Cost?

Glad to hear the good news about the insurance, and that it's kicking in soon enough to cover your TURBT.

At the risk of inserting political discussion here, this is a great example of one of the very positive aspects of the federal healthcare plan, the the plan that a lot of folks are unfortunately pledging/demanding to overturn.

Ann

Just an update for everyone....yesterday I got my "FMIP" insurance card in the mail. I applied for the Federal Medical Insurance Pool a couple weeks ago because it had no waiting period before you could use it. It is run by the state of Oregon and administered by BlueCross-BlueSheild Regency. To qualify you need to have a pre existing condition,( hello BC), or have been denied coverage by a insurance company.
The monthly cost is going to be $566,( age 46), $500/$1500 deductible, I figure it will cost $8700 a year. I have spent almost that much just this month!! The good news is the coverage will start before my TURBT next month.
Warren.

Thank you everyone, a lot of good info there. I am being treated at Bend Urology Clinic, here in Bend:) The cost for my first cystoscopy was $500 for the doctor and $1,500 to the clinic....I don't know what was more painful, the hit to my wallet or when it passed my prostate! Any how it is going to add up quick. Doing the math today I can see I need to get the insurance, even if it is the high risk kind. As for moving to Minnesota....no way! I grew up in Stillwater, and after you have been mosquito free, able to sleep out on the deck all night without one bite, and able to work outside when it is 90* plus with out breaking a sweat...well enough said:) Again thanks for the info!!

If you lived in Minnesota and you could??? move there, they have Minnesota Care. Which is a better run state program than what Massachusetts has. It is not Medicaid, and is solely based on your income.

$50,000.00 single ( I think) is the cut off and it is allot less than what you were stating you would pay where you are at. I have a friend of mine who is single and makes about less than 35K and pays about $120 month with $3.00 co-pays and no deductible and pays 100%

I am just throwing this in to the mix, maybe you can pull stakes and move and get a job in MN. Some people pay as little as %35.00 a month, seriously.

I don't know what your work status is, but MN has a lower unemployment rate than most states. You have a contact here who can help...Me.

www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=id_006255

Options...

AL

Drastic times call for drastic measures and the university of MN a teaching hospital will work with you big time if needed. I think it is rated #3 in the US for Cancer and have top notch urologists.

Hi Warren,

Bladder cancer is unfortunately one of the more expensive cancers to treat. Just how expensive depends on the stage/grade at diagnosis and the number of reocurrences. As mentioned by Sara bladder cancer requires a lot of follow up and monitoring which adds significantly to the overall cost. Costs can vary widely in different geographic areas as well. My local uro charges $350 for a cystoscopy. When I had one done at Sloan Kettering the total charge was in the neiborhood of $2000 for the same procedure.

The high risk insurance policy may be worth it in the long run if you can afford the premiums. In the meantime negotiate with all providers for their best possible rate. Most hospitals offer some sort of sliding scale discount based on your ability to pay. Discounts of 50% or more are not unheard of. I hope everything works out for you.

Mark

Come see use Sunday night in the chat room at 8:oo pm eastern time, we have a good time and can usually answer any thing you need to know.