Venting: I Tested Positive (cancer, not covid)

[usedtobedemgurl]

A couple of nights ago my doctor called me. I took an at home test, and he had the results. They came back positive. The next step is to make an appointment with the hospital, so the cancer diagnosis can be confirmed. My doctor knows how anxious I am about covid, so he said I could wait a few months. I countered if the vaccines were starting to kick in, everyone who had the hospital tests on hold would swarm the hospitals. He explained with a positive diagnosis I would go to the front of the line for testing. I would be ahead of those not doing a home test and just doing the hospital test. If this really is cancer, I do not know how far along it is, and it is possible every day could count for my survival.

The doctor said it would be 2-3 weeks before I hear from the hospital, so I can make an appointment. With covid and regulations, he was not sure, once I was notified, how long it would be before I would be penciled in. So, I guess I am still probably looking at 3-5 weeks before they can even look at me. Valuable time wasted, but it is what it is.

All of that is not what I wanted to vent about. I want to vent about insurance for healthcare. I just talked to an agent for the ACA. It is enrollment time right now. Up until now, I have pretty much had catastrophic insurance. It was around $130/month. If I end up with cancer, that plan would put me in a position where I might have to declare bankruptcy. Depending on where I am in treatment, I assume they could demand payment up front. I have worked my you-know-what off to get my credit to excellent. Although I suppose my credit would not matter if I was dead, so there is that!

I needed a top tier health insurance. Something that would cover most of my expenses if I ended up needing treatments. If my diagnosis is confirmed, I do not want a mountain of debt. So, here is where I am: My health insurance will cost almost $550/month. That is a huge leap. What does that mean for me? Well, after mortgage, car payments, taxes and insurance, I will have about $100/month to live on. That is for any other bills and food. And I do have some bills I have to pay off. I make just enough not to qualify for food stamps. Tell me how fair our system is. I am floored. And I am not sure if I do not have cancer if I can switch to a lower plan. I do not think so. So, for the next year, at least (depending on the diagnosis and how long treatment may be) I am shafted. WTF?!?!? My only hope is unemployment is extended and perhaps pumped up. If not, I guess I get in long lines for food banks and hope I like what I have been given.

This system is horrible. If you are possibly facing a life threatening illness, or even everyday life, money should not be handing over your head. Fu@k the system! Thank you for letting me rant a little.

[USALiberal]

1. Good luck! Sending good thoughts your way! Nt

[Metatron]

2. I'm sorry you have to deal with this

and I hope that everything turns out very well for you.

[katmondoo]

3. Apply for Medicaid help. I did. You have to show income and expenses, takes a while but could help.

[genxlib]

4. Sounds like you are describing Cologuard

That test gets a lot of false positives. It happened to my wife. Positive test but clean as a whistle when they did the real exam.

I wish I could offer more help on the insurance front but you are correct that it is insane.

Good luck

[usedtobedemgurl]

5. Yes, that is the test.

Thank you for the information. I hope mine turns out as well as your wife's test did. That gives me hope. Thank you for making my day.

[genxlib]

6. Similar to you

We had a COVID delay.

She got the results early March and we weren't able to do the colonoscopy until May or June. It had me stressed out so I can imagine how you feel.

There is lots of info online about the issue. From this website https://www.cologuardtest.com/hcp/faq it says

False positives and false negatives do occur. In a clinical study, 13% of patients without colorectal cancer or advanced adenomas received a positive result (false positive) and 8% of patients with cancer received a negative result (false negative).

Hang in there and good luck

[Shrike47]

21. I had a positive stool sample last summer. Colonoscopy, endoscopy, small bowel contrast imaging-

no problems detected. Apparently the blood found was the result of a nosebleed or something. Hope yours is also not a real problem.

[Meowmee]

22. I would not trust that test

A friend’s hubby had a positive and they went through several weeks of stress waiting for the colonoscopy etc. colonoscopy showed a mild irritation and no cancer. Hoping for a good result for you too.

[RobinA]

27. Cologuard

does not test for cancer, it tests for blood. I had a positive and it turned out I had some benign polyps which were quickly removed without a hitch. I was worried, of course, but a positive Cologuard can mean something or, in most cases, nothing horrible.

[malaise]

7. It is not fair

Greed at the top is the only American god.

[usedtobedemgurl]

8. What a horrible society!

I am originally from Canada. I have been trying to figure out if I could possibly go back to visit and get treated up there. It is something I will look into if my diagnosis is confirmed.

[malaise]

9. At least you'll get health care

This unbridled capitalism will kill all of us.

[Karadeniz]

24. A friend, British, of mine who's lived in the States for years developed a bad cancer. At first, she

Had health coverage via a university she was enrolled at. But, she couldn't keep going as a student, so she lost it. However, she still qualified for British national health, so she ended up flying over there for a few weeks of treatments.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

10. How incredibly stressful that all is.

So very sorry.

I wish we could have gotten Medicare For All, so you would not have to struggle with this financial, and health care, nightmare. Just being diagnosed with cancer is enormously stressful in itself, and to have all the other unjust, unfair health care system related stress and worries is mind warping.

I wish for a miracle to come your way.

[MFM008]

11. Now i took a

Blood occult test which can be posirive for blood and ive had anemia for months but without an endoscopy or colonoscopy you cant tell what the bleedings from.
Ive had an ulcer before so im hoping its just another one.
Dont give up on a for sure diagnosis till you have one!
Good luck to us.

[Ms. Toad]

12. You and me both -

I got a cancer diagnosis yesterday, as well (mine is confirmed by biopsy - so it's not "if it turns oub to be cancer." )

I'm surprised it's that high if you're on unemployment. (My daughter's premium was about $200/month.)

Did you have the ACA agent run the numbers assuming you'll be forced to pay the full out-of-pocket expense?

Often a larger out-of-pocket + smaller premiums is cheaper overall than a smaller out-of-pocket + larger premiums. Most agents assume you'll never hit the out of pocket max and won't calculate it that way unless you ask. With cancer - you likely will. My daughter has $200,000 in expenses every year, and it is always far cheaper to have a high deductible plan. She hits the max in the first month or two, then doesn't have any expenses for the rest of the year aside from the (lower) monthly premiums.

[a kennedy]

13. OMGawd.......so sorry for this diagnosis......

Sending prayers and positive vibes to conquer and beat this dreadful diagnosis. I'm just so sorry.

[PatrickforO]

14. Medicare for all Americans. That's it.

The ONLY reason we don't have Medicare for all is that many politicians are too afraid to raise taxes and make it happen because there's millions of dollars opposing it from the health insurance lobby. Profits over people every time.

NO AMERICAN SHOULD EVER EVEN HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PAYING FOR HEALTHCARE.

HEALTHCARE SHOULD NOT BE TIED TO EMPLOYMENT.

TAXES SHOULD BE RAISED TO PAY FOR IT. (We already pay a HUGE tax for healthcare. It is called 'insurance premiums,' but since they like to make it as confusing as possible, like the old shell game, we can also add 'copays,' 'coinsurance' and 'out-of-pocket.'

Bottom line? These health insurance companies might as well just hold a gun in our faces. Their interest in making a profit for shareholders is in direct conflict with them providing the medical services people actually need.

I have almost died a couple times when I could not afford healthcare, and there is NOTHING that can convince me we should not immediately implement a system like the British National Health Service.

[erronis]

16. The real reason is that politicians want to keep the lobbying $$$ coming in. Medicare4A will kill

that cash cow.

Even a public option would starve the big-med-hospital-insurance beast. They need to make money off of hidden deals and then buy their politicians.

[KatyMan]

28. Medicare for All

will most likely turn out like Medicaid has- it will be contracted out to insurance companies. Sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes not. My wife was an RN case manager for a Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO) for 10 years.

Medicare already has the Medicare Advantage plans. I would think that Medicare 4 all would be something like that. Traditional medicare has deductibles, 20% copay, etc. And many people think that Medicare is free- not so.....currently it is about 150 bucks per month.

But granted, anything is better than what we have now. (Unless you have really good insurance through your employer)

The ACA stipend is based almost entirely on your estimated income. If you underestimate your income, you will owe some of the stipend back at tax time in 2022. Our daughter had ACA for about 4 years--- she worked for the YMCA and did not have insurance with them. Her pay was very low, so her stipend was pretty high. I think she paid about 50.00 per month. (It may also be based on age)

But, positive thoughts sent your way. The Cologuard test is not diagnostic, as others have noted! Hopefully it will work out!

[PatrickforO]

29. Yes, thanks for replying! I just had a discussion with a good friend and told him I'm confused.

He suggested I call my HMO and ask about a Medicare Advantage Plan. I'm not eligible yet (but have high hopes the Biden administration will be able to lower the age), and when that happens, I will absolutely rejoice.

[PatrickforO]

15. I went on my usual diatribe down below, but omitted to say I am sorry to hear

about your situation. I really am.

[moreland01]

17. Look for a plan

with the lowest Max Out of Pocket that you can get while still being able to cover the monthly premiums. If you do have cancer (heaven forbid), you will probably max out pretty quickly and with a low "Max Out of Pocket", the rest of the year would be covered at no charge.

With such low income, I would think you would qualify for Medicaid. No?

[LAS14]

18. You are so right! The system is HORRIBLE. nt

[Habibi]

19. First, breathe.

Let's hope it was a false negative and you're in the clear.

Failing that, if you are single and subsisting on unemployment, you should definitely be eligible for lower cost insurance.

Do you live in a state with expanded Medicaid? If so, and your income is below poverty level, you should qualify for it (they don't consider assets, only income).

Another thing to check out is the financial aid program at your local hospital. Contact a hospital social worker (your GI doc *should* know someone to refer you to, but if not, do some googling and contact the hospital/cancer center directly.)

Alternatively, there are grant programs to help with cancer treatment costs. Google those as well.

I wish you the best. Try not to panic (I know it's hard!). There is help out there.

And, please keep us updated!

[grantcart]

20. Best of luck in your fight

[LNM]

23. Depending on which state you live in, you may be able to get financial help

In Mn., where I live, you can get tax rebates to help pay for your health insurance, depending on your income even if it's above the poverty level. I believe that's the case in the other states that expanded Medicaid as well. The state will pay a certain percentage of your premium for you. Google "Insurance Navigator, your state" to link up with someone paid by the state that can help you. Good Luck. Hopefully it was a false positive.

[Delphinus]

25. Oh, I'm sorry.

(edit to add because I hit reply before writing)



I hope you can find someone to walk you through this - perhaps a social worker at the hospital you might go to for treatment?

[Marie Marie]

26. Oh no - I am so sorry to hear about all of this.

As stated above, a more comprehensive test is needed to confirm that positive result and I hope that you can get that soon. Our healthcare system is a mess and there are too many people in your situation.