Chemo patient needs help with red state (AZ) healthcare callousness

[Liberty Belle]

This story seems unbelievable but is happening to my good friend's sister in Arizona.

She has breast cancer that spread to her brain. The doctor said she had to have chemo and not miss any treatments to have a chance of survival.

She had the first few treatments, was seeing some improvement in between, but getting sicker right after each treatments due to the chemicals.

Her insurance has been covering most of it. Now out of the blue, when she went for her next treatment, the doctor REFUSED to provide it. He demanded that she pay hundreds of dollars up front that she does not have. Obviously she's been too ill to work for months and her husband is working a minimum wage job. She is not behind on any past payments.

Without the chemo, the doctor has told her she will die. Apparently he wants to get his money up front in case the treatment kills her. I've seen a lot of greedy things but this is the worst.

This is why we need Bernie Sanders' healthcare for all. Meanwhile, is there anyone in AZ who can advise us on where this poor woman can seek help? Is there a state agency that can intervene? She just needs time to make payments on what is owed without missing a treatment.

[JimDandy]

1. First you said

"She's not behind on any past payments" then you wrote "She just needs time to make payments on what is owed..."

So sorry about her illness. The financial pile on by the doc is unseemly.

[Liberty Belle]

2. To clarify...

She is not behind on paying bills sent to her AFTER each prior treatment for whatever portion insurance did not pick up. It's the cost of the next treatment, and any after that, that is the issue.

She was never before asked to pay the whole treatment cost UP FRONT before she could have treatment done. It is around $600, and she does not have that much. The doctor could have set up a payment plan for the treatment that's immediately needed, but would not, and offered no explanation for this callousness that could be a death sentence.

[Hoyt]

3. She should try to find a social worker at a hospital or something and see if Medicaid is an option.

Sadly, Medicaid won't pick up until she is all but destitute. I think there premium assistance charities too if her insurance is still in force. Good luck.