Post Punk Kitchen Forum

What is it that you do? What if you have a chance to get health insurance through work, although you are tight on cash and haven't had insurance in years and years. Should you fork over money you can't entirely afford but obviously would be worth it for health insurance, do you think that it would be useless? Is it likely that the insurance company would just consider it a pre-existing condition even if you haven't had it officially diagnosed yet? Is there some way to get surgery and treatment for free should you find out for a fact that you have cancer? P.S. I don't have bawlz, but someone I love does and has all these issues and we're at a loss.

you can have your friend direct these questions to their benefits coordinator at work. they can also call the insurance company and discuss what is considered a pre existing condition.

xo
kittee

i will try to beg them to do that......he's very bad at doing anything that involves taking time to make a phone call or fill out paperwork......still hasn't filed to get his huge tax refund from 3 years ago that he's owed. I hope he takes this more seriously.

seriously, i used to administrate benefits at whole foods...for over 250 employees. he is gonna have to take some self responsibility. stuff like health care is not handed out for free [figuratively as well as literally]. if he is not able or willing to do some research or take the initiative by asking for help, he is gonna be out of luck. that sucks.

xo
kittee

Also make sure that cancer is not excluded. Even so-called good teachers insurance had an option that excluded cancer coverage, but there was also supplemental cance coverage that you could get. You could only enroll once a year though, so if you missed the deadline, you were out of luck.

Why does he think he has it? Has he been to the doctor? (This is not me saying he should go to a doctor, stay away from the doctor)

If it's not been formally diagnosed and he's joining a group health plan (like at work), it should absolutely be covered. And he should sign up for it ASAP.

This!

I know zip about US health insurance, but I just wanted to post a note of encouragement for you and your bumpy ballz friend.

My BF was diagnosed with testicular cancer and has completed treatment. He is doing great and was diagnosed during a routine physical for travel insurance he needed for an overseas job. He noticed some swelling but thought it was from his new bike seat.

It is a very treatable cancer if diagnosed early. As with all cancers, if it grows and spreads it is much more dangerous and costly to treat. If your friend noticed a fire in his bed, would he wait to see if it spread? He needs to jump on this right now !

Best wishes to you both !

of course he should fork over money for health insurance through work. medical treatment is MUCH more expensive than however much his insurance costs through work.

I can't believe someone would even have to make this decision. Poor guy.
God bless America.

it is seriously infuriating how impossible it is to get health care here when you're poor.

Isn't it illegal to deny someone healthcare because of a preexisting condition now? Or is my lack of vision insurance affecting the way I read things?

It's not effective for adults until 2012 or 2014 or something.

go to the local free clinic to get a diagnosis...that will be a pain in the asparagus but its worth it. If he does have cancer get it treated at a hospital and just dont pay them and declare bankruptcy (not sure how easy it is to get treated on credit either...but id find a way to get the cash through a loan and just default)

whatever he decides to do, he has to do it quickly. cancer should not go untreated for very long!

Don't do this. Cancer isn't a one-shot treatment type of illness.

naturally i ment default after its all gone, but follow up tests do throw a monkey wrench in the idea, although with ball cancer, the treatment is often just removing the bad ball

Cancer can spread and often times the treatments and follow up visits go on for a long long time. Going to a doctor without insurance when you think you have cancer is just a bad idea.

ETA: provided you have prospects to get insurance in your future. If you're forked either way with no chance at insurance, probably just go to the doctor.

Annnd there go the last vestiges of my faith in American way of life.

It's pretty much the dumbest thing in the world, but luckily it's one of the things both democrats and republicans agree on so after it's gone, it'll be gone for good (hopefully). I have no idea why it's taking so long to be put into effect.

Panda, I've been thinking about you and your friend all day - such a terrifying and unfair situation.

I sent a blanket email to my Canadian oncology medical team (thyroid cancer) to ask for suggestions of where to access resources in the US, when you don't have insurance. I didn't know, but my nuclear medicine guru was treated for testicular cancer last year. Hey, he's only intrested in my parts during appointments, we don't discuss his.

All my doctors noted that there is a huge effort in fund raising and support for testicular cancer patients in the US, as well as a solid network community of patients/survivors. They suggested contacting these agencies to indentify cost/coverage options and support:


1) The National Cancer Society's Cancer Information Service at 800-4-CANCER (800-422-6237),

2) The American Cancer Society at 800-ACS-2345 (800-227-2345). [they also have local support groups and your friend can't be the first American to have this horrible situation]

3) Lance Armstrong Live Strong Foundation

4) Movember Foundation
http://us.movemberfoundation.com/
http://us.movember.com/

Thank you Padraigin. What's weird is I was JUST looking at the Livestrong website. So basically I'm pretty sure he can't get enrolled into the health care benefits at his work until April, it seems like that's when they're enrollment time is, but he has to call the coordinator still....the paperwork they gave is kind of confusing, there's a chance maybe he could be enrolled on the first of the month, but it says it's for new hires after 90 days of employment...he's been there for like, uuuhh, I don't know, more like 8 months. They probably mean the first day of the first month after they've been there for 90 days. He probably can't do anything with their health care until April. I don't think he should wait 5 months to have this checked out, but there's also the concern that if he gets diagnosed and then gets health insurance he'll be screwed. It's hard to get free or low cost care from charity foundations when you have a job that pays ok, not good, but if you even make enough to pay rent you're usually above the max income for these things, and if you have insurance even if it won't cover it you're also often automatically disqualified. I think Livestrong has some information resources for that situation. I appreciate all the advice so far and any more anyone has as to which route is best. I want to push to get this taken care of no matter what it means has to be done.

i wonder if there is a way to get a diagnose without actually having it on your medical records.......

Group plans usually can't disqualify for preexisting conditions, so it shouldn't matter if he is diagnosed.

I could never get insurance on my own, but getting it when I had a job was no problem. You typically are not required to disclose any medical information when you enroll in a company plan.

He needs to talk to the benefits handler at his job.