Insurance

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maggs
maggs Member Posts: 164
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I was recently sent a letter from my private insurance company that they are renewing on a month to month basis. Must be a trend...The Patient Advocate Foundation has legal counsel available...I wonder what it would cost?

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  • geral
    geral Member Posts: 130
    #2
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    Hi!
    ...I'm sorry to hear about your letter from your insurance company. I can only imagine what those month-to-month premium increases could be!
    ...I have never contacted the Patient Advocate Foundation, but they are mentioned in several of my breast cancer pamphlets, but they do not mention fees.
    ...Have you ever heard of HIPAA? It's a health insurance regulation act. If you do a search on 'HIPAA', you'll have access to many sites. This may give you some direction in your situation. First, I'd make sure that what your insurance co. is doing is within the 'HIPAA' acceptable guidelines. Then, you may want to contact your state insurance commissioner.
    ...'katabo' is also having insurance problems. If you haven't already, read her post above re:cobra/kaiser.
    ...Please let us know what happens with you. Best of luck!
    Take care...
    Geral
  • maggs
    maggs Member Posts: 164
    #3
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    geral said:

    Hi!
    ...I'm sorry to hear about your letter from your insurance company. I can only imagine what those month-to-month premium increases could be!
    ...I have never contacted the Patient Advocate Foundation, but they are mentioned in several of my breast cancer pamphlets, but they do not mention fees.
    ...Have you ever heard of HIPAA? It's a health insurance regulation act. If you do a search on 'HIPAA', you'll have access to many sites. This may give you some direction in your situation. First, I'd make sure that what your insurance co. is doing is within the 'HIPAA' acceptable guidelines. Then, you may want to contact your state insurance commissioner.
    ...'katabo' is also having insurance problems. If you haven't already, read her post above re:cobra/kaiser.
    ...Please let us know what happens with you. Best of luck!
    Take care...
    Geral

    The Insurance Commission in my state seems to support the insurance companies, no matter what they do. I have already reported this info and the investigator said someone needs to look at all this...The Patient Advocate Foundation sent me a letter saying that their services are provided free of charge: their number is 1-800-532-5274. Site is www.patientadvocate.org They work from donations!
    This situation is certainly out of control. We were dumped by another insurance company before...and the care was questionable, at best. Then the parent company offers us this, and now they want to change it...and the care still is not so great...communication and information is lacking! PRAY PRAY PRAY for a compassionate society to emerge. We are so needy...stress is killing me!
  • geral
    geral Member Posts: 130
    #4
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    maggs said:

    The Insurance Commission in my state seems to support the insurance companies, no matter what they do. I have already reported this info and the investigator said someone needs to look at all this...The Patient Advocate Foundation sent me a letter saying that their services are provided free of charge: their number is 1-800-532-5274. Site is www.patientadvocate.org They work from donations!
    This situation is certainly out of control. We were dumped by another insurance company before...and the care was questionable, at best. Then the parent company offers us this, and now they want to change it...and the care still is not so great...communication and information is lacking! PRAY PRAY PRAY for a compassionate society to emerge. We are so needy...stress is killing me!

    Hi!

    I just found your post. I'm sorry you haven't been able to find a solution to your health insurance dilemma. Why don't you contact the ACS nurse. Click on 'Contact ACS' at the top of this page. I know it's a long shot, but if you post the same info you posted here, maybe she could give you some direction.

    Thanx for the Patient Advocate info. I'll have to give them a call. But like you said they're limited in what they can do.

    I agree it's a sad, stressful situation we're in. I haven't worked since my cancer diagnosis 2.5 yrs. ago. The cancer bills have depleted my savings. My only income is disability. I'm using my backpay disability to fill in the gaps, but that won't last too much longer. As I've mentioned, I just went on Medicare this month. I purchased a Medicare supplement policy, but it's so expensive, I may have to drop it.

    I've worked so hard for over 25 yrs. to be financially stable, and the cancer has taken that stability away. Don't get me wrong, I've always had a modest living. But I didn't have to worry about rent, health insurance, exhorbitant medical expenses, or transportation (my car is 14 yrs. old!). And I sure as heck didn't worry about cancer!

    Well, at least we can cry on each others shoulders. If I think of any other possibilities to the insurance dilemma, I'll let you know.

    Take care...
    Geral

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