Do you have any financial concerns ar... - SHARE Metastatic ...
Do you have any financial concerns around your cancer? How are you dealing with them?
missa1326 VotersPlease select all that apply:
Having Metastatic Breast Cancer has ruined me financially. I draw 923 in SSD and that doesn't go very far.
Same here, except I get less each month from SSD (since it goes by previous income and I was a graduate student when I first got cancer) Now I'd give anything to make what I made as a graduate student (still below poverty level), but have a PhD, so everybody wonders why I don't have some prestigious job; they just don't get it. I wonder whetherornot it is even worth it to continue living. It looks like the majority of women who answered the poll are struggling. It seems like there should be something more out there to help, but I just don't know what that would be.
I still work full time and have good health care (so far).
I work full time and have good benefits but I’m 64 and don’t want to work forever. I will be dependent on Medicare. Not sure what they will cover. Ibrance is expensive and so are all the scans.
Using retirement funds.
I'm retired (not on medicare yet) but my husband will continue working (for the insurance) until I'm 65. I'm not sure how anyone copes with all the expense! Between the shots which are very expensive to the scans every 4 mos. this can drain you financially! Wish I knew what medicare will cover, I'm sure (& a bit scared) that it won't cover what my Ins. is paying for now! What happens then, do we roll mover & die?
For those of you still working or have their spouses work until they are of retirement age in order to afford health insurance. Having Metastatic Breast Cancer falls under the compassionate allowance program for Social Security Disability. This means you will almost always be approved for SSDI or SSD. After two years you then automatically will be signed up for Medicare. I am 51 and have MBC, have been on SSDI for over two years and just qualified for Medicare. Just FYI, hope that helps.
Assistance cards from drug manufacturers
The majority of women who have responded to this poll say that they have money problems, but need guidance about where to turn. Is there any guidance? I know I need some. I am only 34, but have had everything taken away from me due to metastatic cancer. Cancer hit me at the time when I was at my peak of productivity and achieving all my goals, but when it hit, I lost everything and I can't seem to bounce back. It just seems like there's nothing out there. I never got to have a life and it looks like I'll never be able to because of cancer. I'm starting from such a deficit now that I don't even know how to start to make enough to where I can at least move out on my own again and also be able to get the healthcare I need. I have a lot of potential, but no resources or pathways with which to reach them and feel like I am going to just die alone in my mom's spare bedroom before I even hit 40. With all the pain I experience and no incentive to keep trying, I feel like there's no reason to even be alive. I'm just a burden and hopeless and lonely.
I innitially got support from IWIN (Indiana Women In Need.com), & I'm waiting for approval from my hospital & clinic RE: financial assistance. The rest is company medical insurance & robbing Peter to pay Paul & vice/versa. Sometimes just letting some pile up downstairs.
