finances

green50 said:

Help
on cobra the work place is going to or should be paying 65 percent for a little while but not real sure how it works I am on disability and have medicaid will have medicare next year after the two year wait. It was passed that work place had to cover the big percent of cobra, I went thru finance consultant at the cancer center and they got me some help I have a big spend down on medicaid so I pay my ten dollars a month and thats that medicaid pays anything over the 700. But I would see if the financial consultant at your cancer center or dr can get you a grant from somewhere to help. They just need what is made and what you pay out. Good luck.
Prayers and Hugs
Sandy

sorry forgot
Also there are organizations the drs office or cancer center may Know of that donates money also to help cancer patients. some churches will help with utilities. HOpe this helps some
again Prayers and hugs
Sandy

Would this be of any help?
COBRA rules for payment and extensions have changed since the passage of the Stimulus Package, check out this website to see if it responds to your situation.
______________________________________________________________________________

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.HTML

"I have heard about the new COBRA extension and subsidy that was contained in the Stimulus package signed by the President. I would like more information.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 expanded eligibility for COBRA and provides a premium reduction to certain qualified individuals.

Individuals eligible for COBRA coverage who were involuntarily terminated by their employer on or after September 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009 who are eligible for COBRA and elect COBRA may be eligible to pay a reduced premium amount that is only 35% of the premium costs for your COBRA coverage.

If you were terminated during that period and were covered by your employer�s plan on your last day of employment, your plan administrator should provide you a notice of your eligibility to elect COBRA and to receive a premium reduction. You may also want to contact your employer directly to ask about getting the premium reduction.

If you have specific questions about your situation and how these new rules apply to you, you may wish to speak with one of our Benefits Advisors by calling 1.866.444.3272. You should also check the Employee Benefits Security Administration�s dedicated Web page at www.dol.gov/COBRA. This Web page will contain helpful information and will be updated regularly to include FAQs and new information related to the process you should follow to apply for COBRA and/or the premium reduction.

How can I apply for the COBRA premium subsidy?
Individuals eligible for COBRA coverage who were involuntarily terminated by their employer on or after September 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009 who are eligible for COBRA and elect COBRA may be eligible to pay a reduced premium amount that is only 35% of the premium costs for your COBRA coverage.

If you were terminated during that period and were covered by your employer�s plan on your last day of employment, your plan administrator should provide you a notice of your eligibility to elect COBRA and to receive a premium reduction. You may also want to contact your employer directly to ask about getting the premium reduction.

If you have specific questions about your situation and how these new rules apply to you, you may wish to speak with one of our Benefits Advisors by calling 1.866.444.3272. You should also check the Employee Benefits Security Administration�s dedicated Web page at www.dol.gov/COBRA. This Web page will contain helpful information and will be updated regularly to include FAQs and new information related to the process you should follow to apply for COBRA and/or the premium reduction."

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.HTML


Love, Courage, and Prayers!

Rick

soccerfreaks said:

you might check these out too
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Support/financial-resources

This site is put up by the National Institute of Health or some such, and is government-supported. TereB has responded in other discussion areas with some excellent suggestions, and they may apply for you as well. I am taking the liberty of copying and pasting them as well:

Cancer Care, a non-profit org., offers free support and counseling for cancer patients by oncology social workers. They have face-to-face counseling and counceling on the phone. Support groups on the phone are available too and are moderated by an oncology social worker. Call 800-813-HOPE. They can also give you info about financial resources. Check their website: www.cancercare.org

Gilda's Club - www.gildasclub.org - they offer free social and emotional support. Not sure if they may have financial information but check it out just in case.

Live Strong - www.livestrong.org - offers one-on-one support.

American Cancer Society (here) can also give you financial, support, etc. information available in different cities.

This Too
Healthwell foundation they have grants for certain meds and things .

michelle

finances
I feel your concern. My husband has been diagnosed with cancer a second time in the last 2 years and we don't have the first time paid for yet. We have private insurance, but have to have the deductable so high so we can afford the premiums. What wer'e doing is making payments on the bills. They say that if you do that and don't ignore them, the people will work withyou. I hope so. Like You, I don't want to bother or burden my husband especially since he just started a hard type of chemo. He has rectal cancer with an iliostomy and now getting 3 different kinds of chemo for 6 months. I know!!!!!! Where do they expect the money to come from..Hang in there..

Cindy54 said:

COBRA
I almost missed this post. On the COBRA one thing not too many people mention is that the reduction is premiums is deceiving. I will explain and maybe it is different for each state. But here in PA, I lost my job in October of 2008. Paid my employer sponsored premiums for 3 months. On January 1 they ended along with my insurance. I became eligible for COBRA, but could not afford the premiums...at the time they were $384. Then came the COBRA plan by the President. A great plan. But they raised the premium to $504 per month. Which with the 65% reduction would still be doable. But the catch is...I still would have to pay 2 months premium in advance..at the not reduced rate because the reduction was not in effect for those 2 months. I would also have to pay the current month at the reduced rate. So this has left me out. I can not come up with $1200. Had they let me do all 3 months at the reduced rate, I could have done it and continued with my insurance. Instead I went to charity care at the cancer center. I did not qualify for a medical card because the maximum income for a single person here is $205 per month. Yes, per month. My unemployment disqualified me. COBRA would be wonderful for all of us who lost our jobs and have the pre-existing conditions. But the insurance folks seem to have covered up their loss of any income with their rules for payment. Nothing can ever be easy where the insurance folks are concerned. Cindy

Cindy
That is terrible, We still Have our health insurance but we had to sell alot of our belongings, Our savings is gone. You sure learn alot when someone is very ill. Good luck to you
michelle

glasus said:

finances
i wish i had good news to report but none so far, yes your correct they will work with setting up payment plans. Start talking to them before you get your first bill! Most of help organizations either will help pay for or assist in payment of meds.The oyhers want to know what was your income last year was!!!What does that have do with now,ss diability,retirement benefitsand ltdi. were too young for medicare or medicade. glad there is ice one on the lake yet so our boat doesn't sink yet

Compelling personal stories make great political issues!
glasus,

Right now, the funding of health-care delivery is a major issue. President Obama and those legislators backing reform need the input of those "in the trenches" to demonstrate a compelling need for such reform. Nearly three decades ago, cancer patients, like me, suffered from the same discrimination in the workplace as AIDS patients experienced in the '80s. I joined other cancer patients in sharing our stories with the New York Congressman drafting legislation to outlaw such discrimination. Not only did I eventually receive a job, the Americans with Disabilities Act was enhanced years later to prohibit job discrimination against ANYONE with chronic illness.

Never underestimate your power to effect change. You are far from being alone on this issue. Don't be shy about sharing your story with your senator and member of the House of Representatives, and write President Obama while you're at it.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/

http://www.healthreform.gov/

"They may try to take our lives, but they will never take away our capacity to get really pissed off!"

Love, Courage, and Tenacity!

Rick