Health Insurance and Melanoma
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Health Insurance and Melanoma

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  • Post
    • November 17, 2011 at 5:52 pm
    joy_
    Participant

    Hi everyone.  My husband and I have had BCBS (self-pay) insurance for years.  He was orginally diagnosed with melanoma in 2007 with a recurrance in 2010 and is currently NED.  BCBS has now priced us out.  We cannot afford the $1200/month payment any longer.  I have been told by various people that if we lose our current coverage, we will not be able to get future coverage or that no other insurance company will take us with his previous melanoma diagnosis.  Does anyone know if this is infact true or if we have any other options at all.

    Hi everyone.  My husband and I have had BCBS (self-pay) insurance for years.  He was orginally diagnosed with melanoma in 2007 with a recurrance in 2010 and is currently NED.  BCBS has now priced us out.  We cannot afford the $1200/month payment any longer.  I have been told by various people that if we lose our current coverage, we will not be able to get future coverage or that no other insurance company will take us with his previous melanoma diagnosis.  Does anyone know if this is infact true or if we have any other options at all.

    Thanks in advance for any insight or advice.

    All the best,

    Tracy

Viewing 14 reply threads
  • Replies
      • November 17, 2011 at 5:53 pm
      joy_
      Participant

      oops.. not that it make a difference but original diag. was 2008.  

        • November 17, 2011 at 6:22 pm
        bradcope1
        Participant

        Tracy,

        The new health care law may offer some help (and hope). It has allowed me to put my 24 year old daughter (Stage 3) back on my policy and has some provisions for pre-existing conditions. I have no idea if it might be more affordable than what you currently have or not. Check out this link.

        https://www.pcip.gov/Default.html

        Good luck!!

        Brad

         

        • November 17, 2011 at 6:22 pm
        bradcope1
        Participant

        Tracy,

        The new health care law may offer some help (and hope). It has allowed me to put my 24 year old daughter (Stage 3) back on my policy and has some provisions for pre-existing conditions. I have no idea if it might be more affordable than what you currently have or not. Check out this link.

        https://www.pcip.gov/Default.html

        Good luck!!

        Brad

         

        • November 17, 2011 at 6:22 pm
        bradcope1
        Participant

        Tracy,

        The new health care law may offer some help (and hope). It has allowed me to put my 24 year old daughter (Stage 3) back on my policy and has some provisions for pre-existing conditions. I have no idea if it might be more affordable than what you currently have or not. Check out this link.

        https://www.pcip.gov/Default.html

        Good luck!!

        Brad

         

      • November 17, 2011 at 5:53 pm
      joy_
      Participant

      oops.. not that it make a difference but original diag. was 2008.  

      • November 17, 2011 at 5:53 pm
      joy_
      Participant

      oops.. not that it make a difference but original diag. was 2008.  

      • November 17, 2011 at 6:41 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      Not sure but I don't think the new health care (no pre-existing conditions for adults) goes into effect until 2014.  Realistically, the only way you will get coverage is through a group policy that can't deny you coverage.  Also, you need to have continuous coverage with a break no longer than 63 days before you start the new insurance.  (This is also subject to change with the new laws but I'm not sure when).  Do you or your husband belong to any professional organizations?  Can you join one?  That might be one avenue where you could get group coverage.  Your state might also have a high risk health pool, but the prices tend to be high for that as well.  Maybe you can find an insurance broker to help you, but going from private to group is going to be your best bet if you can do that.

      Best wishes,

      Janner

      • November 17, 2011 at 6:41 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      Not sure but I don't think the new health care (no pre-existing conditions for adults) goes into effect until 2014.  Realistically, the only way you will get coverage is through a group policy that can't deny you coverage.  Also, you need to have continuous coverage with a break no longer than 63 days before you start the new insurance.  (This is also subject to change with the new laws but I'm not sure when).  Do you or your husband belong to any professional organizations?  Can you join one?  That might be one avenue where you could get group coverage.  Your state might also have a high risk health pool, but the prices tend to be high for that as well.  Maybe you can find an insurance broker to help you, but going from private to group is going to be your best bet if you can do that.

      Best wishes,

      Janner

      • November 17, 2011 at 6:41 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      Not sure but I don't think the new health care (no pre-existing conditions for adults) goes into effect until 2014.  Realistically, the only way you will get coverage is through a group policy that can't deny you coverage.  Also, you need to have continuous coverage with a break no longer than 63 days before you start the new insurance.  (This is also subject to change with the new laws but I'm not sure when).  Do you or your husband belong to any professional organizations?  Can you join one?  That might be one avenue where you could get group coverage.  Your state might also have a high risk health pool, but the prices tend to be high for that as well.  Maybe you can find an insurance broker to help you, but going from private to group is going to be your best bet if you can do that.

      Best wishes,

      Janner

      • November 17, 2011 at 6:45 pm
      lhaley
      Participant

      I know that medical expenses can just put you into bankrupt.  Somehow paying the expensive premiums just might save you in the future.   In the last 6 weeks we've already seen approx $70,000 go through my insurance companies billing.  I was NED (or so I thought) Oct 3rd and has been off and on NED for the past 5 years. 

      Linda

        • November 19, 2011 at 2:59 pm
        joy_
        Participant

        Thanks, Linda.  Yes, that is very true and something we are concerned about.

        • November 19, 2011 at 2:59 pm
        joy_
        Participant

        Thanks, Linda.  Yes, that is very true and something we are concerned about.

        • November 19, 2011 at 2:59 pm
        joy_
        Participant

        Thanks, Linda.  Yes, that is very true and something we are concerned about.

      • November 17, 2011 at 6:45 pm
      lhaley
      Participant

      I know that medical expenses can just put you into bankrupt.  Somehow paying the expensive premiums just might save you in the future.   In the last 6 weeks we've already seen approx $70,000 go through my insurance companies billing.  I was NED (or so I thought) Oct 3rd and has been off and on NED for the past 5 years. 

      Linda

      • November 17, 2011 at 6:45 pm
      lhaley
      Participant

      I know that medical expenses can just put you into bankrupt.  Somehow paying the expensive premiums just might save you in the future.   In the last 6 weeks we've already seen approx $70,000 go through my insurance companies billing.  I was NED (or so I thought) Oct 3rd and has been off and on NED for the past 5 years. 

      Linda

      • November 18, 2011 at 6:06 am
      LynnLuc
      Participant

      Is he still working? Maybe he needs to apply for SSDI and get Medicaid/Medicare. From what I have heard they pay better than the insurances. Realistically if he isn't working I would think its hard to pay that kind of insurance…and then when he gets sick and can't work…then he loses it completely.  It takes 5 or 6 months in some places to get SSDI  if he is stage 4.

      • November 18, 2011 at 6:06 am
      LynnLuc
      Participant

      Is he still working? Maybe he needs to apply for SSDI and get Medicaid/Medicare. From what I have heard they pay better than the insurances. Realistically if he isn't working I would think its hard to pay that kind of insurance…and then when he gets sick and can't work…then he loses it completely.  It takes 5 or 6 months in some places to get SSDI  if he is stage 4.

        • November 18, 2011 at 1:03 pm
        lhaley
        Participant

        Medicare takes 2 years after receiving once SSDI to start.  Medicaid is different.

        • November 18, 2011 at 1:03 pm
        lhaley
        Participant

        Medicare takes 2 years after receiving once SSDI to start.  Medicaid is different.

        • November 18, 2011 at 1:03 pm
        lhaley
        Participant

        Medicare takes 2 years after receiving once SSDI to start.  Medicaid is different.

      • November 18, 2011 at 6:06 am
      LynnLuc
      Participant

      Is he still working? Maybe he needs to apply for SSDI and get Medicaid/Medicare. From what I have heard they pay better than the insurances. Realistically if he isn't working I would think its hard to pay that kind of insurance…and then when he gets sick and can't work…then he loses it completely.  It takes 5 or 6 months in some places to get SSDI  if he is stage 4.

      • November 19, 2011 at 4:26 am
      DonW
      Participant

      Tracy — Not sure what this "pricing you out" is about. Usually any policy either accepts you or not, but the price is set. Have you questioned this price jack? I've never heard of such a thing.

      • November 19, 2011 at 4:26 am
      DonW
      Participant

      Tracy — Not sure what this "pricing you out" is about. Usually any policy either accepts you or not, but the price is set. Have you questioned this price jack? I've never heard of such a thing.

      • November 19, 2011 at 4:26 am
      DonW
      Participant

      Tracy — Not sure what this "pricing you out" is about. Usually any policy either accepts you or not, but the price is set. Have you questioned this price jack? I've never heard of such a thing.

        • November 19, 2011 at 2:52 pm
        joy_
        Participant

        I just mean that our premium has gone up so much over the past five years that we cannot afford it anymore.  Started out at $485 a month and now nearly $1300/month.  

        • November 19, 2011 at 2:57 pm
        joy_
        Participant

        Thanks to everyone who responded.  Looks like we need to get more creative and see if we can come up with a way to hang on it a little longer.  I was able to find a more affordable plan but you have to be at least 5 years NED to qualify. 

        Tracy

        • November 19, 2011 at 2:57 pm
        joy_
        Participant

        Thanks to everyone who responded.  Looks like we need to get more creative and see if we can come up with a way to hang on it a little longer.  I was able to find a more affordable plan but you have to be at least 5 years NED to qualify. 

        Tracy

        • November 19, 2011 at 2:57 pm
        joy_
        Participant

        Thanks to everyone who responded.  Looks like we need to get more creative and see if we can come up with a way to hang on it a little longer.  I was able to find a more affordable plan but you have to be at least 5 years NED to qualify. 

        Tracy

        • November 19, 2011 at 2:52 pm
        joy_
        Participant

        I just mean that our premium has gone up so much over the past five years that we cannot afford it anymore.  Started out at $485 a month and now nearly $1300/month.  

        • November 19, 2011 at 2:52 pm
        joy_
        Participant

        I just mean that our premium has gone up so much over the past five years that we cannot afford it anymore.  Started out at $485 a month and now nearly $1300/month.  

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