Just got this in my email from my cancer support organization and wanted to share it for those who may be somewhat overwhelmed regarding coverage questions and costs.
This is a handy dandy checklist for those with cancer who are looking at insurance on the exchange from http://www.cancerinsurancechecklist.org/
Unfortunately, I had some issues downloading on my computer. I tried three times until I got it to work. Not sure what that is about.
This checklist is very helpful for me because I get compounded medications (from a New Jersey pharmacy) and I'm in California. I would like to know how much that would cost me next year. It also has a lot of other treatment specific things one might want to consider when comparing health plans, many that i would probably forget to think to include.
The organizations behind this are numerous and include the following (so this is a legitimate site):
The Assistance Fund
Association of Community Cancer Centers
Avalere Health
Cancer Support Community
Chronic Disease Fund
Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation
International Myeloma Foundation
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Lung Cancer Alliance
Melanoma Research Foundation
Men’s Health Network
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
Oncology Nursing Society
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
Patient Advocate Foundation
National Patient Advocate Foundation
Patient Services, Inc.
Prevent Cancer Foundation
I have been on the preexisting plan since last year. it has been life saving. my husband has now been unemployed several years and we have not had any health insurance. Not fun because I have a (thankfully minor) lymphoma and treatment is certainly helpful. At this point, I've decided not to be on the medications because I was switched over to the federal PCIP program (much worse than the CA PCIP, which ran out of money sometime this year) and would have to start over on the deductible this year.
I look forward to signing up for health insurance for January 2014.
ps if the kaiser calculator is correct, with our current income, we would go from paying around $1000 per month to $95 per month. i'm not kidding. that would be because of our amazingly low income and the federal subsidy would kick in. i have checked and my oncologist is on one of the hmo plans. hallelujah.
