I have new breast cancer and no health insurance!!

Liza · Guest

I was diagnosed with IDC on 10/28 and have no health insurance (I moved to Florida about 2 1/2 years ago and have been denied individual health insurance by 3 different companies because of past treatment for depression). I've been having no treatment for depression, waiting for time to pass so I might be able to get health insurance a few years down the road. I HAVE been suffering from depression, however. I live off of $14,000/yr from a trust fund (I don't have access to the principal). My parents are loaning me the $ for treatment right now. I've applied for medicaid and am going to apply for Social Security disability, but it doesn't look good on either front. Does anybody have any ideas for me?

pgurevich · New User Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 5

In NY, they have state insurance plans such as Affinity, Health Insurance Plus, etc. You might want to go to your local social security or welfare office and see if you can qulify http://mesothelioma-asbestos-injury.com

Tori · New User Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 6

Hi Liza!

What hospital are you going to for treatment??? I know that things have changed since my first bout with cancer in 1990; but a good deal of the learning/research hospitals receive federal funding and are not allowed to deny treatment because of an inability to pay.

I would suggest receiving treatment from one of them anyway because those doctors r up on the latest developments & use a "team method" to treat patients; therefore, you are getting the benefit of several minds working together.

Call places like Cancer Care & the American Cancer Society as well as the Komen Foundation to see what programs you may qualify for with them.

Additionally, there is a program for the "Medically Needy" in Florida. I will post the link for the brochure in a separate post.

FROM THE WEBSITE - DCF.STATE.FL.US.ESS/MEDICAID.SHTML:

(put a www in front of the above)

"Individuals that are not eligible for Medicaid because their income or assets exceed the Medicaid program limits may qualify for the Medically Needy program. Individuals enrolled in Medically Needy must incur a certain amount of medical bills each month before Medicaid can be approved."

Don't get discouraged if Medicaid & SSD turn you down the first time. Reapply or file for an appeal if that happens. It is THEIR JOB to say no; but it's OUR JOB to follow up on our cancer treatments & beat the ba$t@rd!!!

Good luck & please keep us posted!!!

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1007

Try the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa if that is close. I've known others with no insurance who have been treated there.

Best of luck!

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

simplyklb

You should be able to get care thru a teaching hospital. Be sure to talk to the people in the business office about your inability to pay.

Kristi
_________________
Dad - Andy, 70, diagnosed with SCLC in May 2008
Mom - Jackie, 67, diagnosed with NSCLC in May 2008

Barbara K · Regular Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 33

There is a special Medical Assistance program in Florida for Breast Cancer patients funded under the federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000.
The following links are the main links about this program in Florida.

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Family/bcc/
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Family/bcc/requirements.html

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