How does Blue Cross get away with it. I pay $462 a month and when I went to get some meds to help me swallow. It came to $51.50. The co pay was $50. They paid $1.50. Then the Roxicet was $42.50... co-pay was $30. I called to complain and even the supervisor basically said tough s#!t. Oh well. Like my wholistic doctor says "cancer feeds on fear and anger so don't sweat the small stuff". I guess I can take solice in the fact that I enrolled in my company's insurance plan 10 days before I got my DX.

When I got my Dental Insurance after years of not having either dental or health insurance, I was so thrilled until I found out my dental plan only pays about 10 percent of the cost. It's really good that you got your company's insurance when you did, though. When you or someone close to you survives cancer, "don't sweat the small stuff" is a good plan.

That does seem ridiculous but so like insurance companies. I was just prescribed a 15 gram tube of zovirax (acyclovir) for a mouth ulcer that has crept up along the edge of my scar. When the pharmacist told me it was $177.01 I said, 'would my pharmacy card help with this?'. She said, 'It did, we have it on file, it saved you $53'. Well, I guess that's better than full price?

My insurance has a $5,000 deductible and I'm then responsible for 20% of the next $20,000 in network expenses. I've been careful to stay in network. To my mind that should mean a $9,000 outlay on my part but I've racked up nearly $20,000 in expenses and not all the bills have come in. It's a scam!

My Riteaid card frequently saves me more money than my insurance but I can't use them together. What a rippoff!!!!

Blue Cross? I have standard option and suspect the possibility of
surgery, perhaps chemo maybe rads would run into "catastrophic range"... that's $7,000. Is that a correct assesment. Does that mean if I use a participation hospital/provider- I fork over 7 gran and BC pays the rest?

I've never used my plan in over 25 years. Cost is a big factor for me- I may not be able to afford tx.

You all need to move to Canada!

Campo,

I would have to look at your particular policy to see what your coverages are. There is usually a deductible you have to meet and pay before they pay. There is usually an "out of pocket max" that you meet before they pay everything. There are different coverages for hospital visits vs doctor visits...so on and so on.

Find your BCBS card and call the number listed on the back and get guidance on what your coverages are and what you can expect. Your doctors' offices can help you as well..they usually have someone that can sort thru how you are covered.

Good luck.

Campo
While you do need to check with Blue Cross , I had their standard (it's the old high plan) and yes, once I hit the catastrophic limit of co pays, BC paid it all. Actually I hit the catastrophic limit for both TXs. Remember that the $7K limit does NOT mean $7K worth of bills, but rather YOUR co=pay and deductible out of pocket expenses hitting $7K.
I do know that you do need to use a participating hospital and doctors. I had to double check that the hospital had assigned participating anesthesiologists for my operation because some don't.
Others have posted here about not being able to pay and how they dealt with it, but I paid only the $5K catastrophic limit of 2007 for about $250K worth of hospital bills the first time and the second round cost me $6K for about $180K (no inflated & over expensive Erbitux bills), Plus of course my monthly premiums. ( Yet another reason, I still have an old CRT TV that even charities won't take and my stereo speakers from law school. )
It is mind boggling how expensive cancer TX is.
Charm

You all need to move to Canada!...no cold for me/ I-ve had the chills & a fever for the first time in 15 years.

Your doctors' offices can help you as well. Nope! I've seen 1 doctor in the last 20 years & he was a quack. (I do respect many med pros).... about 1200 km to any hospital provider.

Charm- what is a frack? ...Your bcbs answer is what I was lookin for. I'm pretty sure that's my limit on payouts- about 7g. exactly...no special drugs-ibuprofeno. Could that stretch into 2 surgeries if i skip or refuse rad/chemo?

Thanks. I like to do charity while alive.

" Can't swallow to eat or drink ". I'm really sorry and hope that goes away in my own special way.

Meanwhile, since I'm sure you can't choke or throw up your coffee, have you tried shotgun bong hits?

I am campo a former narc & attorney at USSC & I approve laughter.

Campo

Thanks for the good wishes. Unless all the SLPs (speech language pathologists and MBS (modified barium swallowing) tests are wrong, I'll be like Roger Ebert in never swallowing again. Surgery did me in.

Even though you were a "narc", I hope you beat this. My heartfelt advice is that you do NOT skip radiation and chemo if that is what your doctors recommend.
Frack is Battlestar Galatica's futuristic version of the F word and I was a big fan of the new series and Caprica.
I wanted to use George Carlin's phrase: but you can't use that word on any major internet forum/

If you do decide to use medical marijuana, do NOT use a bong or any smoke delivery device including have a fellow perp shotgun you. Use a vaporizer instead which does not reach combustion temperature so no smoke and no irritation. Smoking of any type and of anything is a big NO NO for any oral cancer patient ever and nothing to joke about.