| | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 681 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) |  "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 681 | My husband went without health insurance for two years until he could get on Social Security and Medicare at 62. We owned our own business and only the two of us were on the policy. The premuims were hitting $1200 a month and he could not get another insurance because he is diabetic. We figured that if he got sick we would just work out a payment plan with the doctors and hospital. I was able to get Blue Cross because I was healthy.
SCC stage II Partial mandibulectomy w. neck dissection- July 2005. Renal cancer w. partial nephrectomy-Jan 2004. Breast cancer discovered in routine mammogram. Successful lumpectomy, sentinal nodes clear, RT only-2008 Reconstruction of mandible w fibula free flap-Jan 09. TORS removal of begnin pappiloma from esophagus-2010. Masectomy,rt breast 2013.
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| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Here is a webiste that will compare insurance companies. www.efinancial.comMaybe there is some hope that we could buy insurance.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 51 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 51 | I am so freaking out about insurance now. I am 36 and I never realized until this happened to us how important insurance is. My partner is also a veteran but I can't get any benefits from that if she dies because we aren't recognized. I am the beneficiary of her life insurance policy that she has through work.
The problem is, she's going to have to go out on disability. We are lucky because she has short and long term disability through her job. What I am terrified of is that she will lose her health insurance and life insurance when she goes out on disability. Health insurance I know we can pick up through COBRA but if/when she passes away if we lose the life insurance I have no idea what I will do. My income can cover the basics but with nothing left over to buy food, gas, etc. My plan was to use the life insurance to suppliment until I can figure out what to do.
Her boss is supposed to be checking into it...but in the meantime it scares me. Now I am looking into my own benefits. Looks like I need to get insurance before I get sick myself with something or another. Diabetes runs in my family...so...time to get cracking. How horrible that we have to look at ourselves or life as a potential illness. Of course there is always that bad driver on the highway too....
LOL
Cg to partner, Stage IV SCC of upper left mandible, met to lymph nodes. Dx 4/1/2008. Inopperable, 3 rounds of chemo followed by 2 rounds of chemo with 33 tx of radiation. Growth started again immediatly following. She crossed over November 30, 2008.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 |
This may help, I was on short term disablity and did not lose my employer paid insurance benefits. I would think that my life insurance would have also stayed the same. At least Im really hoping it would still be the same, I did check it when I returned to work and it was the same.
It really is scary to think about getting life insurance at such a young age. This gas taught me not to delay on these important things.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,004 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,004 | Ahh...good old life insurance. That's what I do and it is madness sometimes!!! Feel free to ask me any questions. I'm happy to help and explain if I can!!
Suzanne
***********
T1 SCC on right side of tongue
Age 31...27 when diagnosed
4 partial glossectomies
No chemo or radiation
Biopsy on 2/2/10-Clear
Surgery needed again...no later than April 2011
Loving life and just became a mother on 11/25/10
It's not what we CAN'T do..it's what we CAN do:)
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | My question is...How can anyone get married during Tax Season?
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 | People can and do because we have people like you who look after the "numbers" for us!! lol
Dianne..treatment at cc at Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario...insulin dependant, Surgery Sept 8/08 Tracheotomy,composite resection and bilateral neck dissection, left radial forearm free flap... T2N0 squamous cell carcinoma. No radiation A little over 2 yrs clear YAY
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