I may have to switch Oncologists....

phrannie51
phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I'm so upset. Before I started treatment, I went to our HR person at work, to see if I could go to the one who gave amifostine. The HR gal talked to both the insurance company and to the Oncologists office manager, came back to me and said it's good to go...so I've been going everyday for 3 weeks for amifostine, and have had one chemo treatment.

Yesterday I got my Explanation of Benefits in the mail from my insurance company...they are only paying 60%, not 100%....YIKES! I called HR, and she said she'd get right on it, and call the Oncologist's office.......but my trust is busted. I can't afford to pay for 40% of anything this expensive. I have another chemo treatment scheduled for Tues the 15th...I don't want to interrupt treatment, either....I don't know what to do. I've only got two days today, and Monday to get this straightened out...I have NO idea what a chemo treatment costs......or the amifostine on a daily basis.......or the two Procryte shots I've had.....I'm scared to death.

Just had to vent this out somewhere.....thanks for listening.

p

Comments

  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #2
    stay in treatment
    you will figure the medical expenses/billing/payments, later. There are a multitude of places to apply for help with cancer related expenses, from cancer organizations to hospital charity programs. You can start asking around but don't fret too much about it. All those people who asked you what they could do to help, pick the the most business Savoy person who offered and make it their job to find financial relief. The worse thing that could happen is you pay them a buck a month for the rest of your life. "Life" is the operative word here. Keep your perspective.
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #3
    ratface said:

    stay in treatment
    you will figure the medical expenses/billing/payments, later. There are a multitude of places to apply for help with cancer related expenses, from cancer organizations to hospital charity programs. You can start asking around but don't fret too much about it. All those people who asked you what they could do to help, pick the the most business Savoy person who offered and make it their job to find financial relief. The worse thing that could happen is you pay them a buck a month for the rest of your life. "Life" is the operative word here. Keep your perspective.

    Thanks RF, for reeling me in.........
    "keeping perspective"....good point (I do tend to leap way ahead of myeslf), so now my feet are once again touching the ground!! I can't do diddley about this upcoming treatment, so I'll take it at this Oncologist's office...that will give me three weeks to work on a solution. If I have to switch, then I'll have time to do that without messing with my treatments. They don't do amifostine at the other office (that has it good points and bad points)...at this juncture being told "no" you can't have amifostine would be a relief, frankly...the stuff does make a person sick on a daily basis.

    Thank you RF, you posted at the perfect time :)

    p
  • jtl
    jtl Member Posts: 456
    #4
    phrannie51 said:

    Thanks RF, for reeling me in.........
    "keeping perspective"....good point (I do tend to leap way ahead of myeslf), so now my feet are once again touching the ground!! I can't do diddley about this upcoming treatment, so I'll take it at this Oncologist's office...that will give me three weeks to work on a solution. If I have to switch, then I'll have time to do that without messing with my treatments. They don't do amifostine at the other office (that has it good points and bad points)...at this juncture being told "no" you can't have amifostine would be a relief, frankly...the stuff does make a person sick on a daily basis.

    Thank you RF, you posted at the perfect time :)

    p

    RF makes good points. Most
    RF makes good points. Most if not all oncologists have programs to help pay for treatments. Is your insurance covering the rt? Right now the important thing is to stay on track with your treatments and get healthy.
    John
  • Tonsil Dad
    Tonsil Dad Member Posts: 488
    #5
    phrannie51 said:

    Thanks RF, for reeling me in.........
    "keeping perspective"....good point (I do tend to leap way ahead of myeslf), so now my feet are once again touching the ground!! I can't do diddley about this upcoming treatment, so I'll take it at this Oncologist's office...that will give me three weeks to work on a solution. If I have to switch, then I'll have time to do that without messing with my treatments. They don't do amifostine at the other office (that has it good points and bad points)...at this juncture being told "no" you can't have amifostine would be a relief, frankly...the stuff does make a person sick on a daily basis.

    Thank you RF, you posted at the perfect time :)

    p

    Phrannie!!!

    " KEEP CALM and CARRY ON "


    God bless
    Tonsil Dad,

    Dan.
  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    #6
    Tonsil Dad said:

    Phrannie!!!

    " KEEP CALM and CARRY ON "


    God bless
    Tonsil Dad,

    Dan.

    as others say, keep calm
    Phrannie, trust Rick ">>>face"....stay with the current program. Lots of times, the bills are so scary you would faint...most of the time, there is an additional discount given and you would not have to pay 40%. this treatment sounds like it is working really well for you--don't panic and don't stop.
  • ljoy
    ljoy Member Posts: 94
    #7
    Cost of treatment
    Couldn't agree more that you stay in treatment. Our treatment center here has a full time liaison for assisting patients who need financial assistance. Hopefully your oncologists has someone on staff who can take care of any financial issues. The insurance companies can be the big problem. As everyone else has stated, it will work out for you. Best wishes for your successful treatment.
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #8
    ljoy said:

    Cost of treatment
    Couldn't agree more that you stay in treatment. Our treatment center here has a full time liaison for assisting patients who need financial assistance. Hopefully your oncologists has someone on staff who can take care of any financial issues. The insurance companies can be the big problem. As everyone else has stated, it will work out for you. Best wishes for your successful treatment.

    LOL Dan....I should just "read the sign"....ha!
    Ok....I talked to my HR person this morning. Guess someone at the insurance company dropped the ball when this first came up before I started treatment. She said at this moment the Oncologists office is being hyper-cooperative, and they've got one person at the insurance company who's sole job today is to get a direct contract written up...backdated, and sent to my Dr. I wasn't the only patient from where I work, so this will benefit 3 of us. Phew.......all is going to be fine!!

    Thanks for keeping me grounded.....I'm laughing at myself because I'm so good at going from 0 to 60 in less than a second. Someday I will learn to stop that!!

    p
  • Mrs. Sarge
    Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
    #9
    phrannie51 said:

    LOL Dan....I should just "read the sign"....ha!
    Ok....I talked to my HR person this morning. Guess someone at the insurance company dropped the ball when this first came up before I started treatment. She said at this moment the Oncologists office is being hyper-cooperative, and they've got one person at the insurance company who's sole job today is to get a direct contract written up...backdated, and sent to my Dr. I wasn't the only patient from where I work, so this will benefit 3 of us. Phew.......all is going to be fine!!

    Thanks for keeping me grounded.....I'm laughing at myself because I'm so good at going from 0 to 60 in less than a second. Someday I will learn to stop that!!

    p

    You don't need this kind of stuff
    phrannie!!! Just concentrate on getting through this and the money will take care of itself!! I ditto the $1.00 a month if necessary! Going through all you're going thru is enough already! Take courage and press on!!! I'm right behind you albeit smaller treatment and easier, they say!!
  • aluo1271
    aluo1271 Member Posts: 25
    #10
    phrannie51 said:

    LOL Dan....I should just "read the sign"....ha!
    Ok....I talked to my HR person this morning. Guess someone at the insurance company dropped the ball when this first came up before I started treatment. She said at this moment the Oncologists office is being hyper-cooperative, and they've got one person at the insurance company who's sole job today is to get a direct contract written up...backdated, and sent to my Dr. I wasn't the only patient from where I work, so this will benefit 3 of us. Phew.......all is going to be fine!!

    Thanks for keeping me grounded.....I'm laughing at myself because I'm so good at going from 0 to 60 in less than a second. Someday I will learn to stop that!!

    p

    Hi Phrannie, glad it all
    Hi Phrannie, glad it all worked out for you!
  • Laralyn
    Laralyn Member Posts: 532
    #11
    aluo1271 said:

    Hi Phrannie, glad it all
    Hi Phrannie, glad it all worked out for you!

    It's always something, isn't it?
    Glad it worked out, and I can understand why it stressed you! You develop such a relationship with the doctors treating you in these situations. I would hate to consider switching right now.

    So hooray for good news! :-)

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