Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

[deb58704]

I have been diagnosed with NHL, but am unable to afford any more tests/visits/treatments as I'm on SS Disability for another issue. I make too much for Medicaid, am ineligible to Medicare, and have no health insurance. The state of Florida has no charity care for cancer. ACS tells me I have no options.

My doctor refuses to give me any further information. I need to know how long it will take before I become incapacitated from this. I have two children in college, and I'm not sure where to go from here.

[UroDoc]

Certainly not a good situation, have you tried talking to your local TV stations or politicians about your plight

[deb58704]

No, I'm really embarrassed by this predicament, and have preferred not to publicize my plight. My parents are considering a second mortgage to pay for treatment, which I find unacceptable. After 20 years of working I find it more and more difficult to even leave the house.

[UroDoc]

You should probable think about your kids and how they will feel if they lose you as opposed to any embarrassment you might feel.

[Swimmer8176]

Have you thought about moving to a state where they have to provide health care? I live in New York and I know that New York state has many health care plans that would probably be able to take you.

Did you check with the state of Florida for health care plans? Or would one of your children be able to hold an event in your honor to raise money for your treatments?

I am very sorry about the trouble that you are having. There must be something someone can do!

[Swimmer8176]

http://www.fdhc.state.fl.us/

Did you try contacting them?

[Laura85]

You should not be embarrassed. You should be outraged by the callous, greedy un-healthy system that doctors and insurance companies have created to line their own pockets. This makes me so angry. It is outrageous that smug American citizens, who are so proud of their "freedom" have allowed the insurance companies and morally corrupt, greedy physicians -- especially the AMA -- to take over their health care and dictate their quality of life. Americans are not free. They are living in a dictatorship -- and do not even know it! They are submissive slaves to the free market, and nothing illustrates this better than how they have slept while the greedy destroyed their health care system even since the Reagan era. The profit motive has no place in health care. The profit motive and free market in fact undermine quality health care, because money is made by denying care. But Americans get what they deserve. They'd rather snooze in front of the boob tube or go to the mall to scarf up cheap consumer trinkets made by slave labor overseas than organize, or, God forbid, pick up the phone and call Congress which is something I doubt any reader of this site has ever done in his or her life.

[Laura85]

You might also consider going to every emergency room in your region and asking for care that way. There might still be a few laws in Florida that actually protect people from the predatory health un-care system in America by allowing people to use the emergency rooms -- if the U.S. Congress hasn't destroyed those too, along with most other consumer protections that this country used to have.

[deb hanson]

How about posting the doctors name. I am outraged.

[DianneD]

I'm in the same situation as you are. I have no health insurance and can't afford to buy it. If I live another 11 months I'll have Medicare. I was diagnosed with NHL a year ago Oct. 13th and am still here! I'm using alternative treatment, and I'd be glad to share with anyone, but I don't know if it's allowed in this forum. All I can say is, I'm not cured, but I am still here, and I'm sure I've had this for more than 5 years. My surgeon who did the biopsy didn't charge me for the office visits or the surgery, and since he didn't, the lab who did the biopsy didn't charge me either (the lab cost would have been around $3,000.) So, there are some caring health professionals out there, but no oncologists that I know of. Although I have heard that if you do get chemo you can get the chemo drugs free if you qualify - like getting other prescription drugs free if you don't make very much money. I currently get Nexium free.

If I can help with the alternative treatment information, I'll be glad to, if the board administration doesn't object.