Woman's Insurance Denies Cancer Meds, Approves Suicide Meds - GoFuckYourself.com

fuzzylogic · 08-10-2008, 01:14 AM

64-year-old Barbara Wagner, whose lung cancer had returned and was deemed terminal, had her claim for a $4,000 a month medication to extend her life denied by the state-run Oregon Health Plan while they approved palliative, or comfort, care only.

The rules governing Oregon Health Plan say that drugs must meet a 5% survival rate after five years to be covered by the plan. The prescribed drug, Erlotinib, has a median survival rate of 6.7 months in patients who had already completed chemo.

The Oregon Health Plan provides care to those whose incomes fall under the poverty level. Coverage is prioritized from prevention through chronic disease management, mental health then heart and finally cancer treatment.

Source: abcnews.go.com

fuzzylogic · 08-10-2008, 02:30 PM

well i think a story like this is pretty sad. a womans life is not worth $4k a month for 7 months.

Bill8 · 08-10-2008, 03:29 PM

If she's gonna die anyway, it seems cool they'd help her do it painlessly.

All the HMO's and commercial insurance companies would have cut her off long before - so I'm not sure if there is supposed to be a point to your story.

baddog · 08-10-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

"What is six months of life worth?" he asked in a report in the Eugene Register-Guard. "To me it's worth a lot. This is my life they're playing with."

Yet not enough to pay for the drugs himself? What suicide meds were approved? I must have scanned over that part.

klaze · 08-10-2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

Yet not enough to pay for the drugs himself?

What if he doesn't have 30k? Not everyone is as rich as you Baddog.

08-10-2008, 01:14 AM	#1
fuzzylogic Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: buffalo, las vegas. icq: 285808879 Posts: 4,796	Woman's Insurance Denies Cancer Meds, Approves Suicide Meds 64-year-old Barbara Wagner, whose lung cancer had returned and was deemed terminal, had her claim for a $4,000 a month medication to extend her life denied by the state-run Oregon Health Plan while they approved palliative, or comfort, care only. The rules governing Oregon Health Plan say that drugs must meet a 5% survival rate after five years to be covered by the plan. The prescribed drug, Erlotinib, has a median survival rate of 6.7 months in patients who had already completed chemo. The Oregon Health Plan provides care to those whose incomes fall under the poverty level. Coverage is prioritized from prevention through chronic disease management, mental health then heart and finally cancer treatment. Source: abcnews.go.com

08-10-2008, 02:30 PM	#2
fuzzylogic Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: buffalo, las vegas. icq: 285808879 Posts: 4,796	well i think a story like this is pretty sad. a womans life is not worth $4k a month for 7 months.

08-10-2008, 03:29 PM	#3
Bill8 Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 1,901	If she's gonna die anyway, it seems cool they'd help her do it painlessly. All the HMO's and commercial insurance companies would have cut her off long before - so I'm not sure if there is supposed to be a point to your story.