeon's post operative reports, HIFCA claims forms showing billing for chemo and radiation treatments, and it is a pain in the butt (no pun intended) to have do this...but is completely doable without too much time invested.

    Talk to your agent about what the policy does cover, ask what kind of documents they require, and then get with the docs billing office for what you need. The surgeons nurse can get you post op reports, lab results,etc.

    It takes a bit to get things organized but after that it's nothing more than faxing the right documents for your claim.

    This ins has saved us from bankruptcy, by allowing Robert to take off work when chemo made him too sick to go in, or recovering from surgery, it has helped to pay some of what health ins. didn't cover, and has even given us a night or two on the town.

    This is just our experience with our ins company. It is well worth the 45.00/mo premium for family cancer coverage

    Good luck

    Angela
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #5
    can you get it after being diagnosed?
    Hi,

    I'm just wondering if people still can qualify to get this cancer insurance after already having cancer, or is it something you have to take out when you don't have cancer, "just in case?"
    If it's something I could qualify for, I might look into it, as my HMO really limits where I can go and who I can see.

    Another Lisa
  • scouty
    scouty Member Posts: 1,965 Member
    #6
    lisa42 said:

    can you get it after being diagnosed?
    Hi,

    I'm just wondering if people still can qualify to get this cancer insurance after already having cancer, or is it something you have to take out when you don't have cancer, "just in case?"
    If it's something I could qualify for, I might look into it, as my HMO really limits where I can go and who I can see.

    Another Lisa

    Sorry but
    lisa42 you are not another Lisa, you are "Other Lisa"!!!!

    This one can be "Another Lisa".

    Elder Lisa
  • mukamom
    mukamom Member Posts: 402
    #7
    lisa42 said:

    can you get it after being diagnosed?
    Hi,

    I'm just wondering if people still can qualify to get this cancer insurance after already having cancer, or is it something you have to take out when you don't have cancer, "just in case?"
    If it's something I could qualify for, I might look into it, as my HMO really limits where I can go and who I can see.

    Another Lisa

    Other Lisa,
    this is something that you get "just in case", Robert got it because he has a stong family history of cancer, and in this case it paid off. This has nothing to do with paying the docs and hospitals directly..they pay you and you use those funds however you see fit. Copays, deductibles, groceries, gas for your car.

    It usually pays a lump sum for a cancer diagnosis, and pays $$ for surgeries assoc with cancer dx, pays $$ for each day in the hospital that is associated with cancer dx, pays $$ for chemo and rad tx, pays $$ for yearly screenings: colonoscopy, mammogram, chest xray. You have to submit the required documents for reimbusement.

    Angela
  • buckeye2
    buckeye2 Member Posts: 428 Member
    #8
    Thank you for all your input
    Thank you for all your input both Lisas and nonLisas. Lisa
  • relaxoutdoors08
    relaxoutdoors08 Member Posts: 521 Member
    #9
    Cancer Insurance
    Our Teacher Health Care Policy did not cover cancer screenings for women. So our school administration encouraged payroll deduction for cancer and hospital emergency supplement insurance plans through the "Duck Plan" because we would get $50.00-$75.00 for each annual cancer test. No way does that cover the full cost of cancer tests.

    The Health Care Reform said BCBS and Insurance companies could no longer issue new insurance policies without womens cancer screenings (Pap and Mammo Tests) as well as Colonoscopies so I was shocked when diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. I owe my life to Health Care Reform because I had no symtoms.

    I did have Cancer Insurance which one takes out just in case someone gets cancer. I did use the coverage for hotel, travel and extra expenses while I was doing chemo. I just finished going through turning in the documentation for finishing chemo with Folfox. I was told by the sales person we were to be paid a daily rate for each day of chemo. But they paid instead based on the perscription instead of a daily rate of chemo. So I was paid for only one day of chemo at a set rate based on Folfox. The hotel and travel did make a difference in treatment and the surgerical and one time amount meant we had the money for all the extras as I completed chemo.

    I think we have gotten back our premiums.
    NB

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