lots of cancer and very little money

mystikspyral

I recently was treated for thyroid cancer. About three weeks after surgery (yesterday) I found out I have a tumor in the lining of my uterus. It might be uterine/endometrial cancer. They are going to have to do a biopsy. If it's malignant, and there is reason to believe it is, I will have to have a hysterectomy and possible chemo.

None of these procedures can be done where I live. I will have to travel to Virginia Mason in Seattle, incurring the costs of plane tickets, medical bills, housing bills, so on. I will have health insurance but my leave will quickly run out and I will not have a real income anymore. I also have very little money to my name as I am paying student loans, rent and medical bills already.

Any advice on ways to raise some money? Has anyone been through a similar situation or known someone in a similar situation?

Richard_Dastardly

If you know anyone or, better yet, are reated to someone who owns a bar or resturaunt you could perhaps see if they're receptive to a fundraiser.

And, I terribly sorry for your shitty situation.

dispatch.o

mystikspyral wrote: »

I recently was treated for thyroid cancer. About three weeks after surgery (yesterday) I found out I have a tumor in the lining of my uterus. It might be uterine/endometrial cancer. They are going to have to do a biopsy. If it's malignant, and there is reason to believe it is, I will have to have a hysterectomy and possible chemo.

None of these procedures can be done where I live. I will have to travel to Virginia Mason in Seattle, incurring the costs of plane tickets, medical bills, housing bills, so on. I will have health insurance but my leave will quickly run out and I will not have a real income anymore. I also have very little money to my name as I am paying student loans, rent and medical bills already.

Any advice on ways to raise some money? Has anyone been through a similar situation or known someone in a similar situation?

Contact your state disability administration. For Washington the number appears to be: 1-800-737-0617

Ask them about collecting disability while you are on medical leave. That is what it is there for. There is also a chance they can hook you up with a hostel to stay in while in Seattle from a variety of charities. I have no experience with the Washington Department of Health and Social Services, as I am in California, but it can't hurt to call.

Edit: I have worked with people who have gone through similar situations. One just got back to full time status after thyroid cancer. Quite frankly I would say do not worry about the hospital bills, they can't deny you treatment whether you have insurance or not, and if you go through the proper financial assistance channels they will probably waive nearly the entire fee. Just be persistent. Worry about getting there and finding a place to stay.

edit: Virginia Mason Financial Assistance Office
Patient Financial Services Contact Information

* Phone:
(206) 223-6601 or (800) 553-7803
TTY/TDD users may call (206) 344-7984
* Address:
P.O. Box 24163
M.S. M4-PA
Seattle, WA 98124-8859

mystikspyral

Richard_Dastardly wrote: »

If you know anyone or, better yet, are reated to someone who owns a bar or resturaunt you could perhaps see if they're receptive to a fundraiser.

And, I terribly sorry for your shitty situation.

I appreciate your concern and sympathy. I really do.

It's strange; I'm not actually worried about the cancer. Having surgery again is going to be terrible but I'm pretty sure I'll be fine in the end.

The part that really sucks for me is that I was supposed to move in three weeks with my boyfriend. I was quitting my job and moving to Redmond with him. We even already have a lease on a place. Now I have to stay here to keep my insurance.

I have to stay in a job I hate, in a town I hate, alone with cancer. Awesome.

mystikspyral

dispatch.o wrote: »

mystikspyral wrote: »

I recently was treated for thyroid cancer. About three weeks after surgery (yesterday) I found out I have a tumor in the lining of my uterus. It might be uterine/endometrial cancer. They are going to have to do a biopsy. If it's malignant, and there is reason to believe it is, I will have to have a hysterectomy and possible chemo.

None of these procedures can be done where I live. I will have to travel to Virginia Mason in Seattle, incurring the costs of plane tickets, medical bills, housing bills, so on. I will have health insurance but my leave will quickly run out and I will not have a real income anymore. I also have very little money to my name as I am paying student loans, rent and medical bills already.

Any advice on ways to raise some money? Has anyone been through a similar situation or known someone in a similar situation?

Contact your state disability administration. For Washington the number appears to be: 1-800-737-0617

Ask them about collecting disability while you are on medical leave. That is what it is there for. There is also a chance they can hook you up with a hostel to stay in while in Seattle from a variety of charities. I have no experience with the Washington Department of Health and Social Services, as I am in California, but it can't hurt to call.

I suppose I should add I live in Alaska... That's good advice though.

Seattle Thread

Is something requiring you to go to Virginia Mason? Not that it's a bad hospital by any stretch of the imagination, but Swedish Medical Center (where my aunt was treated for Ovarian Cancer throughout her battle) and Harborview Medical Center (which is public, but still has some very good facilities) are mere blocks away. There may be some better financial options available at those locations.

I couldn't recommend a cheap hotel--unless you don't mind riding the bus for an hour each way, or staying at a hostel--but I can help you figure out our retarded streets and sometimes-daunting Metro transit system.

Corvus

Have you tried contacting the American Cancer Society for advice? They might have some ideas for you.

Dunadan019

ask your employer if they have a sick leave donor program which you will almost certainly qualify for

mystikspyral

Dunadan019 wrote: »

ask your employer if they have a sick leave donor program which you will almost certainly qualify for

We can get sick leave donations from co-workers but a bunch of them already donated when I was out for my thyroid cancer surgery. I'm sure I can get a few more people to donate though.

mystikspyral

Makershot wrote: »

Is something requiring you to go to Virginia Mason? Not that it's a bad hospital by any stretch of the imagination, but Swedish Medical Center (where my aunt was treated for Ovarian Cancer throughout her battle) and Harborview Medical Center (which is public, but still has some very good facilities) are mere blocks away. There may be some better financial options available at those locations.

I couldn't recommend a cheap hotel--unless you don't mind riding the bus for an hour each way, or staying at a hostel--but I can help you figure out our retarded streets and sometimes-daunting Metro transit system.

I have actually been to Swedish. They're both pretty cheap, especially in comparison to where I live. I was pretty impressed by both Swedish and Virginia (where I had my thyroid cancer treated). I liked Virginia a little more though.

Thanatos

If they're government student loans, you can almost certainly just fill out some paperwork that says "I have cancer," and they'll go away until you can pay them.

Talk to financial services at whatever hospital with regards to your medical bills, but your best option may be just not paying them. It sounds like you don't have any assets, so you can always just declare bankruptcy later. It will suck a lot, but it will probably suck a lot less than not getting the treatment would.

dispatch.o

Thanatos wrote: »

If they're government student loans, you can almost certainly just fill out some paperwork that says "I have cancer," and they'll go away until you can pay them.

Talk to financial services at whatever hospital with regards to your medical bills, but your best option may be just not paying them. It sounds like you don't have any assets, so you can always just declare bankruptcy later. It will suck a lot, but it will probably suck a lot less than not getting the treatment would.

This is all true. After working in healthcare I can tell you with 100% certainty no matter what happens I will never pay a hospital bill or ambulance service. It's pretty much the biggest scam ever, they'll send it to a collection agency, agency will bother you for a few years and then it goes away. You may not even end out filing for bankruptcy. Yeah, your credit will suck for 6-8 years but then it drops off anyway.

edit: But you do have to screen your calls. If they ever get ahold of you or talk to someone who knows you, you're back on the hook. You must diligently ignore them for a long time.

edit2: It is not against the law to owe someone money, don't ever let some bullshit collection agent in Bangladesh tell you any differently.

Monoxide

See if the hospital you're going to have the treatment at has a financial aid department. If they do, speak with them. How much they're going to help depends on the bills and your income, but most people qualify for some kind of coverage from the hospital, you just have to pursue it yourself.

underdonk

I imagine you need this in a short period of time? If so, get a credit card and start charging away. If you can't make the payments, don't. This is normally not advice that I would give, and would be terrible advice in any normal situation, but having a credit card with a delinquent balance is better than being dead.

My $0.02.

witch_ie

Also, to defray the cost of your medications while undergoing treatment, you might look into the Patience Assistance Programs offered by many drug companies as well as not-for-profits. The financial aid departments at your hospital or even your oncologist should be able to direct you as to where to go in addition to any searching you can do on your own on the internet. You will need to know which medications you will need to identify the right program though.

jeddy lee

Have you applied for Medicaid? It just so happens I work for public assistance in Alaska. Also there are various programs that cut the cost of major treatments/procedures if you have an actual DENIAL from Medicaid, so that's another route.

mystikspyral

jack eddy wrote: »

Have you applied for Medicaid? It just so happens I work for public assistance in Alaska. Also there are various programs that cut the cost of major treatments/procedures if you have an actual DENIAL from Medicaid, so that's another route.

Can you be eligible for Medicaid while working for the state and receiving medical benefits from the state?

jeddy lee

Depends on your family situation, most likely not. You can still get a denial letter which helps. Are you part of the GGU? How much is the insurance picking up?

Also, depending on the severity, you could consider quitting. Or enacting FMLA. Medicaid considers income expected to be recieved in any given month, so there is that. Be aware that you also have to fit the category of medicaid if you were planning on taking such a severe action. Medicaid is available to:

People recieving disability (SSI/SSA)
People under 21 years old
People with their own children in the household under 18
Pregnant Women
People over the age of 65

If you don't fit any of those categories, you arn't going to get it no matter what your income is.

mystikspyral

jack eddy wrote: »

Depends on your family situation, most likely not. You can still get a denial letter which helps. Are you part of the GGU? How much is the insurance picking up?

Also, depending on the severity, you could consider quitting. Or enacting FMLA. Medicaid considers income expected to be recieved in any given month, so there is that. Be aware that you also have to fit the category of medicaid if you were planning on taking such a severe action. Medicaid is available to:

People recieving disability (SSI/SSA)
People under 21 years old
People with their own children in the household under 18
Pregnant Women
People over the age of 65

If you don't fit any of those categories, you arn't going to get it no matter what your income is.

Nope, I fit into none of those catagories. So it goes. I've enacted FMLA before and I will again if I have to be out long term.

jeddy lee

Again, I would urge you to contact the hospital in which you are thinking about going, and ask if you have proof of denial from medicaid if you can get put on some other scaling fee.

Best of luck to you. I hope our insurance gets a lot of it covered.

Apogee

Oy. I feel for you in this situation - my mother just went through (safely) the same sort of thing. Since you're up in Alaska, is it possible they can send you to a place in Canada to get the surgery done? That would be a lot closer, and I know that the hospitals trade patients across the border.

And I have to say, this is exaactly the thing that makes me angry when people go on about socialized medicine being evil. It's wrong that you need to worry about this stuff; you've already got cancer, for christ's sake...