• Registered: Tue, 18 May 2010
  • Posts: 21

Topic: One Million Dollar Limit On Insurance

My wife Nancy, was recently diagnosed with unresctable Cholangiocarcinoma Stage 4 on April 1, 2010 and she has been in the hospital 4 times for infections. The average stay is about 10 days. I'm just getting the bills for these hospital stays and they average about
$ 70,000.00 per stay. That does not include Chemo Therapy.  Our insurance carrier is Cigna and the policy has a one million dollar limit. At this rate we will run out insurance in a few months. With this disease, won't she be uninsurable? Has anyone else maxed out their benifits? Are there any other options?

Steve & Nancy St.Germain

2 Reply by marions (edited by marions Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:31:43)

  • Registered: Fri, 12 May 2006
  • Posts: 8,174

Re: One Million Dollar Limit On Insurance

Hello Steve....welcome to our site.  Others are more familiar with questions re: the insurance and I am hoping for someone to help you along. 
The bill from the hospital to the insurance company is grossly inflated.  I doubt seriously that reimbursement by the insurance company will be anywhere near the requested amount.   I also don't recall anyone on this board ever having lost insurance coverage due to over limit expenses.  We have a special category re: Insurance.  It might help to look at some of the previous postings.  Let us know if you need help.
I am happy that you have found us and please, keep us posted.
Best wishes,
Marion

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
  • Registered: Tue, 18 May 2010
  • Posts: 21

Re: One Million Dollar Limit On Insurance

Marion,
I just reviewed our 2009 policy and there was no maximum limit, however the 2010 policy put a maximum of one million dollars. This is probably something new that the insurance companies came up with to cut costs, however it will greatly impact most people on this site if it is the new standard.

Steve & Nancy St.Germain

4 Reply by marions (edited by marions Mon, 07 Jun 2010 23:13:56)

  • Registered: Fri, 12 May 2006
  • Posts: 8,174

Re: One Million Dollar Limit On Insurance

Thanks so much for sharing this.  You are the first  to report the change in coverage limit by your insurance company.   I would assume that this is the trend and other companies will follow suit.  I will check my coverage as soon as I return home.
Does anyone else have any information on this?
Marion

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
  • From: Kalmar, Sweden
  • Registered: Sun, 20 May 2007
  • Posts: 1,951

Re: One Million Dollar Limit On Insurance

I did some reading on the web and from what I understand, by October, insurance companies will no longer be allowed to have a lifetime limit. This is part of the new healthcare bill. Between that and insurance for people with pre exisiting conditions, this bill seems to be very beneficial to us cancer patients.

Kris

Cancer is a word, not a sentence.

36 year old patient with buckets of hope
  • Registered: Mon, 01 Mar 2010
  • Posts: 23

Re: One Million Dollar Limit On Insurance

S St.Germain wrote:

Marion,
I just reviewed our 2009 policy and there was no maximum limit, however the 2010 policy put a maximum of one million dollars. This is probably something new that the insurance companies came up with to cut costs, however it will greatly impact most people on this site if it is the new standard.

Steve & Nancy St.Germain

Steve -
Welcome to the discussion boards, sorry you have to meet all of these great people under such circumstances.  Here is a quote from the WHite House Q&A on Health Reform:

"Beginning in September 2010, insurers will be prohibited from placing lifetime limits on what they will pay for your medical care, and they can only apply restricted annual benefit limits. Insurers will no longer be able to arbitrarily cancel your insurance policy when you get sick, except in cases of fraud".

See this link - hopefully will set your mind at ease with CIGNA. 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-m … -means-you

Are you out west? I know CIGNA is big in CA, AZ...I went to AHS in PHX with a Steve St. Germain.

  • Registered: Tue, 18 May 2010
  • Posts: 21

Re: One Million Dollar Limit On Insurance

Mark & Chris,
Thanks for the information on the new Heathcare Reform Laws. That's one less thing to have to worry about.

Steve