Philzone.org Discussion Board: Archive 2004: Hep C Archive: Insurance options

The "When To Tell" thread got me thinking.
A LOT of us have problems obtaining insurance.
Can we start a thread to create an insurance database for everybody?
For Mark in Cal., there is an option.
After the huge tobacco lawsuits and settlement,
California used some of the proceeds to create a super-fund to make an insurance policy available for the people difficult to insure ( like you and me.)
HTTP:/WWW.MRMIB.CA.GOV/MRMIPBRO.PDF gets you there, or call MRMIP at: 1-800-289-6574.
My recollection from a coupla years ago is, I was paying about $325 a month. Not cheap, but NO insurance is, whether you or your Company pays the bill. It's a good policy, similar to what you would have at work. Administered by Blue Cross.
It's one option anyway, and a Godsend if you can't cop free drugs or be insured anyplace else.
Pre-existing conditions require a waiting period of 3 months, but maybe there is a way around it.
Barb's suggestion: Enroll in a college class-
was excellent! Thanx!
Martin probably knows some ins & outs in Va.
Everybody else- know of any options in your respective states? Maybe we can make a
"bump-able" thread to help out everybody.
Walt

My neighbor (fellow hepper) just got Kaiser. Not certain of monthly premium, but there was NO PRE-QUALIFYING. He was in the middle of tx with Pegasys too. Signed him right up. Kaiser does not have a pre-existing condition clause.

That's probably where I'll have to go when my bennies w/the federal govt. run out in two years. I was able to keep my ex-husband's Federal Employee Health Benefits Program through Blue Cross for 36 months. Excellent coverage. It's $400 per month and I do dog sitting/gardening/house cleaning around the neighborhood to cover it. (besides taking care of my mom) But after that, I'll be SOL too.

So for anyone that can't qualify elsewhere, that's an option

...and my 2 cents worth

JA

COOL OPTION!!
Thanks, Judith!

Thanks for the info, Walt and JA

Yes Walter.....excellent idea!!

I do know some very valuable info. for any Va. members of our phamily around. Please e-mail me and I will help in anyway that I can. It's a little to long to go into on just a post here, but will help anyone in my state.
That is the state of Va. ( not in the state of my mind......sorry there's no help for anyone there....LOL)!!

Anyway....ta-ta!! Must be going.......

Here's a repost of the go to college for medical insurance tip:

I could not afford medical insurance on the open market. So, the three years I was too sick to work (97-99), I took one course per semester at a local community college for the sole purpose of being eligible for the student health policy. The bare bones policy was insufficient, but the BC/BS full coverage rider was less than half the price for students as it was on the open market. Even adding in the cost of two courses a year and books, I was still able to afford coverage for a whole lot less than on the open individual market. Students are mostly young and healthy, and group rates for students are among the lowest available.

If you don't have $$$ to pay the premiums -- apply for a student loan and include the premium cost in the amount borrowed. Keep going to school forever, or keep applying for and obtaining deferments until the dragon is dead and you can work again.

Some colleges require a 6-credit load to be eligible for insurance; a few require just a 3-credit load. I found one that required a 3-credit load.

The ONLY reason I had health insurance and was able to treat and (hopefully) get rid of this was discovering this trick.

Taking a college course or two is a great way to combat isolation and brain fog. Take an easy course or a fun one. History of Rock and Roll was a hell of a lot easier than Chemistry and it got me that medical insurance. You do have to pass the course to be able to take another one and keep the insurance in effect. It stays in effect over the summer without having to go to summer school.

It worked for me and kept me covered when I was sick as a dog and no other affordable coverage options were available.

Mack here...Penna. has extra health care bennies financed by the State tax on the poor ( the lottery) but they are for senior citizens only.
There is nothing affordable available if you do not qualify for Social Security Disability, or welfare. And even if you do the so called Medi-care prescription plan that is going to go into effect is a joke. Your only hope is to try to find a compassionate Doc that will scale his fees for you. I have health care bennies and prescription coverage from a medical retainment from the State I also have Medicare Parts one and Two ( THANK GOD) and still my health care costs are a major expense each month....
Like in most states in this country..The sick and the working poor get the shaft.
If Canada can have a quaility national health care system we can to ....GREED gets in the way...peace...mack

and not to forget:

BOTH Schering Plough(Peg/Intron) and Hoffman LaRoche(Pegasys/Copagus) have FREE programs for FREE HCV treatments for those without insurance. This info can be found on their websites.

Roche:
http://www.pegasys.com/

Schering Plough:
http://www.sch-plough.com/schering_plough/pc/hepatitis.jsp

Roger wilco Jude,Walt and David. I got lucky on
SSDI and the State of Alaska runs their own
medicaid program with a tiny bit of Fed help,
because the state has oil royalties. Shit my four
vials of Procrit a mo. cost $900 but I pay $2.00.
Thank god for Alaskan Residency, even though I want to get outa here for a while/winter..
Hey Jude, is it still 85 degrees down there?
(Hi Mark,Mack,&Martin) the M&M&Mmmmmmms..smile..
Be Well my Phriends, SEA YA, Budley

And you too, Barbara
Theres nothing wrong with going back to school
and an excellent idea to keep the mind active
while going through Tx. Be Well..SEA YA, Budley

Hey Bud,

Good to hear from you!

Is it still 85 degrees here you ask? Naw... IT'S 98! Seriously, maybe you heard about it, but Santa Rosa, California set records all across the US today. It was the hottest October 13th EVER here. Indian Summer?

I have to water my yard 2X a day! With the winds kicking in at 20-30 mph, the humidity is dangerously low at 10-15% (firefighters consider extreme, red flag fire conditions when the humidity is anything below 20%). Air tankers are buzzing by all the time. When I got up this a.m., I looked out on the front porch and it looked like it had snowed! But it was ashes from all the fires around here. The sky looks like it's just about sunset - ALL DAY LONG!

I feel so bad for the firefighters - I don't know how they do it. But have you looked at the temperature in Baghdad lately? Our poor soldiers are fighting a war w/all of their combat gear on in 115 degree weather. Get those boys home!

Hope the Budley Brigade is hangin' in there. Thanks for the hello.

With love,

JA

Howdy my sweet dear phriend,Jude, Hope that HOT
weather isn't messing with your mind,body, and your spirit. I know how you dislike that HOT, Hot
weather. You're welcome to come up and enjoy our
wet, cold, 38 drgress weather..smile..anytime..
sorry I did'nt finish this, my ambian kicked in.
Yes, snowing ashes....we get the real stuff here.
I do remember the skys from last time I was there,
don't worry it will get crispy cool fall, sooner
or later......LOL Hope you're feeling better, At
least your humor is back. Take care may dear.
talk to ya later,SEA YA, Budley

Hi Everybody
Can't exactly tell what the weather is in the Sierras today. like JA was saying, there's forest fires all over.
None close enough to threaten our place, but outside looks pretty dark at mid-day, like a pair of really dark amber sunglasses.
The fire in Amador county is threatening one of my favorite mountain lakes, a really pretty place with campsites accessible by boat only. The fire between us and Lake Tahoe is dumping ash in my front yard and all over the truck.
Prayers for the firefighters. We could use a good rain right now...
Walt

Yeah, somebody already mentioned Pennsylvania. No options here! I was at a dinner last night, and the discussion turned to politics. The guy sitting across from me was mouthing off about, "too bad if you don't have health insurance," and I mentioned I was one of the 40 million uninsured. His response, "life isn't fair." Of course, this idiot is voting for Bush. He's also about 30, picture of health. I have been forced to stop my semi-annual blood tests, my annual ultra-sound, and my visits to my GI. I told them all that I had lost my insurance through divorce, but if they wanted to treat me at a reduced rate or pro bono, I would greatly appreciate it. So far, no takers. Guess that's another one of the reasons I will be phoning for Kerry again tonight. I have the $$ to buy insurance, but no company to sell it to me. Fucked up!!

Yes, it IS ugly.
I hope the guy sitting across from you stays 30 and healthy forever.
I also hope this thread stays alive and people can at least go into this with eyes open.
We CAN'T be a "No Politics" site, since good people's lives depend on the decisions being made now.
Tx means big money, which means politics.
If/when you decide Tx is right for you, David mentioned: the Pharm. companies give out drugs Pro Bono all the time.
Hope to see you often, Rob- Good Luck!

Bump.

If you call Pegassys they send a pre Tx box out with info..just got mine today didnot have time to go through. I saw an Ad for Colonial Penn Ins
no pre medical info needed., supposedly AARP but 50plus. I just didnot have time. Will have plenty soon enough....Have great Holidays everyone....and to all a good night!!!!!