Using state health care to pay for cancer-related hospital visits?

[WilliamC]

((((((WIlliamC and Massachusetts)))))

Do anything that takes care of you. I think cancer is a product of the government make the *&^)#$@ pay.

Thank you.

As I am a trained scientist I can read the same medical literature my oncologist and surgeons read, and I know exactly what their options are and what they can and can't do. There is no mystery or confusion as to the medical aspect of this in my mind.

My main problem is a complete lack of help from anyone throughout this ordeal, I've had to do everything for myself and indeed have met with active resistance when I tried to do some things for myself. There is much I'd like to do but I can't do it by myself and I can't afford to pay others.

So I just muddle along the best I can and try not to worry about it.

At least I came to grips with my own mortality in my teens, so that doesn't bother me.

[MelissaWV]

If you have insurance, how do they not cover a 5000 bill?

There are a lot of ways to wind up with that much of a bill, or more.

1. Insurance policies have limits for certain treatments, and a lifetime maximum. If you add up surgery, physician billable hours, supplies, DME, wound care, medication, lab services, and any number of other things... it is quite easy to exceed those maximums.

2. Insurance policies have out of pocket and deductible amounts that must be met prior to your "real" coverage kciking in. If I go in and have $10,000 worth of services, and I have a $500 deductible and a $1,000 out of pocket, and the services are covered at 90% once my deductible is met, my bill will look like this:

$10,000 (total cost)
-$500 (I owe this; my deductible)
-$950 (I owe this; it goes towards meeting my out of pocket)

At the end of my insurance paying for this $10,000 in services, I will have paid $1,450, and there will still be $50 to be met in my out of pocket.

3. Some services are excluded entirely.

[Working Poor]

There is much I'd like to do but I can't do it by myself and I can't afford to pay others.

What would you like to do?

[thoughtomator]

just give them a Spanish-sounding name and fake SS# and your health care is 100% free

[WilliamC]

What would you like to do?

Basically devote every waking hour to getting as healthy as possible through diet and exercise and a rational herbal program until such time I kill the cancer or it kills me.

But I don't have the money to pay for this nor the support it would take to push myself that hard for so long.

The couple of times I've been able to have lasted 2 to 3 months until other aspects of my life fell apart and I could no longer sustain that level of activity.

But I can certainly attest to the fact that while I was doing this I was getting healthier, I could feel it.

[Working Poor]

((((WilliamC))))))

If I could I would be where you are helping you. If it was me I would get some blue green algae in powder form and add it to everything without cooking it. Just go to a health food store and buy one bottle it will cost between 25-30 dollars you could make it last up to 2 months if you take just a small amount each day. Blue green algae is known as a supper food. It has all the trace elements and complete essential amino acids and omega 3 fatty acids. Given that have not been well eating small amounts would be better for you. You could put it in cereal or anything just don't cook it because it will loose it's potency.

We are all with you. Don't give up.