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My husband was just diagnosed with prostate cancer and in addition to the scare of cancer treatment we have to face concerns about paying for it all. We are both working but uninsured. I'm afraid my dear one will compromise or forgo certain care if he thinks that he can't pay for it.
He had been out of work for awhile and we were able to get private, local hospital assistance, but our eligibility for that will be running out soon. I feel truly stuck between a rock and a hard, hard place.
Are you eligible for Medicaid? Most hospitals will write off a certain portion of treatment as charity care. Of curse, you need a public or non-profit hospital. Those blood-sucking private places like HCA are unlikely to work with you. Go talk to the hospital's patient assistance folks and see what they can do for yu.
Not eligible for Medicaid. DH is under 55 years of age and working full time (most of the time). We questioned whether he might be able to get Social Security disability for life-long PTSD, ADHD, and anxiety-depression, but that's a real stretch. Being an ethical, upstanding individual he has always tolerated or worked around his problems.
So much for being conscientious. Sorry, I grow more cynical everyday.
Tcrackly, I am so sorry you are going through this with the financial burden as well! Even with insurance, cancer is a financial challenge that is difficult for most people.
I strongly recommend checking out CancerCare and the American Cancer Society. While I could never seem to qualify for any aid (since most of my costs were not medical), I know many people who have been helped. Does he have a social worker at the hospital? Talk to his oncologist about getting linked in with a social worker - they are trained to help with financial resources as well as be another even-handed voice to listen to.
Finally, make sure to talk to the hospital's financial office. They have resources and might be able to point you toward local aid as well.
Good luck. This is a community that none of us wanted to be a part of, but a community that has walked the road before and know of other resources out there! Plug into other forums specifically for prostate/male reproductive cancers.
Tcrackly, I am so sorry you are going through this with the financial burden as well! Even with insurance, cancer is a financial challenge that is difficult for most people.
I strongly recommend checking out CancerCare and the American Cancer Society. While I could never seem to qualify for any aid (since most of my costs were not medical), I know many people who have been helped. Does he have a social worker at the hospital? Talk to his oncologist about getting linked in with a social worker - they are trained to help with financial resources as well as be another even-handed voice to listen to.
Finally, make sure to talk to the hospital's financial office. They have resources and might be able to point you toward local aid as well.
Good luck. This is a community that none of us wanted to be a part of, but a community that has walked the road before and know of other resources out there! Plug into other forums specifically for prostate/male reproductive cancers.
I agree with what she said. A hospital social worker was very helpful in getting my mother in a program that paid for all of her chemo and radiation treatments.
We just had a consult with the radiation oncologist. there is a general consensus that for the type and degree of DH's cancer, surgery, particularly robotic or laproscopic surgery would be the best. We have filed a financial aid request with the hospital and will be referred to the social worker as well.
We just had a consult with the radiation oncologist. there is a general consensus that for the type and degree of DH's cancer, surgery, particularly robotic or laproscopic surgery would be the best. We have filed a financial aid request with the hospital and will be referred to the social worker as well.
I'm hoping all will work out.
Do you know your husbands numbers: PSA and Gleason score from his biopsy? Gleason score looks like 3+3=12.
Knowing these numbers can help with the decision process. Surgery can be beneficial unless the numbers indicate the cancer is no longer confined to the prostate.
Can you post the numbers? I'll understand if you don't.
My husband went through prostate cancer a few years ago. My thoughts and prayers are with you both.
Already determined that the numbers show an early involvement of only the prostate of a moderately aggressive cancer. After a consult with the surgeon/urologist, radiation oncologist and primary care, we have already decided that surgery, preferably DaVinci laproscopy is the away to go. we're hoping that everything can come together under hospital private assistance or self-pay discount.
Life itself and the quality of life is important to us. We are only 53 and 54 respectively. We don't want to lose our house either. Possibly facing serious health issues for myself as well. I'll find out today. I will have to be the primary breadwinner while the DH is recuperating.
We'll just have to count on our wits to deal with what fate provides us, God willing.
I know what you mean by the finances and I have insurance. What I did was set up a payment plan with most of the specialists I dealt with and the hospital. It took me 2 years to pay the hospital but they get paid.
Most will work with you and your financial situation if you just ask them to.
I know it's hard to go through cancer and paying bills doesn't help with adding to the stress. The only suggestion I can give is to hang in there and pay what you can. Most healthcare workers are concerned for your well being and will work with you on this.
Please don't worry, it makes your stress level go way up.
Damn cancer! Maybe this is the year for a cure.
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