SilverWedding wrote:Any advice for us? Husband was laid off as business project manager in company buyout and restructuring, went in for routine colonoscopy, diagnosed with cancer while laid off. Now we are looking at a full year of surgeries and chemo plan. Praise God he has COBRA.
Financial advice/hope. We have children in college too.
Pyro70 wrote:I
An ACA plan (Obamacare) may be more affordable than your employer’s COBRA especially if you're eligible for subsidies. ACA plans are good insurance, it will cover everything. The only downside is that the network is typically limited to your home state. I would pay extra for a PPO as a cancer patient - but it’s not necessary.
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Lee wrote:Pyro70 wrote:I
An ACA plan (Obamacare) may be more affordable than your employer’s COBRA especially if you're eligible for subsidies. ACA plans are good insurance, it will cover everything. The only downside is that the network is typically limited to your home state. I would pay extra for a PPO as a cancer patient - but it’s not necessary.
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The down side to Obamacare, you can only be treated a a local hospital. If you are dealing with a stage IV cancer you really want to get treatment at a major cancer hospital. Even if you have a major cancer hospital in your town, they will not take Obamacare.
We have the Mayo Clinic and they will not take Obamacare here.
Personally I would keep Cobra, I believe you have more options with it.
Lee
Pyro70 wrote:It’s a good point about the hospital network, but it depends on your ACA plan’s and employer’s network. BCBS of Michigan for example is accepted in essentially all major hospitals in Michigan. Many employer plans also have a restricted network - especially out of state. Some ACA plans (eg BCBS ppo) cover nationwide but you’re subject to a higher deductible and potentially “balance billing”. The network is the biggest issue for most insurances and you should ensure your hospital of choice is in your network with either an ACA or employer plan. If you can’t get to the hospital of your choice you can always “move” (and I’m putting that in quotes for a reason), and then purchase an ACA plan in your new local. If you “move” states you are eligible for special enrollment under ACA.
CF_69 wrote:As a Canadian I can’t complain about the level of care I’ve had here.
Serious illnesses are prioritized. I’ve waited 11 months for a CT scan for something not urgent, I’ve also been squeezed in immediately numerous times over the past 6 months for many procedures.
All without giant bills or premiums.
muskokamike wrote:CF_69 wrote:As a Canadian I can’t complain about the level of care I’ve had here.
Serious illnesses are prioritized. I’ve waited 11 months for a CT scan for something not urgent, I’ve also been squeezed in immediately numerous times over the past 6 months for many procedures.
All without giant bills or premiums.
I agree 100%
I have read enough horror stories on this forum over the last five years regarding the American profit before patients mentality sweeping their healthcare system. Yes, we don't have the perfect system up here but nobody in Canada goes broke fighting cancer.
My biggest out of pocket expense was hospital parking.
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