Fighting Breast Cancer

Being self-employed, my husband and I have to pay for our own health insurance.  For many years, we didn’t have any insurance at all!  We figured that since we were so young and healthy, we would be able to pay cash for any health issue that came up so long as we had yearly check-ups and kept up with preventative measures. 

Then one day, an insurance agent cold-called us.  He spoke with Michael and tried to sell us a policy “for the self employed”.  Michael will listen to any salesperson; but he argued that it would make more sense to put the money that we would spend on premiums into to an investment account and pay cash for doctor’s visits. 

The agent came back by telling him that that was a fine arguement for a young man–young men have less health issues.  We needed to consider a policy because of me, he explained.  Women tend to have more unexpected illnesses than men.  So, Michael agreed and we signed a basic policy.

That was about 4 months before my cancer diagnosis.  We had never had health insurance and now here we were, after making 4 payments (about $1100), we were at the Mayo Clinic and about to pile up a $500,000 bill.  At least I can laugh about getting one over on the insurance company.  Thank you God, for that insurance sales call.

Michael asked for a “Tragedy Policy” and now I wish we’d splurged and gotten the “Deluxe Policy”.  My medical bills are already beginning to pile up.  And my prescription coverage is pretty sad on name brand prescriptions.  The Emend that I spoke about in my last post?  Three pills cost $350.  My cut of that $350 is $280 (still worth every penny).  Every time I get chemo, it costs about $17K.  One shot of Neulasta costs about $5K.  All worth it, but my co-pay is 20%.

I’ve heard from other cancer patients and spouses, the stories about how the cost of treatment annihilated their savings and put them on the verge of bankruptcy.  I’ve looked into getting financial aid, but I don’t qualify.  I’m determined to get through this, not just with my health intact, but my finances as well.  I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I will.

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