In Canada, our health care system is totally government run. Everyone has a
health card number and, you are correct, they can just about tell your life
story from one little number. Most treatments, etc are covered. I did not
have to pay anything for any tests or treatments that I had. I do know
people who had to rent equipment, i.e. heart monitors, etc., and they had
to go into debt.
I think you are correct in the assumption that people will judge you
differently and insurance companies will not insure you. I am making sure I
don't lapse on my life insurance policy or I would not be able to get
another one. Who said that life was fair!
Christine
At 11:08 PM 20/07/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Lillian,
>
>Heath number? Hmmm...that sounds like a tricky issue to me--it sounds
>like something that *could* be abused. Tonight, for example, I went and
>looked at a house and property that my wife and I are interested in--I'm
>a "secretly" a little worried about what "Mr. Bankman" will think of my new
>hairless head--could that possibly skew his opinion on how much money
>he has available for lending??? Never mind that I plan on being around
>much longer than I think he will.
>
>And then there is always the issue of getting a new insurance company
>some day--I'd rather talk to "Mr. Insuranceman" in person than have some
>computer kick me into the "Nope, Nosir, No-can-do" pile without so much
>as a handshake! Right now, if I'm looking at the Help Wanted section of
>the paper, one of the first questions that comes to mind is "wonder if they
>have group health insurance, and if so, would I be able to *sneak* in?"
>
>For that matter, I have to admit wondering if potential employers would
>be prejudiced against me based on my new hair-do. Can I, for example,
>be placed on a big project that will take a number of years? Maybe that
>new kid without any experience wasn't so dumb as first impressions
>led them to believe???
>
>You're right Lillian, I'm not a number! Speaking of songs, there was a
>neat "Bob Cigar" tune with that line in it: "I'm not a Number." If my
>computer had a mic on it, I'd sing it and attach it as a computer virus--
>literally shatters your monitor!
>
>Now I'm really getting riled up! Its pitchfork and torches time! We'll
>march
>on Washington! All twelve of us! No, I don't like the idea of having a
>health number. In fact, I think it really stinks! I'm a database person by
>profession, and I have experienced that a lot of information can be tied
>into one little number!
>
>Down with numbers!! I want my slide rule back!!
>
>Love, peace and other kind words....
>
>Ross
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: lillian jennings <firefly@islc.net>
>To: mol-cancer@lists.meds.com <mol-cancer@lists.meds.com>
>Date: Monday, July 20, 1998 10:40 PM
>Subject: Re: [MOL] Insurance Companies
>
>
>>Yes Ross, my insurance co. has been great also; but they are not a HMO, big
>>difference. Are you in favor of getting a health nbr.? The gov't. wants
>to give
>>everyone a health nbr. to track our health throughout our lives, ofcourse
>the
>>insurance co. love the idea. My live is boring; but I have had one hell of
>life
>>with cancer, really interesting....Love your friend, Lillian
>>
>>Ross Ylitalo wrote:
>>
>>> Someday I'm gonna write a note about how good my insurance company has
>>> been. We all have plenty of time to talk about how lousy insurance
>companies
>>> are, but mine has been so good I'm gonna write them a letter sometime.
>They
>>> have been unbelievably easy to deal with! Wish I could remember what
>>> company it was--LOL, we take so much for granted when it works!
>>>
>>> Love,
>>>
>>> Ross
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: lillian jennings [SMTP:firefly@islc.net]
>>> Sent: Monday, July 20, 1998 5:03 PM
>>> To: mol-cancer@lists.meds.com
>>> Subject: Re: [MOL] Insurance Companies
>>>
>>> Gosh Cathy, I thought clinical trials were free and then I read someplace
>where
>>> different hospitals provide more for the patients than other hospitals.
>Have
>>> you talked to NCI @ 1-800-4-cancer, I believe they can give you the most
>>> information. I am attatching my welcome letter as it has information on
>>> insurance; etc. they may be of help to you. I feel the more HMO's we
>have the
>>> more we are going to see these types of problems. Your friend, Lillian
>>>
>>> WELCOME TO YOUR MOL CANCER FORUM
>>>
>>> Here you will meet a wonderful caring group of individuals who are
>>> cancering or who are loved ones and friends being advocates for
>those
>>> cancering. Individuals in this group are not in the medical
>professional
>>> field. Therefore,we do not endorse a treatment, drug or product.
>Our
>>> people combined do have many year's of accumulated knowledge and
>>> expierence, who come from all walks in life and are able to lend
>tremendous
>>> assistance to help you walk through this journey.
>>>
>>> There are a few matters of importance to address.
>>> It is the general assumption of the group that one can use
>alternative
>>> treatments (with your doctors permission) in conjunction with
>traditional
>>> therapy.
>>> We feel that an individual who has had testing and is returning to
>the
>>> doctor should take someone with them as an extra set of ears.
>>> It must be remembered that this is a most stressful time for you.
>We also
>>> agree that a second or even a third opinion is healthy. One needs
>to shop
>>> for the right doctor for them; as each of us are so different not
>only in
>>> personality; but our bodies react differently.
>>> You should be seeking nothing but the best doctors and hospital,
>remember
>>> this is your life and you want to be in control. The best way to be
>in
>>> control is to acquire all the information needed for your particular
>>> cancer; so that you and your doctor can descide the best treatment
>for you.
>>>
>>> We find stress is our worse enemy, it is so important to remove
>yourself
>>> from stressful situations and non positive thinkers.
>>> There are so many new drugs and treatments our there for most
>cancers that
>>> lend hope to all.
>>> Be prepared for you doctors visits with questions. Should the
>doctor
>>> interrupt you while you are questioning explain that you have more
>>> questions. Make sure the doctor speaks to you in lay terms and that
>he is
>>> positive also.
>>> Too often the doctor will give a gloomy statistical report, thus
>taking
>>> hope away from the patient and we find so many people who far out
>live the
>>> guess of any doctor. Last; but never least make sure that you eat
>healthy
>>> and that you keep your immune system built up.
>>> Again, we are here for you, we are a place of compassionate comfort,
>a
>>> place you can rant and rave knowing that we too have done that. A
>place of
>>> shelter; whereas all of us know what you are going through. Your
>friends
>>> of the MOL CANCER FORUM
>>>
>>> TRADITIONAL SITES
>>>
>>> National Cancer Institute http://rex.nci.nih.gov
>>> Univ of Penn http://cancer.med.upenn.edu
>>> Cancer Notes on the Net http://www.cancernews.com
>>> Medicine On Line http://www.meds.com
>>> MD Anderson http://www.mdanderson.org
>>> Mem. Sloan-Kettering http://www.mskcc.org
>>>
>>> Alternative Medicine
>>>
>>> www.canceranswers.com
>>> 85% CancerAnswers - Alternative Treatments
>>> 84% Cancer Information -Alternative Treatments
>>>
>>> www.chiro.org
>>> 84% CANCER TREATMENTS/ ALTERNATIVE
>>> 84% Alternative Remedies for Cancer and other diseases.
>>>
>>> www.meds.com
>>> 84% Re: Alternative cancer treatments [00299]
>>> 83% 5. Internet Resources on Cancer
>>>
>>> MEDICAL DICTIONARIES
>>>
>>> BOOKS "50 Esential Things to Do
>When the
>>> Doctor
>>> Says it is
>Cancer", Greg
>>> Anderson
>>>
>>> HOME HEALTH CARE
>>>
>>> National Association for Home Care
>>> c/o Consumer Guide
>>> P.O. Box 14241
>>> Washington, DC 20003
>>> (202)547-7424
>>> (202)547-3540 FAX
>>> Web site: http://www.nahc.org/
>>> Trade association providing referrals to home or hospice care.
>>>
>>> The Oley Foundation
>>> 214 Hun Memorial, A-23
>>> Albany Medical Center
>>> Albany, NY 12208-3478
>>> (518)262-5079
>>> (800)776-OLEY
>>> E-mail: mailto:taylor@ccgateway.amc.edu
>>> Web site: http://www.wizvax.net/oleyfdn
>>> Support for home enteral and/or parental nutrition therapy.
>>>
>>> Olsten HealthCare
>>> 175 Broadhollow Road
>>> Melville, NY 11747
>>> (516)844-7800
>>> (800)66-NURSE
>>> Web site: http://www.olsten.com/
>>> Provides home health care services including chemotherapy, nutrition
>and
>>> hydration therapies, pain management, physical therapy, and general
>nursing
>>> services.
>>>
>>> Visiting Nurse Association of America National Office
>>> 3801 East Florida Avenue, Suite 900
>>> Denver, CO 80210
>>> (888)866-8773
>>> (303)753-0218
>>> Provides skilled nursing and assisted living services.
>>>
>>> Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
>>> 919 Lafond Avenue
>>> St. Paul, MN 55104
>>> (612)642-4000
>>> (612)642-4068 FAX
>>> Web site: http://www.wilder.org/
>>> Provides assisted living and nursing home care services for the
>elderly in
>>> the Minneapolis area.
>>>
>>> Childrens' Hospice
>>> 2202 Mt. Vernon Ave., Suite 3C
>>> Alexandria, VA 22301
>>> (703)684-0330
>>> (703)684-0226 FAX
>>> E-mail: mailto:chiorg@aol.com
>>> Web site: http://www.chionline.org/
>>> Provides information and referral services,counseling, support
>groups,
>>> education, and research aimed at improving hospice care for
>children.
>>>
>>> Choice in Dying
>>> 1035 30th Street NW
>>> Washington, DC 20007
>>> (202)338-9790
>>> (202)338-0242 FAX
>>> Web site:http://www.choices.org/
>>> Advocacy organization for end-of-life rights;provides legal
>counseling and
>>> information on end-of-life decisions.
>>>
>>> National Association for Home Care
>>> c/o Consumer Guide
>>> P.O. Box 14241
>>> Washington, DC 20003
>>> (202)547-7424
>>> (202)547-3540 FAX
>>> Web site: http://www.nahc.org/
>>> Trade association that provides referrals to local hospice
>organizations.
>>>
>>> Hospice Education Institute/Hospicelink
>>> 190 Westbrook Road
>>> Essex, CT 06426
>>> (860)767-1620
>>> (800)331-1620
>>> (860)767-2746 FAX
>>> E-mail: mailto:hospiceall@aol.com
>>> Provides information and referral services,education, advice and
>assistance
>>> regarding hospice and palliative care.
>>>
>>> National Hospice Organization
>>> 1901 N. Moore Street, Suite 901
>>> Arlington, VA 22209
>>> (703)243-5900
>>> (800)658-8898
>>> (703)525-5762 FAX
>>> E-mail: mailto:drsno@cais.com
>>> Web site: http://www.nho.org/
>>> Provides information and referrals to local hospitals, patient
>advocacy and
>>> professional education.
>>>
>>> National Institute for Jewish Hospice
>>> 8723 Alden Drive, Suite 219
>>> Los Angeles, CA 90048
>>> (310)854-3036
>>> (213)HOSPICE
>>> (800)446-4448
>>> Provides free telephone counseling and referrals; trains
>professionals in
>>> the art of helping the Jewish terminally ill.
>>> RESOURCES/ LEGAL
>>>
>>> Americans with Disabilities Act
>>> U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
>>> Office of Legal Council
>>> 1801 L Street NW
>>> Washington, DC 20507
>>> (202)663-4503
>>> Provides information and legal assistance regarding discrimination
>due to
>>> illness or disability
>>>
>>> Family Medical leave Act
>>> U.S. Department of Labor
>>> Wage & Hour Division
>>> 200 Constitution Avenue NW
>>> Washington, DC 20210
>>> (202)219-8412
>>> Provides information on employment rights during medical leave due
>to
>>> illness
>>>
>>> Support Services: Finance & Insurance
>>>
>>> American Association of Health Plans
>>> Membership Department
>>> 129 20th Street NW, Suite 600
>>> Washington, DC 20036
>>> (202)778-3200
>>> Web site: http://www.aahp.org/
>>> Insurance industry trade association that will provide information on
>insurance
>>> and health care issues.
>>>
>>> Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
>>> 675 North St. Claire Street
>>> Chicago, IL 60601
>>> (312)440-6000
>>>
>>> Department of Health and Human Services
>>> Inspector General Hotline
>>> Office of the Inspector General
>>> P.O. Box 23489
>>> Washington, DC 20026
>>> (800)368-5779
>>> U.S. government hotline for complaints regarding Medicare or Medicaid;
>provides
>>> assistance with issues of entitlements, benefits, insurance, and
>community
>>> resources.
>>>
>>> Disabled American Veterans
>>> 807 Main Avenue SW
>>> Washington, DC 20024
>>> (202)554-3501
>>> (202)554-3581 FAX
>>> Web site: http://www.dav.org/
>>> Provides assistance with health benefits for U.S. veterans.
>>>
>>> Hill-Burton Free Hospital Care
>>> 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7-47
>>> Rockville, MD 20857
>>> (800)683-0742 Hotline
>>> (301)594-5999 FAX
>>> Web site: http://www.hrsa.dhhs.gov/bhrd/dfcr/dfcrmain.htm
>>> U.S. government program that can arrange for cost-assisted care for
>>> disadvantaged individuals at certain medical facilities or hospitals.
>>>
>>> National Insurance Consumer Hotline
>>> 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
>>> Washington, DC 20004
>>> (800)942-4242
>>> Provides assistance in finding insurance coverage, information on
>insurance
>>> issues and a consumer complaint service.
>>>
>>> SUPPORT SERVICE TRAVEL
>>>
>>> Support Services: Hair Loss
>>>
>>> Look Good, Feel Better
>>> The American Cancer Society
>>> (800)395-LOOK
>>> Teaches women who have undergone cancer treatment how to improve
>appearance
>>> through cosmetics, wigs, scarfs, etc.
>>>
>>> Y-ME WIG
>>> 212 West Van Buren Street, 4th Floor
>>> Chicago, IL 60607
>>> (800)221-2141
>>> (312)294-8598 FAX
>>> Web site: http://www.y-me.org/
>>> Provides donated wigs free of charge.
>>>
>>> Telesco,Cathy wrote:
>>>
>>> > Nanc:
>>> > I, too, thought that clinical trials were supposed to be free.
>However, the
>>> > Dr at Memorial Sloan Kettering said that my Dad's insurance won't pay
>for
>>> > it. The meds are ok because they will be administered to him here at
>our
>>> > local hospital and not in NYC. Could it be because it is an HMO? I
>will
>>> > have to do some more investigating. Even my Dad's primary care
>physician
>>> > called my Mom on the day before his appointment to let them know that
>only
>>> > the 2nd opinion consultation is covered but that any care he gets at
>>> > Memorial will not be...Does this sound wierd? The other thing that I
>>> > questioned was that here we were, at a state of the art cancer center,
>and
>>> > when I asked the doctor about alternative treaments to be used in
>conjuction
>>> > with conventional treatment, he dismissed it as "hogwash". I would
>think
>>> > Memorial would be a little more open-minded - I was somewhat
>dissapointed.
>>> > Sorry to ramble...
>>> > Cathy
>>> >
>>> > > -----Original Message-----
>>> > > From: NLPOST@aol.com [SMTP:NLPOST@aol.com]
>>> > > Sent: Monday, July 20, 1998 3:28 PM
>>> > > To: mol-cancer@lists.meds.com
>>> > > Subject: Re: [MOL] Insurance Companies
>>> > >
>>> > > Hi Cathy,
>>> > > What won't your Insurance company pay for? If it is a clinical, I
>thought
>>> > > they were supposed to be free, and if the Meds the Dr. wants to give
>him
>>> > > first
>>> > > is FDA approved, your insurance has to pay for them. Maybe the
>Insurance
>>> > > company misunderstood just what you wanted covered. Let me know what
>you
>>> > > find
>>> > > out about all of it.
>>> > > Love and prayers to you and yours,
>>> > > Nanc
>>> > >
>>> > >
>>> > > In a message dated 7/20/98 3:20:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>>> > > cathy.telesco@gartner.com writes:
>>> > >
>>> > > << Can any molers out there comment on how they dealt (or are
>dealing)
>>> > > with
>>> > > their insurance company's refusal to pay for treatment at another
>>> > > hospital? I took my Dad to Memorial Sloan Kettering on Friday
>morning.
>>> > > There is a clinical trial that he can participate in - but the
>doctor
>>> > > wants to try 5FU with Mitomicin first (for two months). Failing
>that,
>>> > > my father is eligible to participate in a clinical trial that is
>being
>>> > > conducted at Memorial. However, his HMO, Kaiser Permanente, says
>they
>>> > > will not cover this! What do you do? Do you just rack up medical
>>> > > charges and incur an unbelivable amount of debt? There just has to
>be a
>>> > > better way. Any advice would be greatly appreciated...Cathy >>
>>> >
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> > > This is an automatically-generated notice. If you'd like to be
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>>> > > from the mailing list, please visit the Medicine-On-Line Discussion
>Forum
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>>> > > majordomo@lists.meds.com
>>> > > with the subject line blank and the body of the message containing
>the
>>> > > line:
>>> > > unsubscribe mol-cancer your-email-address
>>> > > where the phrase your-email-address is replaced with your actual
>email
>>> > > address.
>>> >
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>> --
>>> MZ?
>>> << File: ATT00000.html >>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>--
>>MZ
>>
>>
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