Guaranteed Healthcare

After a small stroke/CNI on July 18, 2007, I was diagnosed with rare Neuroendocrine Carcinoma, Stage 3 - brain met, lung primary. So far I've had a craniotomy to remove one tumor, SRS (my decision against WBRT) for remaining tumor and edge of resected. Lung tumor untouched. No chemo as they thought I'd be dead already. Thoracic surgeon rules out surgery, chemo drugs that would have passed blood/brain barrier aren't covered by insurance.

Photodynamic Therapy would be perfect - insurance won't cover, SRS for lung - insurance won't cover, other therapies - insurance won't cover. My oncologist feels that chemo would weaken my bodies ability to fight the cancer, so we are just maintaining and monitoring, and waiting. When I was diagnosed I had just taken a new job but had to wait a year before I could get medical insurance from employer. Needless to say, hospital costs, Specialist costs, surgery, MRI, CTscans - none were covered. Now add in that it's 130 miles to quality care, and having a 20 year old car and the cost of fuel (despite getting 38 mph). My choices are also limited to can I afford the gas to get to the doctor. KUDOS to ST.Charles in Bend, Oregon and Dr. Yundt's office. They asked about insurance, I said none - they said Ok and gave me the best of care. The nurses were absolutely awesome and a fine example of what should be available to all. They assigned me a social worker who expedited Oregon Health Plan (normally a 6 month wait) and got me on SSI (3 month wait).

But that still leaves me with the original 40k in medical bills. The local hospital and doctors office hounds me for money I don't have, despite being told of my financial situation. Labs etc want their money and have sent me to collections. I no longer answer my phone because I know it's another debt collector. The answering machine is always on. Credit cards maxed just to survive. Money goes to medical bills and so I don't eat as well as I should as food prices skyrocket. Senator Kennedy has his choice of doctors, choice of therapies, choice of hospitals - my choices are limited to whom my PCP (happily a LPN now) refers me and what the insurance will cover. Local hospital treats you like trash if you don't have insurance and care is minimal. Meanwhile, I fight to live, while they wait for me to die. :(