The Art of Affording Care
Isn't it amazing how your medical plan determines how your life may play out in beating your cancer? Dealing with lung cancer is a huge problem and coping with this disease is difficult. The problem is when we add the many add-ons to an already draining problem and that is affording the proper care.
Whether you’ve put in your years employed and reached the age of Medicare -- is that enough? Are you one of the millions of people in this country who for one reason or another is under the bounds of Medicaid -- is that enough? Or are you one of the many that may not even have these as a go to, but rather pay for treatment out of your own pockets -- strictly cash?
The art of affording care is a huge discussion. There's no need to go back and forth in the rhetoric that our politicians can’t seem to get together, while too many people cope, deal, get well, and die.
Medicare
I never paid attention to the process but after gathering some research for this post, I have to say I was tired quite quickly reading the rigmarole in how the Medicare process work. Who has the time and patience to understand this process, especially for those who can take part in Medicare after the age of 65, and that’s not to say you shouldn’t understand the process until then, but many are not in tune in the process until it’s time to do so.
Medicare in a nutshell
There’s Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, which together make up Original Medicare -- the government-run health-care program for seniors and certain disabled individuals. There’s Medicare Part C, available through Medicare Advantage plans, which is an alternative to the federal program. There’s also Medicare Part D or prescription drug coverage. Besides these “parts” of Medicare, there are Medicare Supplement plans, which help with certain out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover.1
This process breaks into stages. It seems in order to get a plan that would cover a full range of what a person would normally like to have covered is based on the plan enrolled. As I stated it seems very taxing figuring this out. I’m sure there is a representative that can walk a client through the steps, but there does seem to be a lot of back work in understanding what you’re covered before you even start your treatment process.
What do you do if this does become too much to deal with and you need coverage like yesterday? I believe this is why many people wait to place a proper treatment plan because they are trying to figure out how will this work in agreeing to a doctor’s treatment and getting hit with extreme co-pays, prescriptions, or treatment method to maintain your cancer. The process is really harsh and should not be taken lightly. I found this article on Medicare quite useful in getting the direction that makes sense when Medicare is involved. There are also Medicare Brokers, but that seems cumbersome in an extra service that should already be allotted to you having Medicare.
Medicaid
The insurance plan for the working poor and poor. The need for Medicaid is still necessary and though they’ve made adjustments over the years, the point to take from here is working poor and poor get lung cancer too. So now what? Are they to be thrown under the totem pole for the best care in treatment?
Medicaid in a nutshell
Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans, including eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. Medicaid is administered by states, according to federal requirements. The program is funded jointly by states and the federal government.
The problem with Medicaid is because it’s state and federal regulated the quality in options and methods may get stuck in the process of what is affordable per your plan. We all know private care gives better options to freely go about finding the best means of a treatment plan, but when money is tied in the plans to best meds and overall process, then things can get a bit seedy. I find just like anything in life, when you need to get answers, you may have to hit the surface a bit harder in getting you the proper tools you need to get you where you need to be. If you’re in a whirl spin with everything, read about applying for Medicaid and the eligibility process. Please don’t assume you may not qualify if you don’t ask you won’t know -- so ask.
Out of pocket
Well, this is the bottom of the 3 as many people can’t afford coverage, and may not even fit into the prior options -- then what? Do they fall under a rock? Nope, thank goodness there’s nonprofits and agencies out there that try their best to serve those who have limited means to quality health care. The problem with many is they take groundwork to find. Here are few:
The time to fight is now, with integrity, grace, hope, and a smile...when you feel like it.
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