Neulasta concerns Please Help!

I am also on Anthem/BC/BS through my husband’s employment, so even if I have to quit my job, I should still have my insurance without COBRA. That is a real relief and concern. They have been very good to me, though I have had to push pretty hard to get some things covered. I have learned a few things about my insurance company. I can file an appeal on my own behalf, and then the insurance company contacts the Doctor if more medical info is needed or needs to be confirmed. The insurance company seems to have a policy of denying anything questionable on first and sometimes second claim, but they often yield to persistance. One reason they try to say treatment is experimental is because our cancer is so rare and so scarcely studied compared to other diseases that the medical community has not even had a standard protocal for treating it. Few people would deny radiation as a treatment for cancer, but the insurance company tried to say that my radiation was experimental because it was not on a protocal for cc. Both my primary oncologist and my radiation oncologist assured me that the bill for my radiation was to be negotiated between the hospital and the insurance company; I would not be responsible for it. I am well pleased with my health care team.

My concern about nationalized medicine stems from what I saw when my husband was in the air force. Each doctor seemed to be under time pressure, as appointment times were overbooked. Our appointments were typically with a department, not necessarily a specific doctor. If you did not arrive with your list of questions written out, they didn’t have time for chit-chat while you tried to recall what you wanted to ask, and it really helped if everyone did the kind of learning/asking questions before they saw the doctor so we knew what to ask. Treatments were readily available and we never even saw a bill (that’s the part I miss), but I saw people who did not get the care they should have had simply because they did not know what or how to ask. So in my mind, the people who need healthcare help most still may not get what they need unless the role of advocate becomes huge.

I am on Anthem/Blue Cross/Blue shield. My complaint is that COBRA is really expensive, but maybe it is just because I’m not used to paying my portion ofo the premium. I have not been denied any treatments so far. My yearly deductible is $2000.00. My co-pays are $5/$10 for precriptions.

Therefore I am also very hesitant to get on to the government run health care bandwagon. I too am afraid that care will have to be rationed. I have CT scans every three months. Pretty sure that won’t happen under Obamacare.

As Jamie said, it would be more cost effective and a more efficient use of scarse gov’t resources to just let those of us with poor prognosises just die. But we are not statistics. Several of us have lived years with radiation/chemo treatments. I’m going to be a 2 year survivor next month. If I hadn’t had those treatments, and hosptializations when I got infections, I wouldn’t be here right now.

My healthcare team – oncologists, gastroenterologists, and most especially nurses have provided excellent care these past 2 years, and my hat’s off to them.

Jamie

Jamie… great response, and thanks for the offer to help. Basically, Sara, Rick, and Stacie have set up this site to include the information mentioned. Let’s await all other comments and we will go from there.
On another note…..I am hoping for the new health care system to address the issues mentioned by you Jamie….deductibles out of reach for the insured and a major reason for bankruptcies in this country.

Neulasta: I had my first injection of Neulasta last week, one day after chemo (Avastin + gemcitabine + cisplatin). My choice was either accept the Neulasta injection, or skip chemo for 2 weeks. I wanted to stay on schedule, so I took the Neulasta.

I had a low-grade fever and mild body aches for 2 days following the injection. Not bad at all, just took it easy for a couple of days. White count rebounded into the normal range and stayed there. (My platelets were not as cooperative…)

I would say to anyone who could benefit from it, to give it a try at least once to see how you tolerate it. I think that if it allows you to stay on your chemo regimen and keep fighting, it is worth it as long as the side-effects are tolerable.

Violarob in Texas

Jamie you just vent away with Kris. We have broad shoulders here. Wish things would run easier for everyone. You are so right there is enough to deal with as it is. Guess we are all a lot stronger than we think we are, yes? Not sure many could handle what this Board does. SO KUDOS to us at CC.ORG!!!!