Rescheduled my appointments for Insufficient Funds

Kidney_Cancer_Kid
Kidney_Cancer_Kid Member Posts: 46 Member
in Kidney Cancer #1

My appointments were for 4/25/17, 4/26/17, and 4/28/17 at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.  I didn't have the funds for the labs, specimens, CT, ultrasound, two doctor visits, etc.  I moved the appointments to August.  I've rescheduled these appointment multiple times.  I keep hoping that some miracle will happen and funds will drop from the sky.  My last trip to MD A. was this last December.  ACS couldn't help, so the cancer center in my town paid for my room.  I spent Christmas alone, in pain, and recovering from an endometrial biopsy in a hotel room.  This April trip was for my rcc follow up and to look at my new neck tumor/masses/messes.  When I saw the kidney cancer and endocrinologist the last time, they were on my insurance plan.  This year . . . out of network.  I feel stressed out!  In addition, there are local doctors on my plan that I need to see.  My local doctors cover a 13 county area.  I'm lucky to be seen for more than 10 minutes.  Scheduling is so hard.  There are too many patients going to too few doctors and nurse practitioners.  Time is ticking away, and I'm having to put important medical visits off.  I needed to see all my doctors before I go back to being uninsured again.  211-Texas, DSHS, and other agencies have been called, but nothing so far.  I am trying again with ACS.  August is pending.

Can I scream now?

Kidney_Cancer_Kid

 

Comments

  • Steve.Adam
    Steve.Adam Member Posts: 463 Member
    #2
    Yes, you can scream

    That's a lousy situation. I don't have any ideas, sorry.

    Steve.

  • Jan4you
    Jan4you Member Posts: 1,330 Member
    #3
    Well I am so sorry for ALL

    Well I am so sorry for ALL you are enduring!! Yikes! Do you qualify for Medicaid? Have you spoken to a Medical social worker. I know they have financial counselors for different health agencies, esp in hospitals. And does your doctor know of your situation?

    I am here for you. I know there will be answers out there for you. Need an advocate hon.

    Sending you hope and healing hugs,

    Jan

  • Allochka
    Allochka Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #4
    Can you have at least

    Can you have at least ultrasound? They are very cheap in my country.

  • Wife of kidney cancer fighter
    Wife of kidney cancer fighter Member Posts: 41
    edited April 2017 #5
    Could you do a go fund me

    Could you do a go fund me page?

  • Kidney_Cancer_Kid
    Kidney_Cancer_Kid Member Posts: 46 Member
    #6
    Jan4you said:

    Well I am so sorry for ALL

    Well I am so sorry for ALL you are enduring!! Yikes! Do you qualify for Medicaid? Have you spoken to a Medical social worker. I know they have financial counselors for different health agencies, esp in hospitals. And does your doctor know of your situation?

    I am here for you. I know there will be answers out there for you. Need an advocate hon.

    Sending you hope and healing hugs,

    Jan

    Medicaid . . . the one social worker . . . financial counselors

    Hi Jan4you

    The help that I had with my December visit dried up.

    On Medicaid, I don't qualify.  I make $4,000 to $6,000 annually and I am over the $2,000 per year limit.  When filling out the Marketplace form, it will send your info to the Medicaid office every year. 

    There is a social worker in town for cancer issues for the 13 county area.  She is at the hospital that is with last year's insurance. 

    I am going to go back through my list of 100 agencies.  I contact them periodically to see if any funds have been allocated.  (WISH ME LUCK!) So, if there is a kindly financial counselor that is new to one of the agencies . . . I will soooooo petition her or him!!!! 

    My doctors are informed of my situation from moment one of our meeting.  However, for help, Texas is a find-it-your-own-bad-self-state, at least in my area.  So, I am going to keep trying up to the new deadline and reschedule again if need be.

    I keep hope alive . . . and keep myself alive.

    Jan4you, I hope you have better fortune than I.

    Kidney_Cancer_Kid

  • Kidney_Cancer_Kid
    Kidney_Cancer_Kid Member Posts: 46 Member
    #7
    Steve.Adam said:

    Yes, you can scream

    That's a lousy situation. I don't have any ideas, sorry.

    Steve.

    I did scream

    Hi Steve

    I did scream to let out the tension.  Everyone should do a primal scream, providing it doesn't injury the throat.

    Kidney_Cancer_Kid

     

  • Kidney_Cancer_Kid
    Kidney_Cancer_Kid Member Posts: 46 Member
    #8
    Allochka said:

    Can you have at least

    Can you have at least ultrasound? They are very cheap in my country.

    MD Anderson is strict

    Hello Allochka,

    MD Anderson has protocols.  I wish they would do just that US and some of the labs.  Ultrasounds are usually around $300 out of pocket and out of network plus the radiologist's bill.  I had my ultrasound fna with insurance, so I did not obtain the price.  Those prices are what my boyfriend could help me with . . . I think.

    Kidney_Cancer_Kid

     

    Kidney_Cancer_Kid

  • Kidney_Cancer_Kid
    Kidney_Cancer_Kid Member Posts: 46 Member
    #9
    Wife of kidney cancer fighter said:

    Could you do a go fund me

    Could you do a go fund me page?

    How do you do that

    Hi Wife of kidney,

    What do you need to do, have, and set up to do a go fund me thing?  I mentioned that to another cancer survivor who is in the dark about it like me.

    Any help is appreciated.

    All of you . . . are appreciated.

    Kidney_Cancer_Kid

     

  • Acelang
    Acelang Member Posts: 19
    #10
    If you aren't working  have

    If you aren't working  have you tried ssi

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
    #11
    I am so sorry that you are

    I am so sorry that you are going through this....you should just be focussing on your health and medical care - NOT financing it! I hope you will find some financial support soon.

    I think you can just google GO FUND ME and you might find all the information there!

    Big hugs

    Jojo

  • Kidney_Cancer_Kid
    Kidney_Cancer_Kid Member Posts: 46 Member
    #12
    Acelang said:

    If you aren't working  have

    If you aren't working  have you tried ssi

    SSI

    When I filed for SSD, I filed for SSI.  Over $4000 per year plus over $2000 in savings disqualifies me.  However, I will continue to visit the SS offices and see if any new rules come about to help.  Never stop trying!

    Kidney_Cancer_Kid

  • Kidney_Cancer_Kid
    Kidney_Cancer_Kid Member Posts: 46 Member
    #13
    Jojo61 said:

    I am so sorry that you are

    I am so sorry that you are going through this....you should just be focussing on your health and medical care - NOT financing it! I hope you will find some financial support soon.

    I think you can just google GO FUND ME and you might find all the information there!

    Big hugs

    Jojo

    BCBS PPO I MISS YOU

    GO FUND ME sounds like the best way, doesn't it?

    When my boyfriend helped me purchase the Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO under the rules of the ACA, MD Anderson, many Baylor doctors, many hometown doctors were all covered.  I used over $100,000 of care or maybe it was $250,000.  I met my deductible at the cancer center.  I had scans, labs, procedures, etc.  Then BCBS cut the PPOs that helped us.  Now the BCBS HMO . . . at least I still have some insurance with the help of the ACA and my boyfriend.

    Hugs and Peace back at ya!

    Kidney_Cancer_Kid

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