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Waldorf

(654 posts)

7. As a person who is undergoing cancer treatment I know how expensive it is.

Reply to redstatebluegirl (Original post)

Thu Feb 4, 2016, 01:23 PM

Feb 2016

I have United Healthercare thru my work. Deductible is $500 and max. out of pocket is $3k. January starts the cycle over. My treatment is every two weeks. With the insurance negotiated price the cost is about 32k (its around 60k before the insurance discount) for two treatments. So I hit max. out of pocket on my first treatment. They allow me to make a $1k payment in January, when I have treatment next week I will have to pay another $1k and then in March another $1k.

It is a lot of money, that's what, $384k? This does not include the CT scans (every 3 months) the PET scan (once a year) or doctor visits and blood work every two weeks.

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Cancer Treatment [View all] redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 OP

Just a sad indictment of the US "healthcare" system. StandingInLeftField Feb 2016 #1

Does she have the option to change hospitals? Glimmer of Hope Feb 2016 #2

I am not sure, I am going over this afternoon redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #3

I thought the ACA installed caps on out of pocket cost. Sienna86 Feb 2016 #4

I did as well, I am trying to do some research online before I go over there. redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #12

You could be right. The insurance companies were the ones jwirr Feb 2016 #51

Ahh, yes. SheilaT Feb 2016 #5

She is terrified they will lose what they do have over this. redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #9

That's more than understandable. SheilaT Feb 2016 #18

This has terrified me today. redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #22

$250,000 is more than the average Social Security lifetime payout. Imagine that! Kip Humphrey Feb 2016 #26

God this just makes me so angry! People should not have to make life or death smirkymonkey Feb 2016 #36

Okay, you answered one question - age. What state are they jwirr Feb 2016 #50

Oklahoma redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #52

I do not know about that state but since they did not expand jwirr Feb 2016 #53

What type of insurance does she have? Big Blue Marble Feb 2016 #6

She has blue cross blue shield under the university. redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #10

I wonder if the hospital is out of network for her insurance. hedda_foil Feb 2016 #32

Excellent point. phylny Feb 2016 #42

As a person who is undergoing cancer treatment I know how expensive it is. Waldorf Feb 2016 #7

all the best to you. nt restorefreedom Feb 2016 #19

According to the ACA, plans can no longer enforce caps once the deductible has been met Warpy Feb 2016 #8

Thanks I will do that this afternoon. redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #11

For that matter, call Blue Cross directly & ask them what's what with that estimate. WillowTree Feb 2016 #16

I think it just caught her by surprise, it did us for sure! redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #24

That's unbelievable shrike Feb 2016 #13

I echo your recommendation to breastcancer.org. The forums there are a wealth of good information.nt DiehardLiberal Feb 2016 #15

This site help my Spouse's sisters, Wellstone ruled Feb 2016 #27

I'm so sorry. Information is power... Best to all of you! DiehardLiberal Feb 2016 #28

One has to Wellstone ruled Feb 2016 #34

I'm so sorry to hear this. As a breast cancer survivor, I can only say that it's another reason we DiehardLiberal Feb 2016 #14

Walter White had a plan. alarimer Feb 2016 #17

i was on gofundme the other day restorefreedom Feb 2016 #20

By law the insurance can never be "exhausted". Nye Bevan Feb 2016 #21

Thank you, I am doing some research and so is my husband so we can make her feel better. redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #23

Good luck. Nye Bevan Feb 2016 #25

I've never heard of that happening to anyone TexasMommaWithAHat Feb 2016 #29

It is a smallish town. redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #31

Sounds like it. TexasMommaWithAHat Feb 2016 #33

Thank you.. redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #35

It happened to a DUer ten years ago, as a matter of fact Orrex Feb 2016 #46

I've heard horror stories TexasMommaWithAHat Feb 2016 #47

I was lucky with my insurance after a brief hospital stay in 2014 Orrex Feb 2016 #49

It happens. LeftyMom Feb 2016 #62

Doesn't the ACA prohibit caps like this? hedda_foil Feb 2016 #30

Yes, the ACA removed the lifetime caps that used to exist. I've been with United Healthcare for Waldorf Feb 2016 #38

$1 million lifetime cap is pathetically small and very easily reachable. Nye Bevan Feb 2016 #40

Earlier I posted that I have cancer and am going thru chemotherapy treatment. Waldorf Feb 2016 #37

Wow. Nye Bevan Feb 2016 #41

Only in America ... area51 Feb 2016 #39

Update redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #43

That nurse is called an ombudsman, or maybe a patient advocate. Nay Feb 2016 #54

She was told it was aggressive redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #56

Oh, dear. That doesn't sound good. If it has spread into her body, I Nay Feb 2016 #57

That is what we have been told... redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #58

Glad to hear this! PasadenaTrudy Feb 2016 #55

There are maximum out of pocket caps TexasBushwhacker Feb 2016 #44

I am sure we will learn more as we go along. redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #45

Really sorry for what your friend is going through. That just totally sucks. MoonRiver Feb 2016 #48

Thanks Everyone! redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #59

Best wishes! n/t PasadenaTrudy Feb 2016 #64

They were being shaken down by a loan shark malaise Feb 2016 #60

Yes they were in my opinion.... redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #61

there's your death panels. spanone Feb 2016 #63

Update redstatebluegirl Feb 2016 #65