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Posted 8/7/2014 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
How does everyone pay for their medical expenses. Right now I have $15,000 in medical expenses and I can't pay a dime of it. My income goes all to my living expenses an paying my insurance company. I am only 26 so until a year ago I had really good insurance that covered almost all of my bills through my mom, now I am on my own. I know $15,000 might not be a lot but I know that that this is just the beginning. I work minimum wage and can hardly afford food. I am getting scared that I will forever be in debt because of this disease. I am wondering if anyone knows of ways to get bills lowered or how to deal with the large bills coming in. I have surgery next wednesday and I know that I will have another couple thousand added on for that as well.
Posted 8/7/2014 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
I had to drop my insurance for a few years because it went up so much and my husband's hours were cut, that we couldn't afford it. My daughter has a serious illness also and can't work and she was without for several years too. We had to pay for hers and my expenses entirely.

Obamacare in our state expanded Medicaid and my daughter has been able to get insurance through that. It subsidizes for those who have low incomes also.

Many hospitals, at least prior to Obamacare, reduce their prices for patients on limited incomes. I'm not sure how that has been affected with the insurance laws changing. I do know that when my father was hospitalized last year, that he was sent forms to fill out from the hospital to see if he would qualify for financial help.

Fifteen thousand dollars is a lot of money to owe to me too. I never have done biologics because of the high deductibles we have had. When Remicade was first recommended to me, it was running $12,000.00 per treatment at the hospital my GI was using. The insurance I had then was already notorious for refusal to pay for much cheaper treatments, and even if they had not given me problems, my part would have still been way more than I could afford.

I recommend contacting the hospital's financial office to see if they have such a program. And don't be ashamed because the cost for healthcare in the US, without really good insurance, is almost beyond anyone's reach excepting the wealthiest. -Joy
Posted 8/7/2014 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
What state do you live in? If you make less than the federal poverty level- around $16K per year, you should qualify for Medicaid. In California it's called MediCal. In CA, MediCal is retroactive three months so if that's true of your state, you may be able to get some past tx covered. If you make more than the fed poverty level, up to around 400% of that amount, you could qualify for subsidies to help ofset premium costs. If you recently lost coverage, you would qualify for a Special Enrollment through your State's Exchange or the Federal Exchange (if you state did not creat its own). Medicaid I think has year round enrollment so you may be able to apply at anytime.

This is all based on the state you live in and whether or not they have their own exchange and accepted Medicaid expansion. Obv, I am most familiar with CA's situation.

I have group coverage through my employer, the State of CA, so it's good coverage and I pay very little.

There are lots of patient assistance programs out there that can help you. Additionally, the Hospital/Doctor's offices often have resources for patients. Also, the cash price can always be negotiated. I would consider that a last resort, though. Do everything you can to get coverage first.
Posted 8/8/2014 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
If you do Remicade, there is a program called Remistart that can help pay for what insurance doesn't pay. Also, many hospitals have programs that help you get on a payment plan or will even lower what you actually owe if you submit your pay stubs, W2s, current bills, etc.
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