How to get help, if you don't have health insurance?

Nancy6290
Nancy6290 Member Posts: 9
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
In November 30th. I fund a lump in my left breast. I went to my doctor, on January 07th. She send me to get mammogram. I did on the same just walking to Imagine Place. They knew I was self pay. They gave me a discount.1/2-right there and the rest on payments.
I don't have Health Insurance. I don't qualify for Medicaid. I am very stress.
Any ideas?
thank you,
Nancy

Comments

  • Cat64
    Cat64 Member Posts: 1,192
    #2
    Hello Nancy
    Welcome to the site! I have been where you are and trust me when I say I understand! In the beginning of my journey, I did not have insurance either and it took me well over a year to finally get accepted for Medicaid mainly because we are self-employed. I would suggest contacting the American Cancer Society. (18002272345)They will give you all the resources you need to help see you through to recovery. It's a great place to start and I'm sure others will post their recommendations as well. I know it's easier to say than do, but don't stress! There is help out there available. Take one day, one thing at a time.
    Hugz,
    Cathy
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #3
    Cat64 said:

    Hello Nancy
    Welcome to the site! I have been where you are and trust me when I say I understand! In the beginning of my journey, I did not have insurance either and it took me well over a year to finally get accepted for Medicaid mainly because we are self-employed. I would suggest contacting the American Cancer Society. (18002272345)They will give you all the resources you need to help see you through to recovery. It's a great place to start and I'm sure others will post their recommendations as well. I know it's easier to say than do, but don't stress! There is help out there available. Take one day, one thing at a time.
    Hugz,
    Cathy

    Welcome Nancy
    Please do not wait until you find insurance or financial help. You should move ahead with your treatment. Most hospitals give self paid patience discounts. Find out if your Breast center has social clinical worker, most of them do. Social clinical worker will navigate you through options available for uninsured patients. What state are you in? Some states have more help than others.
    Keep us posted. Good luck,
    New Flower
  • lisamnovak
    lisamnovak Member Posts: 27
    #4
    No insurance
    Nancy and New Flower are right. I just lost my job and I talked to one of the Dr's at the hospital that I go to and there is a person in the financial department that helps you look for grants and ways to pay. Start asking around, the help is there, you just got to dig for it. Good luck!
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #5
    lisamnovak said:

    No insurance
    Nancy and New Flower are right. I just lost my job and I talked to one of the Dr's at the hospital that I go to and there is a person in the financial department that helps you look for grants and ways to pay. Start asking around, the help is there, you just got to dig for it. Good luck!

    Call the American Cancer
    Call the American Cancer Society and look on the Susan B. Komen website. Also, talk to your hospital about a payment plan or if they can help you out. Like the others said, there are grants available to help you. Good luck!
  • brenda247
    brenda247 Member Posts: 124
    #6
    dont give up
    theres are ways to help!! i didnt have insurance at the time of need but i kept searching and since i wasnt working i got on medicaid and before i got half way they wanted to drop me i talked to my dr and they contacted a lady the worked for the cancer society and relay of life sponsor and i was back in the system the next day.. i couldnt believe that when they were trying to stop paying and finding everything they could to not have too.. when theres so many people getting help and could be working and dont need it!!! pretty sedfish i think!! so dont give up fight for it!!

    brenda
  • Nancy6290
    Nancy6290 Member Posts: 9
    #7
    Cat64 said:

    Hello Nancy
    Welcome to the site! I have been where you are and trust me when I say I understand! In the beginning of my journey, I did not have insurance either and it took me well over a year to finally get accepted for Medicaid mainly because we are self-employed. I would suggest contacting the American Cancer Society. (18002272345)They will give you all the resources you need to help see you through to recovery. It's a great place to start and I'm sure others will post their recommendations as well. I know it's easier to say than do, but don't stress! There is help out there available. Take one day, one thing at a time.
    Hugz,
    Cathy

    Thank You Cathy
    I already contact them. Went to ACS office in Orlando, FL. They gave me that number and brochures.
    My husband and I, apply for Medicaid. Lets see what happened.
    Thank you so much for your support.

    Nancy
  • Nancy6290
    Nancy6290 Member Posts: 9
    #8
    New Flower said:

    Welcome Nancy
    Please do not wait until you find insurance or financial help. You should move ahead with your treatment. Most hospitals give self paid patience discounts. Find out if your Breast center has social clinical worker, most of them do. Social clinical worker will navigate you through options available for uninsured patients. What state are you in? Some states have more help than others.
    Keep us posted. Good luck,
    New Flower

    Thank you
    I will contact them....My husband is very sad. And said: WE ARE NOT WATING"
    poor thing...
    Any way I will keep in touch
    God Bless you
    Nancy
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #9
    Nancy6290 said:

    Thank You Cathy
    I already contact them. Went to ACS office in Orlando, FL. They gave me that number and brochures.
    My husband and I, apply for Medicaid. Lets see what happened.
    Thank you so much for your support.

    Nancy

    Nancy, I take it that you
    Nancy, I take it that you live in Orlando? I am in Atlantic Beach, the beaches of Jacksonville, and there is a local television celebrity here that has battled bc 3 times and has started a foundation that is specifically to assist bc patients. I'm not sure if it's just local individuals or not. It's called the Donna Hicken Foundation. You may want to check this out too. Good luck!! If I can help in any way, let me know.
  • Nancy6290
    Nancy6290 Member Posts: 9
    #10
    brenda247 said:

    dont give up
    theres are ways to help!! i didnt have insurance at the time of need but i kept searching and since i wasnt working i got on medicaid and before i got half way they wanted to drop me i talked to my dr and they contacted a lady the worked for the cancer society and relay of life sponsor and i was back in the system the next day.. i couldnt believe that when they were trying to stop paying and finding everything they could to not have too.. when theres so many people getting help and could be working and dont need it!!! pretty sedfish i think!! so dont give up fight for it!!

    brenda

    Hi Brenda
    I am sorry what happened to you. Good call, talking to your doctor.
    Why they are doing that?

    Thank you!

    Nancy
  • aimee
    aimee Member Posts: 8
    #11
    hi nancy,
    i too was recently
    hi nancy,
    i too was recently diagnosed, (the week after thanksgiving). I found a lump and with no insurance & not alot of money in savings i got shuffled around the san fernando valley for 2 weeks (which i am now realizing is a short period of time)i landed at a clinic in north hollywood where they offer free mammograms. After my diagnosis the staff there got me covered with "emergency medi-cal" and sent me to a dr. at hollywood presbyterian. Like you i did not want to wait. I had my surgery on December 30th. I dont know the details of your situation or why you dont qualify for medicaid but there are ways around the "red tape". I also dont know where you live, but if you would like the information i have, feel free to email me & i will happily give it to you. There are tons of options and many of them dont require much waiting.
    chin up...........
    aimee
  • Nancy6290
    Nancy6290 Member Posts: 9
    #12
    MyTurnNow said:

    Nancy, I take it that you
    Nancy, I take it that you live in Orlando? I am in Atlantic Beach, the beaches of Jacksonville, and there is a local television celebrity here that has battled bc 3 times and has started a foundation that is specifically to assist bc patients. I'm not sure if it's just local individuals or not. It's called the Donna Hicken Foundation. You may want to check this out too. Good luck!! If I can help in any way, let me know.

    thank you!
    I will check it out. will be in touch
    thank you for your offer to help me. I need it that.

    Huggsssss
    Nancy
  • Nancy6290
    Nancy6290 Member Posts: 9
    #13
    aimee said:

    hi nancy,
    i too was recently
    hi nancy,
    i too was recently diagnosed, (the week after thanksgiving). I found a lump and with no insurance & not alot of money in savings i got shuffled around the san fernando valley for 2 weeks (which i am now realizing is a short period of time)i landed at a clinic in north hollywood where they offer free mammograms. After my diagnosis the staff there got me covered with "emergency medi-cal" and sent me to a dr. at hollywood presbyterian. Like you i did not want to wait. I had my surgery on December 30th. I dont know the details of your situation or why you dont qualify for medicaid but there are ways around the "red tape". I also dont know where you live, but if you would like the information i have, feel free to email me & i will happily give it to you. There are tons of options and many of them dont require much waiting.
    chin up...........
    aimee

    THANKSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
    my email is: nancy.thomas6290@gmail.com

    I am for Orlando, FL
    I looked everywhere to see if I could get a FREE mammogram.(My last one was in July 2007) But I find nothing. So I went to my old Dr. I used to work for Universal Orlando. So I had Insurance. I have to leave there for family reasons. And in 2008 I got hired at "The Mark Travel Corp" 7 weeks training. At 5th week we got all LAY OFF.13 new ppl.

    So here I am. No job, no insurance and now this.

    About the medicaid, I am 57, I am NOT pregnant and Not disable. I just have CANCER. (jeje)

    A little bet of a good humor, helps

    **we apply anyway under my husband Bill, he is 61. After he finished the appl. He got a automatic reply; saying that seems, we qualify. Lets see.....I am praying....****

    Any way my friend...wherever you can advise me I take it!

    Thank you!
    Nancy

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