So my husband's insurance package comes comes due at the end of this month. There is to be a change. A big change. We sort of knew this was going to happen, but not the extent that will drastically. Because I have cancer.
When Dan came home from work the other night, he produced two different insurance plans. In one, our payment goes up $200.00 plus higher co-pays. The other doesn't increase the cost, but the deductible goes to $3000.00 per person per year. To a healthy person, this would not be an issue. However, the gleevec that I take every day to keep the cancer away, is $9000 a month prescription. The insurance will pay 2/3 of it. That would leave us with a co-pay of $3000.00 a month. We don't even have $500.00 in our savings account. I wonder what will happen now. I am terrified that we will end up losing what little we have. A Rep is suppose to come over next week and try to give us some options. All because I have cancer.
I did some research this morning. I may get some help from Medicare. The rep will be able to tell us this. But as I was curious how this medication which I pay 0.00 co-pay can now cost me $3000.00. So I went to the Gleevec website. It is amazing what you find when you start looking. The website stated several possible aids that help pay for the drug. It also stated that Novartis may also be able to help. I will be calling on Monday. I am almost sure, well, maybe a little sure, that the co-pay will magically drop to an affordable rate. Although, right now, with the insurance rate going up so much, I am not sure we will be able to pay for any of my prescriptions. I know I am blessed to now be in complete remission. But what happens if I cannot afford the cancer medication? Do I have the option? If I don't, what then? Do I die? It boggles my mind.
I have a friend that died last year from cancer. I know when she was in her final months we talked about medications. She was waiting for a particular approval. It cost so much money. And she couldn't afford it. I don't know if had any effect on her disease. I cannot understand about medicine.
We are pawns it would seem in the medical world. While the research and prognosis is very good for CML, I am not sure how all the money in the world could make having cancer a good thing. I feel like I am about to be penalized for having cancer.
A few months ago, the head secretary at Dan's office said some things about my insurance claims, as if to say, I've had too many. She also intimated that I had more ER visits than anyone else on their plan. And Dan's boss also said something about one employee had over 13 visits to the ER this past year. I was livid. First of all, I don't think the secretary should have said anything about anything. And that his boss mentioned how MANY visit? Come on. And just to set the record straight. I have NOT been in the ER 13 times in a year. Ever. I am not sure if maybe they were trying to scare him . I know the employer has a lot of pressure to try and keep premiums at a minimum. But to actually pick us out? I have CANCER. Dammit. I already have enough stress.
I am hoping that Medicare will allow me to just go off of his insurance completely. It's not very likely, but I have been upset ever since he told me about the changes. Of course, he has not had a raise in over 5 or 6 years. That doesn't help either.
On a completely different topic, We finally got to see Jenna and Pat last weekend. We drove to Virginia last Friday and left on this past Monday. It was wonderful. I miss Jenna so much, and it was wonderful just being able to reach out and touch her. We did lots of things while there, but I would have been happy to just sit around with a glass of wine or a bottle of beer, and talk. Actually, on Saturday, that is exactly what we did. Sort of. It rained all that day. We took a drive to the Shenandoah Valley State Park. It was too foggy to see any of the valleys. So we stopped at Trader Joe's, took Barney(their dog) and went to "Barrel Oaks Winery". It is a pet friendly winery with an inside and and outside. We sat under an umbrella at a table with our snacks, bought 3 bottles of wine and proceeded to drink all of them(not Pat-DD). We talked all afternoon. When we left there, we went to the Fairfax Town Square to an outdoor bar. I had a Mojhito for the first time ever. Actually, we all did. And then we had another. It was so relaxing. I felt a little giddy. I just smiled every time I looked at Jenna.
By the time Sunday came around, the weather had also turned around, so we went into Washington D.C. and did a lot of walking. I also had my first Falafal at a food truck. We were all exhausted from being tourists so that when we got back to their apartment, we just ordered pizza. Jenna had to leave for work at 5:30 on Monday so, she was extremely tired, and I said our goodbyes before I went to bed early, around 9:30. When we had first arrived and I had hugged her I told her I was going to hug her all weekend. And I tried. She is just not a warm and fuzzy girl. But I did get my share of hugs, none so bittersweet than the last one on Sunday night. We had many good talks.
We talked about where they are living now, and plans for the next year or two. We talked about them getting engaged and married. Pat is ready to do it yesterday. Jenna kept telling us if we wanted to go with them to the judge's office we were more than welcome. She was sounding very hard and matter-of-fact. While I was in bed later that night after a few tears, I realized that all that bluster is just a cover up. I think she is very homesick. And I think she would also like a nice big wedding but know that they cannot afford it, so she is resigning herself to not having a wedding at all. I think they will have a small wedding. They have only been in Virginia a year in September. I think they will feel more "at home" after another year. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make all their dreams come true.
Before closing this post, I think I would like to mention that Ben is now employed by the Fredonia Fire Department. He started this week. A grand accomplishment. And Daniel is finishing up his fire school training tomorrow. I am proud of all my children. I would do anything for them. If I could, I would.
Peace to all.
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