The Colon Club

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Question:
Does anyone have any info on financial planning for cancer patients?
I'm only 28, but I'm Stage IV and inoperable. I just bought a house last year, I'm planning a wedding next year, so my medical bills are piling up while I continue to work full time to pay my regular bills. I was looking into selling my life insurance policy but I don't know exactly what that entails and I don't want to leave my family with massive debt when I'm gone.
I have looked into grant programs, etc but most have already used up all their funds for Colorectal Cancer.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

I'm sorry about your diagnosis. Try your local cancer charity and see if they have somebody who can help you with this.

I am so sorry. You are so young, but are so mature in your response to your diagnosis. Is there a social worker at your cancer center that may be able to help you with these concerns? I hate that you are worried about this when you could be focused on you and treatments that may be available. Have you gotten any other opinions about treatment options that may help you? Again,I am so sorry you have to deal with this at such a young age.

I am sorry to read this. You are young, but as previously stated you are mature in your approach and acceptance.

I would not sell your life insurance policy. If you do, it is at a discount and you are missing out on why you have it, to cover liabilities if you pass. Definitely make sure your beneficiary is correct and that person knows your wishes to pay off the house or other bills.

I think you need to get a will and discuss this process with an attorney in your County / State. An estate attorney can give you advice about how you can separate medical bills from your new spouse and how you can preserve wealth in your house, maybe by placing it in a trust.

If you stop working FT, you could look into Social Security Disability, but you will have income limits in order to collect. Not certain if you are American or not, but use the Google tool bar to see if this can help with your situation.

Don't forget, if your mortgage is based on your soon to be wife's income too, make sure she has life insurance too.

Good Luck!
WS

Thank you, I'll look into those options!
I know the life insurance thing looked like a bad idea for me since my family will definitely need the funds if anything happens.
It's just crazy how fast the medical bills pile up!
My mortgage is actually only based on my income, I own the house myself. My future husband just moved in with me in May of this year and has been my primary source of caregiving and support with doctors visits and chemo, etc,so he hasn't found employment yet.

WarriorSpouse wrote:I am sorry to read this. You are young, but as previously stated you are mature in your approach and acceptance.

I would not sell your life insurance policy. If you do, it is at a discount and you are missing out on why you have it, to cover liabilities if you pass. Definitely make sure your beneficiary is correct and that person knows your wishes to pay off the house or other bills.

I think you need to get a will and discuss this process with an attorney in your County / State. An estate attorney can give you advice about how you can separate medical bills from your new spouse and how you can preserve wealth in your house, maybe by placing it in a trust.

If you stop working FT, you could look into Social Security Disability, but you will have income limits in order to collect. Not certain if you are American or not, but use the Google tool bar to see if this can help with your situation.

Don't forget, if your mortgage is based on your soon to be wife's income too, make sure she has life insurance too.

Good Luck!
WS

susie0915 wrote:I am so sorry. You are so young, but are so mature in your response to your diagnosis. Is there a social worker at your cancer center that may be able to help you with these concerns? I hate that you are worried about this when you could be focused on you and treatments that may be available. Have you gotten any other opinions about treatment options that may help you? Again,I am so sorry you have to deal with this at such a young age.

It's been quite a rollercoaster of emotions so far!
My mom actually had breast cancer in 2010 and my future MIL is currently battling Ovarian Cancer and I work in clinical research, so I was familiar with the process I'd end up going through once I was diagnosed but of course it still came as a total shock! My genetic testing was negative, but my grandfather and a few other relatives on his side of the family died from Colon Cancer so I know there's gotta be some genetic link, it just hasn't been discovered yet. So far my cancer has been responded very well to FOLFOX + Avastin, but I went for a second opinion at John's Hopkins and they basically told me that it would be extremely unsafe to operate on any of my metastases except the lymph nodes and that no surgeon would touch it unless it progresses to paralyze me or something along those lines. Any surgery would be just palliative care to improve quality of life, nothing curative basically. So I know I'll have to be monitored closely and/or treated for the rest of my life, but I was denied hospital sponsorship despite trying to explain that concept to them. If I have $8k in out of pocket expenses every 6 months until I die, the bills will obviously NEVER be paid off! Apparently that concept didn't make sense to them!
I do have a social worker at my cancer center, I may try to contact her for advice as well! Thank You for that suggestion! With chemo brain sometimes the obvious solutions totally slip my mind!

I'm sorry you have to deal with all this. As mentioned earlier, I would check with the social worker at the treatment center (if they have one). You can also check with the hospitals Financial Department as most have financial assistance programs (at least in the U.S.). If you are U.S. based, a lot of states also have programs you may qualify for (depending on income level, current insurance etc.). I wish you the best. Stay strong!