Marketplace insurance woes and why things need to change.

[Texasgal]

As many of you know my husband is on a liver/kidney transplant list.

He is in stage 4 liver failure. Kidney 3. We are listed at #10 here in Texas but that still could mean months. When my husband had to stop working we took FMLA for 90 days as required by law. Then we had to buy our own plan through the marketplace.

Our plan covers the transplant itself which is what I wanted make sure of, I talked for weeks to the service folks at the marketplace. We've now been on a plan for two years. He gets a small tax break but this plan is still very expensive and has a deductible of 6,000.00. We've been paying that down from last year but it started again this january. We owe alot, close to 50,000.00.

So, here we are. Close to transplant and he has liver cancer which requires a procedure to insert chemo into the tumor. Last time we had it done they asked for 1000.00 upfront before they could do the procedure. Why? They say we haven't met the deductible. Okay, so I scratch up the grand which is difficult because I am the only one working. Yes, he did receive SSDI.

So, *sorry this is long* We have another procedure coming up next week, this time they want 500.00 upfront! Hello? Why? I am tapped out here! We must get this done because it allows him to continue being listed for transplant.

The transplant center tells me that this is a very expensive procedure and our plan will not cover unless we pay the 500.00 in advance. WTF? Like the liver transplant itself is not going to be expensive?

How do regular people do this? I am tapped out. I do not have 500.00 for this procedure. I am going to have to beg, borrow and steal to get this done!

Any advice for me out there? I am at my wits end!

[Uben]

1. Might try a GoFundMe page

You just never know!

[Texasgal]

2. I could do that I suppose.

Just never thought of it.

Our families have been very giving and supportive through all of this.

Thank you for the advice.

[Uben]

3. We get by with a little help from our friends...

....we all need it at some point, and you have a genuine need. I've been through it myself..... my wife died of cancer, and the financial drain was almost devastating. Almost, but I managed to pull through it. Five years now, and I'm back on track. Don't have the security I had and at 61, not a lot of time to rebuild, but we should endeavor to persevere. Good things come to good people.
Good luck (I'm a Texan, too)

[Texasgal]

4. I'm so sorry about your wife.

So sad to hear! My heart goes out to you.

Native Texan love to you!