insurance help

[Dawn53094]

I have an online friend in North Carolina battling stage 4, health insurance done. She says her treatment has stopped due to no health insurance. Anyone know of anything to help?

[Iwasborntodothis]

If she is stage four she is eligible for Medicare/Disability regardless of age there are threads for this in the site.

[Dawn53094 in reply to Iwasborntodothis]

Thats a 2 year wait

[Mary115 in reply to Dawn53094]

The American Cancer Society has a hot line. It also has a page on finding ways to pay for treatment which might be a start.

24 hour hotline [phone]

cancer.org/treatment/findin...

[hopenowandtomorrow in reply to Dawn53094]

There is not a 2 year wait for SSDI in the US. Check out the Social security.gov website. I was immediately approved. Also, her cancer center should be able to provide her with financial resources and access to Rx grants. Hope this helps! ❤️🙏❤️

[Dawn53094 in reply to hopenowandtomorrow]

For Medicare, disability is 6 months. Shes uninsured.

[Jpl5036608 in reply to Dawn53094]

It is a five month wait. Get a decent lawyer who will only take 25% of back pay.

[PJBinMI in reply to Jpl5036608]

With stage IV cancer, there is really no need for an attorney and paying one is a total waste of money.

[Jpl5036608 in reply to PJBinMI]

It made life easy and was worth the $650. The ss people sent duplicates of paperwork which was confusing. Our lawyer was pleasant and knowledgeable and I call him whenever we have questions.

[SusieIM]

I am thankful for those who could pass on information to help your online friend.

[8576]

That doesn't sound right. Even in the US I don't think people get left without treatment. She should check with her family doctor and the Cancer Society for help.

Cheers, June S.

[Dawn53094]

There is a 2 year wait for Medicare. Shes on disability. Apparently her oncologist won't treat her anymore. She's on ibrance and zometa. Shes saying she's tried everything but so far no help. I do believe part of this, is shes exhausted and wore out. Lives alone, never had children etc. No family alive. Many are trying to help her. State of North Carolina.

[Lna21]

Hello I don’t know her hospital but in the institute I am going for cancer care there is a social worker (free service) and she can help to find financial assistance. Maybe the Breast cancer foundation could also be helpful. I am so sorry she has to deal with that while she should not have extra stress on her shoulders. Pzifer (for Ibrance) also have a foundation maybe they can help with the price of the drug. Also you could set up for her a GoFundme in order to pay her visit to the oncologist. Good luck

[Brooks225 in reply to Lna21]

Get in touch with Pfizer!

[Aquadog]

Hi. Sorry to hear your friend's having such a rough time and it's upsetting to think she had to stop treatment.

This link has a list of some resources she may not be aware of:

sharecancersupport.org/tool...

Another one:

mbcnetwork.org/support-reso...

And one more:

cancer.net/navigating-cance...

Finally:

cancercare.org/publications...

Pfizer does have a program to provide patients with Ibrance at no cost.

As far as Medicare, I have heard that Stage IV cancer patients are accepted right away regardless of age and income, but don't have any personal experience.

If her income is low and she's under 65, she might be eligible for Medicaid.

She could also reach out to an insurance broker (not an agent) for help finding new health insurance.

Tell her to apply for every grant, every program. She's got to be very proactive, but there is money out there.

Wish her good luck

Susan

[Topood]

Sign up for “Obama Care”....I am on it and have been impressed with how inexpensive it is (and due to become more so) and how much it covers! And it is sliding scale...but Iwasborntodothis has a good suggestion too!

[Itisfinished in reply to Topood]

I am on Obama care also and it's only $ 20 a month for my husband and myself. Also I was approved within 2 weeks for disability. I went through Social security. They are working on my Medicare right now and should have me approved soon. So just apply. They cant turn you down with stage 4. I will be praying for you that God works everything out. 🙏

[ChrisVict]

Apply for Obamacare and disability you cannot get turned down and disability can be fast tracked

[Topood in reply to ChrisVict]

Yes, I hope to get my first disability check soon, and only filed for it 4 or 5 weeks ago. Impressive.

[PJBinMI]

States vary in how they issue Medicaid and other benefits. If she's had trouble at the local state office , she could phone one of her state legislators. They can often be helpful about things like this. She doesn't have to speak with the legislator directly but phone that office and let the person answering the phone know what she is calling about (state resources for cancer health care).

[hurricaneheather]

triagecancer.org

[13plus]

The social worker at the hospital should also be able to help navigate applying to Pfizer to get Ibrance free. It actually sounds like she needs a new oncologists asap if they are refusing to treat her. It's so good you are trying to help her out. I feel bad for people going through these things alone

[Klamato]

I have taken Ibrance for more than a year and now on VERZENIO by Lily. In both cases I applied ( my doc at the hospital) For assistance with the cost. These drugs are over 20,000 a month and copays are $2300!!! , impossible to survive. I presently get my VERZENIO directly from Lily Care program and do not pay a cent! God bless that this could happen or I couldn’t stay on the treatment. You need to talk directly to the doctor and be in touch with the social worker at your institution. There are avenues for help! Good luck to you! Cancer is bad enough, without jumping through these hoops!❤️🙏🏻

[Lauraess]

Since I can clearly observe the insurance specialists in the comments, I can recommend this with all my heart claimgenix.com/ . Will help in your professional activities. It supports over 8000 insurance claims and will streamline any medical billing working process. Take a look. Hope it helps.