Advice: Insurance?... Thoughts....pre-existing conditions...

[DeanNelson]

Good morning,

I have Cigna, through Cobra ($883.00 month), and I can keep buying it for another 15 months. Covers just about everything. Even my Zyitga is covered.

I have just been approved for SSDI, which starts October 10th, 2018. My wife is going back to work next Monday and can get colonial life medical insurance through the hospital she will be working at, I don't know if they will accept me with this disease already.

Questions:

1. Is anyone on Medicare, did you get it after becoming disabilities.?...

2. Spouses insurances,

3. Pre-existing; has anyone lost insurance while on treatments and tried to get coverage again?

4. I am a veteran, has anyone tried for VA benefits after being diagnosed with APC?

5. I really believe Trump is going to allow insurance companies to raise the rate for use with pre-existing conditions to a point where it is unobtainable

npr.org/2018/06/08/61826377...

[Hidden]

Dean,

I am on SSDI and will be Medicare eligible in around one year. I also got VA healthcare after being diagnosed at Kaiser. I no longer have Kaiser, just the VA. I just returned from my VA appointment with my oncologist. I have to say I am very impressed with my doctor's knowledge of PCa, the fact that he listens to me and is just a great guy. I'm getting great overall care at the VA, have nothing but good things to say about it.

If you have any more specific questions about any of these things, feel free to private message me.

[DeanNelson in reply to Hidden]

Greg,

I literally just got a call from the VA they have accepted me, Do you take Zytiga?... Lupron?...do they pay for it?

[Hidden in reply to DeanNelson]

Great! Glad to hear you got approved.

I haven't got my first bill for Zytiga, but I've heard it will be $11 per month. They use Eligard instead of Lupron. It's a shot into the fat in your abdomen. It's the same drug as Lupron, but they give the shot in a different place. It's burns going in, unlike Lupron. But the pain goes away very quickly, in 5 minutes you can hardly feel it. I pay $50 per shot which includes my oncologist appointment.

[abmicro]

I am on medicare disability and medicare PPO. I go to both Stanford and UC Davis Sacramento for my care.

I kept my cobra coverage for as long as I could before getting medicare because it covered more and allowed me to pay for Leukine, a drug that is not covered by medicare without jumping through hoops. Under COBRA and my company plan, I got that drug easily. It was a lot of money every to extend COBRA and pay it every month, but the decision extended my life.

Spouse offered me Kaiser with her work insurance plan, but I did not want to switch from PPO to Kaiser HMO. PPO is better because you have access to more clinical trials and go to any big university cancer center you want for opinions and possible treatment.

[Mormon1 in reply to abmicro]

smart idea to keep the cobra

[cesanon]

Trump's new Supreme Court Nominee will be the new swing vote to invalidate the prohibition against preexisting condition discrimination.

He is on record as believing that it is illegal to prohibit such discrimination.

Republican states are already mobilizing to bring the issue back up to the Supreme Court.

[leo2634]

I'm on Medicare along with ssdi.

I also have Aetna prime elite advantage plan medical suppliment insurance. The premiums vary according to the area you live in. The plan is very affordable and covers a tremendous amount of needed care. I also belong to a cancer advocate group that helps with the medical costs.

[Stevemarr]

Am on Medicare, with United best supplement. Last 2 years medical bills $430k, for PC and another condition. I never get a bill. When open enrollment comes up for drug plan go to an agent, present Med list and agent can tell you best plan for you. I made change last year, saves $200 month.

[DeanNelson in reply to Stevemarr]

What agent?... where do I find one?.

[herb1]

gregg57: I think I did something like that years ago BUT it has cost me. So, want to warn you (of what, Im not sure). I worked and had Pca from 61 to about 64. I stayed on Cobra from age about 63 til ???. No problem UNTIL I went to start my regular SS and Medicare. Now I've been socked with a significant penalty every year (like $70/mo!) for not starting Medicare when I could have. Vague and unclear? Yes, Just ask the right questions of Medicare personnel ...and get it in writing.

Im no expert on VA, but I would think that might be your most cost-effective route, if the quality in your area is OK. Good luck.

herb1

[Hidden]

The VA pays for Lupron, Zytiga, etc. You might have a $8.00 co-pay. After your first visit,make sure you go to:

myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-...

Resister for an account. You can track all your VA visits, reorder meds, on and on.

At the VA your PCP (which you need to get asap) quarterbacks all your healthcare.

He/she will get you into oncology so you can get your cancer meds/shots, etc.

I use the VA for the meds, I'm 100% disabled so everything is cost free.

[DeanNelson in reply to Hidden]

OMG thank you so much!!!!

[Hidden in reply to DeanNelson]

Anytime brother, that's what we do here. My VA in Ann Arbor MI. is 100% staffed with University of Michigan Doctors. First class treatment and free or nearly free treatment. If you hit a"bump" at the Va, msg me here. I have been navigating that system for many years.

[DeanNelson in reply to Hidden]

That's great Bill, I am already signing up. I have been so worried about coverage as my cobra ends in 3 months. thank you thank you