Are there any resources for uninsured cancer patients have tried ACS, etc?

I never had any luck getting the American Cancer Society to provide any help for my patients in this situation needing financial help to get treatment. What I did in my practice was treat them at my own expense. This happened fairly often.

I don't know how many oncologists will do this now.

I would ask drug companies to help by providing free drugs for patients who were uninsured and could not afford the expense.

Sometimes this helped with the drug costs, but I still provided my services and my nurses essentially for free.

We are required to bill everyone the same, so I would simply write off the bills for those who told me they could not pay.

I suspect most doctors will not do this today. The trouble is that some people who had the resources would falsely say they could not pay. I tended to take their word, but many doctors become disillusioned by the few people who take advantage in this situation.

I usually knew my patient very well personally. If you have this kind of rapport, maybe your doctor will help you with the expenses. The main drug for colon cancer is 5FU which is very inexpensive as most chemotherapy drugs go. Part of the problem is that recurrent colon cancer is not a disease that can be treated very effectively with chemotherapy.

Three years would be exceptional time gained for inoperable recurrence. This may very well become a situation which cannot be effectively treated regardless of insurance or finances. The president's former press secretary Mr. Tony Snow is also in this situation though he must certainly have plenty of coverage for the costs of treatment. It is not likely that he will do well with every available resource provided regardless of expense.

' Not a good situation to be in whether rich or poor.

It is common for people to think their family member could have been cured if they had the money or insurance coverage. Cures are not expected for anyone with recurrent or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon.

There is something off with this story. They would have HAD to have done a colonoscopy to get the biopsy to confirm cancer and type in order to put her on a treatment protocol.

Why did she not know her appendix had previously been removed???

As far as medicaid, she will have to drop her income level and assets below their requirements for them to help.

As far as ss disability, she has to have cooperating docs somewhere to write the letters needed. And unfortunatly there is not much that can be done to speed up the appeal process.

As far as the hosp not treating her because of the bill, that is not because it is a for profit hosp. Hospitals are only required to provide life saving stabalizing treatment. Even a non profit wont go beyond that in cancer treatment without a means of payment.

Food stamps is totally independant and complelty based on a formula calculating income and expenses. If you can get that formula out of anyone, it would be helpful. However it is unlikely that you will. In my state it is illegal for the social workers to give out that info because too many people use that to take advantage. I did get one person who felt sorry for me give me the formula for the food stamp program and my states medicaid. I also later heard through the grape vine that they lost their job because of it.

Did no one have a credit card they could have pulled out to have the test done in the first place? Insurance is not required, just payment.

If there is anyone in the family who has that kind of credit or can get that kind of a loan, now is the time to beg.

Yard sales, bake sales, car washes, any other fund raising means you can think of. Teachers in schools will have a lot of resources and most often their fund raising programs are open to the public.

Ask for donations from any church of civic group. Talk to local businesses to ask for donation or placement of change jars.

Go to the local news. They love stories like that and have a bottomless pitt full of contacts and resources.

I normally suggestion that Healthcare will have to be a accountability and a provided for object through the govt no longer supplying this is equivalent to Govt announcing Sept 11 happened what do I do please take your possess measures to preclude such additional incidents. It's so common an object. Atleast some some survival related illnesses must be taken care free - dont finance beauty surgical procedures or dental make up however sure common illnesses which threaten a human being must be traeted free. Individually insurance is nothing but a recreation take into account What insurance businesses do is gather money from a number of and return it to those who fall in poor health and be certain they dont make a loss (so from the collection they ensuire their salaries, gains and many others) and undoubtedly they don't seem to be fair. For example (in India ) a) In our places of work the place we have workforce coverage reimbursements are available within per week where cashless facilities will not be on hand but members who have purchased insurance from their pockets need to wrestle nevertheless exact their case is also - not certain Why ?? B) In case of group insurance companies come again the next year asking heavy develop in premiums if claims from the crew are excessive prior yr. Not certain Why without doubt now not a reasonable game On the opposite aspect if the negative who are living hand-to-mouth and can not afford insurance are prompt to be left to die - appears a very ridiculous preposition to me remember the fact that medical professionals, Hospitals, gains of clinic apparatus manufacturers, drug manufacturers additionally get brought to the excessive costs which makes medication pricey - however that is part of any enterprise the model best diffrence is that this scientific industry direclty impacts the individual so this fees are famous adversely via one and all For me general wellness care must be dealt with as a very foremost Govt accountability and in a nation where dole is (rightly) furnished to those unemployed it would be totally improper to even suppose in that path of leaving individuals to die

What a terrible shame that in an affluent country like ours that this is how we treat our sick.

I sympathize with your frustrations. My father was without insurance when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was a small business owner who didn't make enough to afford to buy his own insurance, but made too much to qualify for medicaid. Their medical bills went though the roof and they finally ended up declaring bankruptcy. His treatments were $1900 a month for a Lupron Depot shot. Luckily, he found a doctor who treated him and just said, "You pay me if you ever come into some money." God bless that doctor and others like him.

My advice is to schedule a meeting with the hospital and try to work out a payment plan (even if it's only $10 a month). As long as you're attempting to make payments, they can't sue you. Also, sometimes they'll write off some of it. Finally, contact your local United Way. They should be able to direct you to resources in your area. Finally, if your involved with a church or something, maybe they'll help you do some fundraising (benefit dinners/sales, etc.)

God bless.

I constantly suggestion that Healthcare will have to be a accountability and a furnished for object by way of the Govt Not supplying that is comparable to Govt announcing Sept eleven occurred what do I do please take your possess measures to restrict such additional incidents. It is so elementary an object. Atleast a few a few survival comparable sicknesses will have to be taken care unfastened - dont finance beauty surgical procedures or dental make up however sure elementary sicknesses which threaten a person will have to be traeted unfastened. In my opinion Insurance is not anything however a sport Consider What Insurance organizations do is accumulate cash from a couple of and go back it to those that fall unwell and make certain they dont make a loss (so from the gathering they ensuire their salaries, gains and many others) and surely they aren't reasonable. For example (in India ) a) In our places of work wherein we've organization coverage reimbursements are to be had inside per week wherein cashless amenities aren't to be had however participants who've purchased coverage from their wallet need to wrestle nonetheless precise their case could also be - Not definite Why ?? b) In case of organization coverage organizations come again the next yr asking heavy broaden in charges if claims from the organization are top prior yr. Not definite Why Obviously now not a reasonable sport On the opposite part if the deficient who reside hand-to-mouth and are not able to manage to pay for coverage are instructed to be left to die - appears an excessively ridiculous preposition to me Needless to mention Doctors, Hospitals, gains of medical institution apparatus brands, drug brands additionally get further to the top charges which makes therapy steeply-priced - however that's side of any enterprise the mannequin handiest diffrence is that this clinical enterprise direclty influences the Human being so this charges are famous adversely by way of all and sundry For me Basic Health care will have to be dealt with as an excessively main Govt accountability and in a nation wherein dole is (rightly) furnished to these unemployed it could be extremely fallacious to even suppose in that path of leaving folks to die

Try calling these or look up on net.

Medicade-1 877-696-6775

Medigap-

Hill Burton Program-1-800-638-0742

Ronald McDonald House 1-630-623-7048

Medicare Hot Line-1-800-633-4227

Does the hospital in your area have a cancer center affiliated with it? If so, ask them what resources are avail. to you. I am surprised ACS didn't help at all, they have paid for my mother pain meds on several occasions. I had the help of a social worker in the cancer center that is affiliated with the hospital in my area. If you have a cancer center in your area, go in and ask them for help in finding resources. I have come across this http://www.cancercare.org/get_help/assistance/ It mentions financial assist. Hope you find the help your mom needs.