Head & neck surgeon is just fine - probably even a little bit better qualified then an ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) specialist.

I can't help you with the rules for Medicaid. My wife and I have our own private small group through Kaiser since we are both self employed. We're both over 50 and it's not cheap, almost $1200/mo. It does include eye care and dental with a $5.00 copay for doctors and $10.00 for generic drugs ($15.00 for name brand). Hospitalization and treatment, like chemo and radiation are free. Scans are $50.00, lab work and chest x-ray $10.00. It also includes mental health. Some people swear at Kaiser and some swear by them. They have made big improvements over the last 10 years. although they recently got some bad press for the kidney transplant program. My wife and I are generally satisfied with the standards of care and they seem to be particularly good with major and chronic health issues. They faifhfully follow the current NCCN Oncology Practice Guidelines. They are currently breaking ground for a number of dedicated cancer centers around the US. I have seen the same doctors there for almost 4 years now. They have a "no medical questions asked" policy for small group plans, but you must meet strict eligibility requirements and they are not in every state. I should also add that they paid 100% of the fees for my treatment at a comprehensive cancer center and I got to choose whether I wanted to go to Stanford or UCSF.

The other alternative would be through the public health care system. Some of them are quite good and are resdiency sites for doctors out of medical school at from the major CCC's. I have a friend who had advanced stage small oat cell lung cancer that had metastesized into the esophogus and she got state of the art chemo cocktails and three different radiation treatments, lung, esosphogus and brain and is a 3 1/2 year survivor. Small oat cell has like a 5% 5 year survival rate. It's one of the worst. You have to be a pauper and not own anything, especially real estate. I believe there is a 2K limit on the value of the car, otherwise the state will attach it.

Is there still time left to COBRA his original insurance? It can get very expensive, particularly if he has assets, some here have mentioned 6 figure copays.

It goes without saying that we would always recommend a CCC wherever possible.