for those on palbociclib, when asked if you’re on chemotherapy and you can only give a yes /no answer do you say yes as palbo is a targeted chemo?
This is sort of academic as I can’t get insurance anyway at present due to pending operations that might never actually happen (mastectomy/mitral valve repair). But I’m always hopeful.
my oncologist does not consider ibrance to be a chemotherapy. I don't know what a travel insurance policy would consider it to be....would hate for you to say it's not chemo and then have the policy get voided :/ hope someone has the answer 
Apparently it’s not chemo. What caused me the grief/doubt was that several b/c websites referred to it as ‘not a traditional form of chemo’.
Since palbociclib and ribociclib are enzyme inhibitors impacting but not removing the body's enzymes, rather than chemical drugs aiming at destroying body cells, I'm assuming they would not be classified as chemotherapy.
Thank you - that’s what my onco said and also that insurers haven’t caught up with changes in cancer treatment. I’m beginning to learn that you cannot express uncertainty. I think it would be helpful to have a crib sheet on how to answer some of the algorithm questions. I keep getting knocked back by another question on planned surgery. I think it means actually listed for surgery with a date when I’ve been waiting 2.5 years for a palliative mastectomy that never happens as such a low priority.
I agree with your oncologist. I feel very lucky to live in Canada where mostly such issues never arise as our universal health system means we don't feel the need for medical insurance while travelling within our borders. I have often travelled overseas without bothering with any specific coverage of our own over the years as it seems to me that the likelihood of needing treatment then is very low.
When my husband was admitted to a hospital in Spain last year, our travel agency had a plan which covered the $16,000 cost of his medical evacuation home. He foolishly refused treatment in Spain, and insisted on coming home to Saskatchewan where he was again given only steroids. Since he was worried about being permanently paralyzed, he asked for MAID, and died there three weeks later.
I'm so sorry to hear about your husband. What a terrible tragedy. I hope time is helping you to grieve.
It was very sad all around. Initially, I was able to persuade him to assume that his brain tumour would be treated. I am capable of reading medical journals, and found an article which indicated that his symptoms meant that he likely needed surgery to remove a small tumour in his central cortex. I was initially able to persuade him that he would be treated, but as the days wore on, he lost hope, and begged me to "let him go". I ran out of arguments.
Over the decades we were together, he had always reacted more to his fear of pain than the way I was raised so I was fully aware of his position. However, it also could have been that his tumour impacted his will to live. Now, I wonder why he didn't care more about leaving me on my own. It has now been more than nine months, and my reasonable self is just reaching the anger stage, except I'm more annoyed with him than "fate"...
That is very hard. Anger is an almost inevitable part of the grieving process - trying to reconcile that someone has chosen to let go of you. But the ultimate sacrifice I guess you can make is to let someone go when they want. And I'm guessing he didn't want to cause you pain through having to see him deteriorate. My younger brother (early 50's) had all of the brain met stuff - and it was only 6 weeks for him from diagnosis to death. It took me a long while to accept that he had been so ill as he still seemed so mobile.
My oncologist calls Palbociclib chemo. When I was seeing another oncologist he said it isn't chemo. So go figure! So I really don't know what to say about it. I would request a written description of your treatment and health condition from your Oncologist and include it in your application - if that is possible. Hugs and happy travels. Marlene
thank you Marlene. I might get to Spain one day. But only if i ask to be taken off the list for mastectomy and mitral repair surgery (not urgent)
Hi Bikebabe, I hope you make it to Spain. You should go no matter what the obstacles are. Travel has many benefits. I believe it heals the body and the soul. Many years ago I travelled to Europe and wandered around for over 3 months. I was 45 years old and divorced and sad and I felt ugly. That trip healed my sadness and gave me back sense of worthiness. It created hope. I didn't make it to Spain but I spent 7 weeks in Greece. Hugs and best wishes. Marlene
7 weeks in greece - that sounds fab. Im on my way!
Yes, Greece is a peaceful and restorative place. Hugs Marlene
I am very interested in this travel subject. My husband I have traveled a lot during his retirement and are still hoping to continue for as many years as possible. I just started Kisqali and very concerned the low white blood count would make it difficult to justify plane travel and travel out of the country. We had to cancel a planned trip to Japan for this April when I was diagnosed in Oct. with Metastatic Breast Cancer. I have no visible symptoms but obviously those biopsied spots on my lungs were telling. Are any of you traveling overseas and vacationing inspite of low white blood cell counts, etc?
I think you probably need to ask your oncologist if you can travel and when you buy travel insurance you probably shouldhave a document that shows your doctors approve of your trip. Best wishes to many more happy travels in your future. Hugs M.
Thanks. That’s the plan.
My clinic told me that all drugs we anre prescribed are defined as chemotherapy. Travel insurance is a minefield at the best of times but it’s really hard if you have cancer even if you’re considered stable. They’re always on the lookout for a way to invalidate your insurance in the event of a claim.
It so frustrating - like i'm being denied the opportunity to travel yet i've paid it for 48 years even with stage 4 and never claimed. Surely that should be taken into consideration!
I was refused travel insurance because of my cancer but I could get insurance without cover for the cancer related stuff. In the end Covid whacked the trip planned on the head. My sister-in-law had travel insurance and as part of her job as a travel agent travelled to Switzerland. Covid restrictions were over but the Swiss told her that they weren’t bothered about hand washing, masks etc. She came down with a respiratory illness which needed a doctors visit. She had to go to a clinic full of sick people, none of whom were taking any precautions. A day or two later she was taken to hospital by ambulance and put on a ventilator. She was fully covered by insurance but they wouldn’t agree to pay the hospital so she had to find $10,000 cash to be released from the hospital. Over six months later the insurer finally paid the rest of the hospital bill which totalled $27,000. In the meantime the hospital kept threatening her with debt collection. Insurance Companies are a blight on humanity! 🤔
I agree. Highway robbery. I do think a list of do's don'ts or Q&A might be a useful tool especially for people with stage 4. I maybe will start putting one together.
I agree that insurance companies are a blight on our existence. The government of most countries do not keep a watchful eye on what these companies are doing or the hospitals for that matter. These problems remain under the radar because most people affected are older citizens. So the government gets to sweep the problem under the carpet. It is my uneducated opinion that everyone should pay a small stipend every year into a government controlled fund to pay travel medical bills for everyone citizen who travels - especially for individuals with doctor confirmed illnesses. People with non-contagious conditions should be able to travel without having to pay outrageous medical bills if they fall ill or get injured. The most vulnerable people are seniors who worked their whole lives and now want to travel and have illnesses that the insurance companies won't cover. In some cases, they cannot afford and/or even get travel insurance. Costco in British Columbia Canada refused us and would not even sell us travel insurance because of our age (80s). I find that incredibly discriminatory. The only company that seems affordable in Canada is Medipac and they allow people to purchase insurance who have medical conditions - even cancer. If my husband and I travel again in the future we will buy from Medipac. They are endorsed by the Canadian Legion and the Snowbirds organization.
Yes, I would definitely list Palbociclib as a chemo drug just to ensure that we dont get into a dispute with the insurance company in the future. I also think the government should have a single form that is the same for all the insurance companies and it should very specifically set out very explicit details of what each question means. And there should be no YES or NO questions. Or if there is - there should an area or a space for the applicant to make comments in order to clarify a yes or no answer.
I hope that you and my husband and I are well enough to travel in the near future.
Best wishes for your recovery from mbc. I believe in a cure! May we all have many wonderful trips be in the future! Hugs Marlene
Funny… my oncologist at MSK always referred to Verzenio - a fellow CDK4/6 Inhibitor- as “chemo.” But no other oncologist does.
I have a supplemental Colonial Life Cancer policy and I receive payments for Letrozole ($100 monthly) and Ibrance ($200 monthly). They consider them hormonal and non-hormonal chemotherapy.
I am on Ibrance/Letrozole through Colonial Life for almost seven years and get $300 a month for Ibrance and nothing for Letrozole.Wonder what the difference is? Don't want to shake the boat and mess myself up. We both end up with $300 a month. Blessings, Hannah
I know with the Letrozole the payment decreases over time. I am in NC and it could be the difference of the policies and the premiums we pay. I am on year 6 with this combo - thank heavens! God bless - Shannon
My policy is out of S.C. but I live in FL. Hannah
I think it is best to talk to your insurance agent and find out what to say when they ask that question. I don't like yes or no answers. It leaves out far too much detail. I haven't traveled in a long time but would like to travel next winter so will be faced with that question. I live in Canada and so far the least expensive travel insurance that I can find is Medipac. Some travel insurance policies won't even insure someone in their 80s. I am now 81. Some of our friends travel without travel insurance but I don't think it is wise. They believe that the country they go to will take care of them and not over charge them. Well I don't know about that and I will not try it myself. Maybe it is okay if you are very young and in perfect health. But not at my age but I sure hate the exorbitant cost of travel insurance. Wish the government would regulate insurance companies. Stay happy, healthy and have a wonderful trip. Hugs Marlene
Thank you - it's so very frustrating isn't it. The insurers are taking everyone for a ride and as you say, no-one is regulating the industry. I might speak to the ombudsman service.
I recently heard about an Insurance company called Medipac. It is a Canadian company. It seems to be more affordable than most companies I researched. It provides coverage for people with chronic health conditions. It is approves by the Snow birds and the Canadian Legion. If we decide to travel in the near future I will look into it more seriously. If you are not Canadian this won't help you but maybe your country has something similar. Hugs Marlene
It's not chemo. It's a CDK4/6 inhibitor. So, the correct answer to that question is... no.
That said, maybe talking to a representative makes sense if the answers don't fit you neatly.
It was the rep asking the algorithm questions who was quite horrible really about it. Bullying. and that was a company i'd been originally recommended as they 'do it personally not via algorithms. After a reasonable first year premium, it doubled without any reason. Then was refused entirely as i was on a list for mastectomy.
No, because it is not chemotherapy.
How aggravating to be interviewed the way you have been.Wish you better days. 🌺
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