Since our experience with the financial side during the hysterectomy was so great, I had a positive feeling about finances with the diagnosis.

I called the Co-Share and explained the situation, and they were so sweet and kind.  They answered all my questions and told me exactly how things would work which was basically the same as before.  My need had been approved and I would just negotiate discounts, pay for the care (or deposit of care) upfront, and be reimbursed at 90% after submitting detailed bills to the Co-Share.  They covered the fact that I would have a max out of pocket of $13,500 (not great but do-able considering) and that they would share up to $236,500 which means I had $250,000 to work with to get well.  I thought that would be plenty!!!  Boy was I wrong!

So here we are, exactly at four weeks since the diagnosis.  Here is what the bills have added up to be so far:

• Mammogram Hospital Cost $2,198.17 Discounted Cost $659.45
• Biopsy Hospital Cost $9,556.78 Discounted Cost $2,867.03
• Radiology Hospital Cost $1,457.00 Discounted Cost $509.95
• Pathology Hospital Cost $431.60 Discounted Cost $215.80
• MRI Hospital Cost $5,298.79 Discounted Cost $1,589.64
• Dr. Visit #1 Doctor Cost $433.00 Discounted Cost $281.45
• Port Surgery Hospital Cost $31,109.35 Discounted Cost $9,332.80

The following are things that we have not even received a bill for yet:

• Blood Work/Labs
• Genetic Testing
• Doctor Surgical Fees from Port Surgery
• Dr. Visit #2

So let’s review a few things here:

1. Of the things I have already been billed, that total is $50,484.69 and I have not even STARTED treatment yet.
2. But of that $50K+ bill, I have been given discounts of about 70% just because they don’t have to deal with the racket of filing with insurance.

There is something so very wrong with both of these facts…

BUT WAIT!

It gets worse…

As I told you in my last post, the plan was for TODAY to be chemo day #1.  Obviously if I am writing this, that didn’t happen.  

I got a call last week from the Financial Counselor at the hospital.  I had already spoken with her before, so I knew who she was and what her goal was: to help me navigate the financial issues related to care and also alleviate some stress in regards to finances.  But that can be hard to do when you see the things like I have listed above!

Shantel was calling to give me a heads up as to the cost of treatment and make sure that we could make it happen.  Through our conversation, I learned a few things that were shocking to say the least!

• I would have to pay UPFRONT in order to receive a chemo treatment.  There was not an option for billing the service.  There was also not an option for a partial pay deposit with the rest billed.
• My treatment planned for today was going to be $13,762.56.  This was a discounted rate off the original price of $45,875.22.

Now friends, let’s do some math here.  I have a planned treatment of 16 days of chemo.  Each day is different, so a different amount of money.  Some are more and some are less.  But if we used this amount as an average, I would be out of pocket $224,000 in order to get treatment.  And while my Co-Share would reimburse 90% of that, where I am supposed to get that kind of money to pay up front?

Concern #2: If I am paying $220K for Chemo and I have already been billed over $15K for what has already happened, I will have spent $240K of the $250K MAX approved by my Co-Share and I am not even half-way through my battle plan.  I still have surgery, reconstruction, and post-op treatment of either more chemo, immunotherapy, or radiation.  

Clearly this isn’t going to work!

So obviously Paul and I were in shock, disbelief, anger…all the emotions.  But we don’t have time to waste!

Shantel and I went to work trouble-shooting and I contacted the Co-Share company as well.  Here are a few of my convos totally edited down to the info that is pertinent to the story:

Me: Is there any way that I can receive money in advance for treatment if I present an estimate for services?

Co-Share Dude:  No.  We don’t do that.

Me: So what am I supposed to do?  We don’t have $220K???

Co-Share Dude:  The only thing we suggest is taking out a loan.  We work with a company that will automatically approve medical loans with good-faith estimates.  Your interest rate would be 11% but they will waive interest for 4 months.

Me: But my treatment is going to take 6 months.

Co-Share Dude: Well then it will be waived for most of that!

* I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t even bring up the fact that I was going to spend almost my whole amount and not even be half-way done with treatment.

Now on to my convo with Shantel (an angel in human form):

Shantel: So maybe it is none of my business, and feel free to tell me so, but why don’t you have traditional insurance?

Me: Well, my husband and I both own our own businesses so nobody is out there offering us insurance at a decent rate.  We are (edit: were) very healthy people and rarely go to the doctor so a Co-Share made sense for us.

Shantel: But now that you have this diagnosis, have you considered getting insurance now?

Me: Who in the world would insure me now?  I freakin’ have CANCER!?!?

Shantel: (in the most calming and reassuring voice ever) Sweetheart, it is illegal for them to deny you coverage.  The Affordable Care Act signed by Obama made it mandatory for companies to give you coverage!

Long-story short: I now have traditional health insurance…well, at least it is in process.

So here is where we are now:

I am totally READY to get this going!  I have things in place in my business where I can work maybe two days per week and still stay on top of things.  I have (I think) all my care items purchased.  I have people in place to help when needed.

All we are waiting for is our insurance application to be approved.  We are told it absolutely WILL be approved but can take 5-10 days in process.  Then there will be another 24-48 hours until we get our policy number.  Once we give that number to the hospital, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for approvals to be completed and THEN we can start.

It definitely won’t happen next Tuesday.  I am praying for the 30th.  But in order for that to happen, we need GOD-SIZED movement of paperwork!!!  But I know my God!

And because I know I have an AWESOME and supportive community, and I know so many of you will feel helpless in this fight of mine, these are ways to you can help us:

1. Please keep me and Paul in your prayers.  I will list a specific prayer request on each post so you know exactly what we are believing for in each bit of this journey.
2. I have made an Amazon Wishlist with several items that would be helpful and loved. You guys have spoiled me rotten and most items have been taken care of.  Most of what is left is good healthy and organic snacks.  These can be somewhat pricey to be purchasing over and over, but will also be a great help to have on hand.  There are items at all price points.  You can view it by clicking the link at the bottom of this post.
3. Since I am on a pretty restricted diet, a mealtrain would be difficult. There are a few organic/vegetarian restaurants nearby that Paul or a friend could grab food from.  If you want to donate money for those occasions, my cashapp is $JamiSullins or Venmo is @Jami-Sullins
4. Those Organic and Whole foods are EXPENSIVE and not what our budget is used to seeing. Whole Foods, CostCo, or Sprouts Market gift cards would sure come in handy.

Please understand, we are not asking for you to spend any money, but I also know that many of you have the Lord’s gifts of hospitality and caregiving, so I wanted to provide ways you could help.