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

[Bleu Raeder]

it's stage 3

Stage 3 what? You haven't mentioned what cancer it is.

 

[Saint by the Bay]

Stage 3 what? You haven't mentioned what cancer it is.

Sorry, kind of scrambling today trying to get up there.

It's lung cancer and in her lymph nodes. We are still waiting for some additional details from the doctors. They want to start chemo ASAP to prevent further spreading but I haven't got a clear answer on if they have done additional scans to see if it has metastasized any further already. They just found the mass on Friday so everything is pretty fluid right now.

I'll have a much better grip on things after I talk to the doctors in person tomorrow.

 

[Saint by the Bay]

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

My wife and 3 of my kids are treated at MD Anderson for NF1 and my youngest has a brain tumor caused by it. I'm going to try and convince her to come down here for treatment. My wife is a SAHM so she can offer the best care and family support at home. We have more than enough space and are very familiar with MD Anderson. This is definitely my goal, but I have to convince her it's the right thing (it is for sure). You know how folks can get about leaving "home" though.

 

[Saint by the Bay]

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?

She's in Arkansas which doesn't subsidize so while they do have exchanges and that is an option it will probably be fiscally impossible. They can't deny you coverage, but they can sure charge through the nose for it and in states that are trying to kill the ACA like Arkansas they have done everything they can to reduce the effectiveness.

However, it is actually the first thing on my list to go through with her when I get there, so that may work.

 

[Three Monkeys]

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.

I don't think going to Canada is an option.

When the conversation about medicare for all (particularly covering non-citizens) came up and everybody was making comparisons to Canada, I did a little reading on how their system works.

From what I read, don't expect to go to Canada for treatment of any kind. In fact, if you're going there, you might want to get a policy for health care in case of an emergency as they will expect a deposit and demand payment in full for services rendered.

 

[Jeff Miller]

When my mom had breast cancer she was on a combination of Medicare, my dad's military retirement coverage and some supplemental coverage through work, that won't be much help if she's under retirement age.

Why does she not have insurance? The reason i ask is the first step for coverage would likely be to contact your state ACA Health Insurance exchange. She can purchase coverage there. If funds are an issue i think you apply for premium subsidies. I'm not sure what the income level for Medicaid is, its rules very from state to state, but if she doesn't have much of an income that something to look into as well.

 

[Jeff Miller]

She's in Arkansas which doesn't subsidize so while they do have exchanges and that is an option it will probably be fiscally impossible. They can't deny you coverage, but they can sure charge through the nose for it and in states that are trying to kill the ACA like Arkansas they have done everything they can to reduce the effectiveness.

However, it is actually the first thing on my list to go through with her when I get there, so that may work.

I believe the subsidy is at the federal level, not the state level. Either way, yes, you'd be putting money up front for coverage and deductibles.

 

[Jeff Miller]

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

you basically have to move there.

The Canada Health Act says all insured persons are entitled to the insured benefits offered within that province. “Insured persons” are lawful residents who have lived in the province for three months and live there for at least 183 days a year. Tourists, visitors, and “transients” are excluded.

 

[gavinj]

I would contact the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. They will have some good info on the local hospitals and clinics and possibly some options that you’d never know about otherwise.