[USER]

My MIL has been diagnosed with brain cancer. She was getting insurance from her work but I think that will end as soon as she resigns.

Apart from Cobra, what are her options? ACA? Is she eligible for Medicare? ( She’s 64).

My FIL is already worried about hospital bills.

I don’t want them to not have insurance. SOS

[Bill]

She can go on ACA or cobra. Those are the only 2 that are required to take her and actually cover her care.

Thanks Obama…..

Then when she is 75, Medicaid will kick in.

[Shelley]

Ask to speak with the cancer center social worker…they should speak this very topic in your state fluently and be able to guide you thru options, and grant assistance.

[Rebecca]

She will be eligible for Medicare at age 65? If I were her, I would keep my employer medical insurance in place (either through workplace disability retirement or through COBRA) until she is Medicare eligible.

She can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance as well (to get the amount she would normally receive at full retirement age, but get it now rather than waiting).

SSDI will pay more than just collecting Social Security at 64 and having it reduced for collecting early.

[Sarah]

Really understand the Medicare side. In WA state if you don’t get the gap insurance when eligible then you can’t get it at a later date.

And The enrollment process is long with Timeline requirements as well.

We had our insurance Broker help us for my husband

[Virley]

I am sorry to hear about your MIL diagnosis. She should not resign. Most employers offer short and long term disability, which can provide income and insurance benefits.

Additionally, she may be eligible for Medicare, ACA, or COBRA.

It’s worth exploring these options to ensure she has continuous coverage.

[Kristin]

So sorry to hear about her diagnosis. She needs to be coordinating with a social worker through the facility where she is receiving treatment, to help her navigate her options.

She needs to first see what options are available through her work. She should not resign until she has a firm handle on these options.

IE: accumulated sick leave, short and/or long term disability, etc. Depending on where she works, she could potentially have other options like a sick leave bank to draw from.

At 64, the good news is that she only has a one year (or less) gap to fill.

She also needs to discuss the potential for drawing SS and look at claiming strategies based on her potentially leaving the work force vs applying for disability based on her diagnosis and prognosis.

The social worker should be able to help her determine her potential for expedited SSDI based on these factors vs claiming regular SS benefits at a reduced rate for life.

I believe she can start her SS benefits while applying for disability, then switch if she is approved.

The disability determination *could* trigger early Medicare, if her prognosis puts her in an expedited coverage category. The SS would at least provide income to help with any

premiums until she is approved for SSDI or reaches Medicare age.
She would also have the option of getting her insurance through the marketplace.

Best wishes to all of you as you navigate this.

[Melissa]

Cobra is super expensive! Do not resign!
Go out on FMLA first, while out on family, she may be responsible for the copayment of insurance, which is definitely cheaper than cobra!

Then inquire if they offer short term/long term disability via the employer if it’s available!

[Victoria]

I am so sorry to hear about her diagnosis.
Have her apply for emergency social security / disability and she will become eligible for Medicare.

Brain cancer is a qualifying diagnosis.

[Victoria]

First of all, I am very sorry to hear of your MIL’s diagnosis. I second Shelley’s advice about the social worker.

My family member has a whole team besides the oncologist – social worker and nurse navigator are part of it.

Their social worker is phenomenal and has been amazingly helpful. And same with the nurse navigator.

My family member was 64 when they got cancer and was able to get on Medicare early due to disability. Perhaps her social worker can see if that is an option for her too.

Medicare has been amazing and once my family member hits the deductible, everything has been covered. But make sure she gets the right supplemental plan.

Definitely consult with a professional about which plans to get -Boomer Benefits is the one my family member used.

Finally, for any caregivers for your MIL – if they can find a support group, that can be a valuable source of strength and information.

I cannot overstate how amazing my group has been for me on this journey.

[Jennifer]

sorry to hear. agree she should go on medical leave fmla at work to start and if no paid STD through work, she will have to pay premiums but they will be a current paycheck rate and be less expensive that cobra.

if she quits just do cobra until medicare plus supplemental at 65.

I haven’t heard of being able to get medicare before 65 easily for something like this (can for dialysis and some other things) but it’s worth looking into how lengthy that process is but hopefully someone can help her with that while out on initial fmla

[Gilmarie]

She should not resign. Get FMLA. Go on short term disability if available.
Discuss with HR… some companies can “retire” people.

Allowing them to go on cobra and unemployment, opening the window for ACA and giving them the chance for them to continue with their benefits outside the company as well.

She can also apply to Social Security too.

[Suzanne]

I left my job at 63 due to serious health issues. I was on leave for 3 months but due to the rigorous physical demands of my job, there was no going back.

Multiple abdominal surgeries and very very sick.

I paid a small premium for 3 months after having only $0 copay for years and due to the serious nature of my illness I chose cobra to keep my same insurance.

The premiums were into 4 figures.

It was a hard hit financially but it paid every cent of surgeries, inpatient, expensive diagnostics and meds. I was on cobra for 18 mos to age 65.

Good luck. It’s not easy.

There is nothing easy about serious illness and medical bills are up there in the levels of stress.

My Medicare is not as economical as I foolishly assumed and I’ve had some issues getting normal lab work paid.

Healthcare insurance worries makes being sick even harder. Best of luck to you.

[Rebecca]

does her employer have a program where other employees can donate sick days? Many large employers do.

If so, she might be able to keep her work insurance for a long time. Otherwise COBRA if it is good insurance.

ACA is on the ropes–the House budget bill would drastically alter eligibility and coverage–specifically allowing insurers to exclude pre-existing conditions.

Medicare kicks in at 65. But the House also just voted to gut it in ways that might direct impact your MIL.

[Nick]

Well…if you’re willing to try things that actually might work…search fb for the keywords iver, fenben, b17, and soursop.

Thing is, conventionally, they’ll say oh you need chemo and radiation. Problem is, what’s the end results with those routes?

2. My relative has brain cancer that had already metastasis from the lung. I’ve spoken to the oncology people.

Traditionally, science taught that cancer is damaged cells(bad cell encoding) that multiply and destroy the body.

Once I found the groups I’m referring to with the keywords I’ve given, I started to hear that cancer was parasites.

Started seeing stories in comments of people actually recovering.. showing the cat/pet scans and mri’s. To me, the industry is not there to help sick people get healthy. It’s a business.

They are there for the money, so, naturally, even though there’s been tons of “research”, notice, nothing has been cured after millions or more of dollars have been thrown at it.

Anyways, I know you’ll have your science crowd like my stubborn relative come along and scream about wanting things that are scientifically proven.

Thing is, oncologist and Dr’s both receive no or very little education in nutrition. They’re trained medicine peddlers.

Anyways, if they choose the traditional route, I want you to think about just how many people have sat in those chairs tied up to poles for hours.

They may at some point go into “remission” which only means that the cancer isn’t detectable with the tools the Dr’s are using.

Yet, some years later, hmm the cancer returns, and it’s in a different place and oh it’s aggressive. Or, you get those that sit in the chairs, and over time, their skin turns colors, they deteriorate, and die within 1-4 years.

Well, the reason the Dr’s initially tell you that you might have weeks to months to live is because what’s the alternative right? So you either goad yourself or they do into let’s get you on this right away.

Yet, a bit later on, the cancer mets….to bones. And, they get paid by these companies to push these stupid drinks boost and ensure which conveniently are made by Abbott Labs! So they give them samples to give to patients. Geee…

Anyways, enough of my ranting. I hope you seriously consider what I’m saying because it’d be ashame if you didn’t look into it since I’m putting it out there for you to learn about and just did the head I’m the sand, march forward, drs know best, let the insurance pay the Dr’s, gravy train route that does good for Dr’s and often times horrible for patients. Best of health to you and yours.

[Donohoe]

Having gone through this with my own mother before she turned 65, she was able to get “back dated” Medicare to the date of diagnosis of the cancer.

There is a special provision for this.

[Author]

Posts