HELP! RE: Health Insurance

[Muzpapa]

Hi Thank you very much in advance if you could help me. English is my second language and I'm having hard time to find a right insurance plan for my husband who has stage 4, Gleason score 9 prostate cancer.

The deadline is approaching and I'm panicking....so please help me!

Here's our situation:

1. We live in Portland, Oregon but we stay in Honolulu a month & half every year.

2. Currently he has Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage (HMO) plus dental/vision coverage (cost $177/month besides basic medicare)

3. We want to change his insurance plan which will cover OHSU Knight Cancer Institute in Portland OR and also Queens Hospital in Honolulu HI.

Reasons for the change:

1. We would like to change is oncologist to Dr. Beer who is the specialist of prostate cancer.

2. When he told his oncologist that we were leaving for Hawaii on business for a month and half, he told my husband "Your spirit may be high but you are very sick person. If you go to Hawaii, you may not come back... worst case you may not have three months..."

Well, we are in Hawaii now. Hawaii Kaiser oncologist Dr. Chan has been very helpful/caring and encouraging/cheering him up. Actually my husband is doing a little better than when we were in Portland!

Even PSA is coming down! Amazing isn't it?

[Danielgreer]

Is the new plan you are considering an HMO? One thing to consider is whether or not you want to have an HMO or PPO. A PPO typically gives you more choice in doctors and hospitals than an HMO but the premium may be higher. Also, it would be good to try to estimate your out of pocket costs for next year to see how much it will cost you in addition to the premium. For example, how will your drug copays change when you switch.

[Hex40 in reply to Danielgreer]

Since you are already enrolled in Medicare now the insurance companies can take your diagnosis into consideration. At least that’s how it was explained to me. The only free pass you get is the initial enrollment.

[cesces]

If you are in Medicare and have prostate cancer you don't want an advantage plan.

Unfortunately Obamacare fixed the pre-existing conditions gotcha for regular insurance, but not for Medicare supplemental.

So a new plan either won't accept you, or won't cover the cancer.

This is likely to continue unless or until voters stop supporting the wrong political party.

[Sharksrule]

Regence medicare advantage plan has good coverage(not sure though in hawaii). I live in Ridgefield Wa. And it covers OHSU knight institute Drs.

[Sharksrule in reply to Sharksrule]

Btw I'm under 65 so unable to get Gap ins. In Wa. So have to do advantage plan

[Magnus1964]

Medicare supplement plan vary state to state. If you need a plan that takes care of everything look into plan F. Part D for drugs is tricky. Look at the prostate cancer drugs and who pays for them.

[j-o-h-n]

First of all you're doing quite well with your English.

Quoting you now:

When he told his oncologist that we were leaving for Hawaii on business for a month and half, he told my husband "Your spirit may be high but you are very sick person. If you go to Hawaii, you may not come back... worst case you may not have three months..."

I don't know language you speak but in English tell that oncologist to "GO XXXX HIMSELF"....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

J-o-h-n Monday 12/02/2019 5:48 PM EST