Sudden loss of Insurance Midway through treatment ?

I don't know the answer, but I looked back at your posts and see this is your wife's insurance through work. Does she have COBRA options? If so, pick that up at least until your treatment meds are on the way. With cirrhosis, you need to remain insured somehow.

What scary timing! So sorry this is happening.

You are a Vet, so you could go back and see if you qualify now with the lower income.

I would suggest you look into SSDI if you don't work and are disabled due to liver disease. You won't be eligible for Medicare for 2 years after being eligible for SSDI, but cirrhosis can go south really quickly. It sure did at our home. Cirrhosis is a terminal disease with transplant being the only cure for cirrhosis. There is a question about this when you apply for SSDI.

www.ssa.gov/disabilityssi/

The other thing would be find a policy yourself through ACA (Obamacare)

www.HealthCare.gov .

Your wife has RA with infusions you mentioned, so she needs health insurance when COBRA runs out, as well. This is terrible timing. Do any of the above things help? Of course you can check with Gilead's Support Path, but your wife's insurance probably will not end the day of termination....and COBRA is hopefully, and option. Let us know what is happening. We care. Big Hugs

I know what you mean. I paid for COBRA for 3 years. I hope things work out so your wife can keep working until retirement. Natural to think about this when facing the big $$ signs for treatment. Big Hugs

Try not to worry but just stay organized regarding the medicine. They should continue to give you a new supply nearly a week before the each bottle runs out-- if they dont automatically send it, call the specialty pharmacy. If by any chance your wife is laid off before you have gotten all of your medicine she should be able to go on COBRA. She should stay on that program as long as you need for meds, tests, etc. If its too expensive you would have a special enrollment period in which to sign up for . The pharma companies also all have programs to help. There is also a good argument that the insurance company agreed to cover the expense for the entire treatment by agreeing to any medication knowing that only partial treatment could harm your ability to get cured should you have to stop and try again. Also I would continue to follow up with the VA --just does not sound right regardless of your income level. We have all been scared about needing and getting such expensive medication. You get used to keeping is safe and taking it properly. Cant help but wish it could have been a car (3 mos) or in some cases even a house (6 mos)! But one cant drive or live in good health, so the medicine is just fine. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Hi all, I really don't know where to post this but the VA has lower there income for VA health Care Rules. this is from MOAA " March 20, 2015


The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continues their effort to ease the administrative requirements that saddle veterans attempting to receive VA benefits and services.

This week VA Secretary Robert McDonald announced the VA is changing the way it determines eligibility for health care.

The VA no longer requires veterans to disclose their net worth. Net worth is determined by combining a veteran’s income and assets. Prior to this decision, a veteran’s net worth was used to determine eligibility for health care and cost of copays.

In yesterday’s announcement, the VA will now consider a veteran’s gross household income and deductible expenses as factors for determining health care eligibility and cost responsibility.

The elimination of the net worth criteria means lower income, non-service connected veterans will pay less money out of pocket for care.

MOAA is encouraged by the announcement. “According to the VA, 190,000 more veterans will see their health care costs reduced over the next five years because of these rule changes,” said MOAA Deputy Director for Government Relations, Cdr. René Campos, USN (Ret).

Last March, the VA eliminated annual requirements for veterans to report financial information. The VA will now verify veteran income automatically through Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration records.

This is good news for the VA as it works hard to rebuild trust with veterans—and great news for veterans because it is one less piece of information they have to remember to provide the VA."



I hope this helps the vets out here, there was someone looking into VA care but said they make to much money and I can't remember who this is so if someone knows please pass this on. thank you Vickie