Has anyone had a family member go through a cancer fight with no insurance? (1 Viewer)

[Saint by the Bay]

First off, I don't want this to turn into a healthcare political debate, so please don't do that.

My sister-in-law has cancer. We will know in the next couple of days what type and how aggressive, but we are already lining up the things necessary to help and support her.

I just learned that she has no insurance. I've had a number of family fight cancer. Some won, some lost but they all had insurance. I haven't had one day in my adult life when I didn't have insurance, so I'm really not knowledgeable on how you approach what is likely to be a 6 figure cancer battle without insurance.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Knowledge of services available etc.? She lives in Northwest Arkansas right near the border of Oklahoma and Missouri (the Bentonville/Rogers area). I'll be heading there this week but I'm trying to do research now on what we will have to do to get her treatment.

 

[JimEverett]

Don't know if this will help - but worht a shot - I had a relative who had been off and on Medicaid for years - she was diagnosed with AFib and was off Medicaid with no insurance.
Through another relative who was an LPN at Vanderbilt she found out about and qualified for a clinical trial for an ablation procedure and follow ups - and has seen her quality of life improve greatly.
More luck than anything, I believe. But it might be something to explore.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

completely talking out my bum, but is there anyway to go to canada or a Caribbean country for treatment?

 

[Saint by the Bay]

completely talking out my bum, but is there anyway to go to canada or a Caribbean country for treatment?

This crossed my mind. The problem would be family support. If it's Canada I can send my wife and I have family there that would at least offer some support, but not like her being with her own family. Since my youngest is homeschooled he could go with my wife too and at 13 can at least be some support in the house for those rough nights during chemo. I'm not sure if that is even possible. I'm assuming you have to be a resident for a period of time. It is one of the options I have on my list to explore.

 

[Saint by the Bay]

Don't know if this will help - but worht a shot - I had a relative who had been off and on Medicaid for years - she was diagnosed with AFib and was off Medicaid with no insurance.
Through another relative who was an LPN at Vanderbilt she found out about and qualified for a clinical trial for an ablation procedure and follow ups - and has seen her quality of life improve greatly.
More luck than anything, I believe. But it might be something to explore.

This is actually a decent option. I had some of my sons treatments at MD Anderson covered for free by allowing them to use the results for some research they were doing. It actually saved us (and my insurance company) a pretty penny.

Even if it doesn't cover everything it may leave us trying to come up with less.

 

[Krodwhodat]

This is actually a decent option. I had some of my sons treatments at MD Anderson covered for free by allowing them to use the results for some research they were doing. It actually saved us (and my insurance company) a pretty penny.

Even if it doesn't cover everything it may leave us trying to come up with less.

This was my though. When my father in law was diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer his doctors had him a chance to go to MD Anderson at no cost to be in a study using some new processes. He declined but it was fully covered. I research those options.

 

[SystemShock]

If you are thinking of seeking care outside the U.S., the one thing I'd recommend, is to deal directly with clinics/hospitals, and don't engage healthcare tourism middlemen; anyone who calls themselves "advisors" or "facilitators", just don't.

 

[Tony1Saintfan]

I wish I could give you some great advise but I can’t. I do know that she can go into almost any hospital and get treatment. If she calls ahead many will even know of programs that may help eliminate some of the costs.

 

[baarbogast]

This may sound cruel, but have you consider putting her inn medical clinical trials?
My sister did that and her medicine was just short of free.

 

[Surviving Saint]

Yes. My aunt had breast cancer with no insurance. Charity hospital was her answer.

 

[CapitalCitySaint]

Her case worker/social worker should be able to assist her with finding some different funding options.

You can research and find ongoing clinical trials at
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ and which ones are recruiting patients.

Sometimes hospitals will purchase insurance for people with serious medical conditions as it helps them cover costs.

Also, as another poster mentioned; charity hospitals.

 

[Saint by the Bay]

Thanks everyone! We just got word that it's stage 3. We are heading up there tomorrow. I'm doing research today on all of the options you all have laid out.

 

[whodat2626]

I thought insurance companies couldn't discriminate because of preexisting conditions according to ACA. Not trying to get political, I'm honestly not sure how it works. If so, why not just sign her up for a high deductible plan?

 

[Bleu Raeder]

This may sound cruel, but have you consider putting her inn medical clinical trials?
My sister did that and her medicine was just short of free.

It's not cruel. My cancer (well documented in other threads) was entirely cured in a clinical trial. Sure, I have some side-effects, but it sure beats the alternative.

 

[Bleu Raeder]

This was my though. When my father in law was diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer his doctors had him a chance to go to MD Anderson at no cost to be in a study using some new processes. He declined but it was fully covered. I research those options.

Call MD Anderson today. They have a number of options and they will not let her go untreated.