THE ECONOMY OF HAVING CANCER.

I have found it overwhelming thinking about money during my husband's 8 month (so far) journey.  While we have excellent insurance, the co-pays are out of this world and the added prescriptions, hospitalizations, television fees (outrageous fees but necessary for my husband's sanity) doctor's visits, followup visits (he has 8 doctors now), OTC meds for constipation, blah blah blah.  While I did put money into my flexible spending account (pre tax) at work, since he was diagnosed in mid December, the amount was already locked in in early November and couldn't be changed.  We have used up all the money I put away for the entire year alredy in 6 months.  While I handle all our bills, I try not to worry about it too much.

I have reached out to some cancer groups and almost felt like a begger, and btw, turned away by every one of them.  I went through a 20 minute phone interview with one of the cancer groups and then was told "There's actually no money left in this fund" I was humiliated, I sat here and cried. I also contacted our local ACS (since a co-worker told me they give out gas cards during treatments) to also be turned away and told "We don't do that anymore, we only offer rides" Well, we have our own cars so we don't need rides.  They just ended the call, didn't offer anything else.

I have been contacted by an angel who almost anonymously gave me some money.  I have never before been in a situation like that and, while so thankful, very humbled.  I don't think I have ever asked anyone for money since I've been a working adult so I was quite surprised by their generosity.

I have donated to the American Cancer Society for probably 30+ years and now when my husband and I need a little help, the door is closed.  I now know if you want to donate, give it to a person directly. 

I'm sorry I can't give you some good leads.  I have not had any luck with organizations I have contacted.  I also have a magazine called Patient Research Cancer Guide that lists many organizations.  I haven't found the nerve or time to contact any of them yet.

Good luck

Hey Laz,

Nope, no help with bills or anything.  Although the locals men's club gave me a free Christams Tree one year!     But unfortunately, other than asking the hospital to extend the payment term, we had to pay all of the bills on our own.  One of the members on this board went to Germany for alternative treatments, but he cashed in his life insurance policy and sold a few properties - but most of us out here simply don't have a spare $500k to spend on trips around the world.  Rick didn't have that particular type of life insurance that he could cash in early, so that wasn't an option for us.  His ex-wife and kid's got a good policy payout, but I was left with nothing but hospital bills.  So, I'm currently in the process of getting my house to sell since I have no money left due to hospital.  And Rick's mom lost her husband to cancer a week before Rick passed, so now she has to sell her house too.  In fact, in order to order a tomb stone for both Rick and his Dad, she offered to sell their little sailboat for me since I can't afford the stone.

The thing is, most healthy people don't realize that their insurance is only good up until you have to stop working due to a terminal illness - then you're on your own for the bills.  If you stop working, you can try applying for Social Security payments.  We never got a chance to try that route, but others out here may be able to share some advice. 

Cancer just takes everything.....from both patient and those they leave behind. 

Take care,

Cynthia

jen2012 said:

Cyn - I feel guilty now

Cyn - I feel guilty now complaining about that avastin bill.  I'm sorry you are in the position that you are - it's actually pretty sickening that this can happen.  People just don't realize how quickly life can change - in so many ways.

Oh no dear, don't feel guilty about anything - we're all in this together, one way or the other.  It's ok, I'll make do...  Fortunately, I suppose, I was brought up with parents who suffered through the depression, so I've learned how to make the dollars spread out.  No new clothes or anything, and I just buy cheap food like cereal,etc..  When you really think about it, as long as we have food, water and a place to clean up and rest, we really don't need much else.     So I'm fine, no worries.  

Chelsea71 said:

Well, I'm worried. That's a
Well, I'm worried. That's a very unfortunate situation, Cyn. Something seems terribly wrong with that picture. You had three really rough years with Rick and now you're stuck with only the bills. Cancer is just not happy until it completely sucks everything from us. Jen, you are right. So many people are sitting pretty right now thinking they have the world by the tail. They just don't realize how quickly it can all change. The Canadian health care system is different. We can get sick and not be ruined financially. But believe me, it has a whole other group of challenges.

Not right for either you or Rick's mom....it's so wrong when folks have to sell their house due to the disease....

There was a lady here back in the beginning.....she was deathly ill....and her house had been in foreclosure...and they were trying to take it from her before she even passed away....

She subsequently passed away before they could evict her....but her story has always remained with me on what's wrong with all of this. 

Losing your shelter (should be exempt) because of cancer should just not happen....

We're only dabbling back in the system once again and its early now....but between the last 5-weeks of appts and tests, we are beginning to amass to an already high enough total for the current event, much less the past and prior events....and funny thing is....after all of that....and we still don't know what to do with me....or what is what. 

I've spent my time and money....and don't really know any more now than I did a month ago....that's not money well spent. 

Many of us don't want any more gain.....but the issue comes down to we hate to lose what we have worked hard for our whole lives....we're simply content to try and hang on to what we've got...

Though I know it doesn't always work that way....like so many others, I wait for when it's my turn....

I've lost count on what has been spent this past decade...the numbers are staggering....just your co-pays and max out of pockets each year is enough to wreck a good deal of the population.

I pretty much figure I'll be making many monthly payments until it's all over...just like we've been doing since it all started...just can't dig out enough, before new ones topple in over the existing and old ones.

We just keep trying to pay enough monthly to allow me to get services and treatments....so they won't shut us off.

And this with company insurance.....

Cancer is never about the fight itself.....it's always the collateral damage that occurs....always has been....always will be.

That can be said from any health crisis, or natural disaster type of scenario.  

The real battle has always been fought in the aftermath of the event itself...

herdizziness said:

My co-pay

At the moment is $1,100.00 per month MORE then my income.  My house in Ohio, my little home on my half acre I lost to foreclosure since cancer and bills.  I divorced my husband so he wouldn't lose his home and filed quit-claim deed before that.  So wish I could tell you it here is an easier way, but there isn't as far as I can see.  So bill collectors call and I make less then mininum payments on bills, but that's all I can do.  

But for every depressing thing that happens sometimes I'm lucky in other ways, once I took a trip on Southwest and they were overbooked so they issued me a voucher, which I used on another trip and again they were overbooked and again I volunteered and received another voucher which I am using to go visit my daughter.  I'm hoping for overbooked again ! We let a young man stay in our back room for trade on maintenance on our yard and remodel on our house.  I traded one of my scooters for future mechanic work, as Cyn said, we make things work.  I learned to go camping, where once if we went on a trip we got to stay in lovely motels.  Life changes with cancer, but there are still ways to enjoy it!

Winter Marie

I needed to hear this, thank you!

Judy

When things are going well there are hands out all around.  They ask for help to help those that are less able.  YET, when it is our time it seems they are of no help.  

Sadly, I believe, that most of these organiztions are self directed and not honorably intended to help.  

After learning how little of the donation actually went to helping more than just THEIR expense account.  Quit giving to any of them quite a few years ago.

To say the least, I am a little frustrated.  Definitely very jaded.

Art

When my husband Pat was first dx'ed, he could not work because radiation, chemo, and surgery left him unable to do any task.  We were lucky that his health insurance was still covering him and our family.  I only work part-time and no insurance is available through my job. He applied for Social Sercurity Disability and got approved very quickly because he is stage iv. But, it took 6 months to receive the first check and no Medicare till 2 years after dx. After a year, his health insurance came to an end and we had to pay an outrageous amount for Cobra.  No organization would help us because we still had some savings in the bank.  Money that we had saved for retirement, went to paying bills and to trying to keep our heads afloat. Plus, we had 2 kids in college.   Pat decided to try to go back to work after one and a half years because he was so afraid we would lose everything.  I asked him if he wanted to retire but he said he wasn't ready to do that.  So, after his onc and the company doc cleared him, he went back to work last Oct.  He takes off every other Friday for chemo.  Has it been easy for him?  Yes and no. He drives a truck for a big company, delivery/pickup of some pretty heavy things. Lots of driving and all the headaches that go along with the job.  But, he does it, with stage iv cancer, and intends to do it for as long as he can because he tells me it gives him a purpose.  And to be honest, that paycheck has helped us get back on track.  Cancer has really chewed us up but somehow financially, we are still hanging in there.  Thankfully, we give a lot of credit to his employer and union, they have helped us the most these last 2 years.  Between collecting money and being flexible so that Pat has time off if needed, it really has been more than we could ask for.  

Ellen

Read my bio;decide for yourself.

Best wishes,

John

I'm selling some jewelry I haven't worn in years, good thing gold is "up"  Makes me feel good to get rid of stuff I don't use.