Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Calcification and health insurance
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Calcification and health insurance
by EinBoulder, Nov 08, 2002 12:00AM
I recently had a routine screening mammogram which resulted in the need for a followup mammogram due to microcalcification found in left breast. The question? I currently have no health insurance. I may be starting work by January and will have access to health insurance at that time. I am wondering if I should wait for the follow up mammogram until January or if I should proceed now at the risk of discovering that I have a "pre-existing condition" i.e. breast cancer that may jeopardize my insurability.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, Nov 08, 2002 12:00AM
Dear EinBoulder, We cannot advise you that it would be "no problem" to wait until January. There are too many variables, such as how suspicious were these calcifications? your age and risk factors, has this mammogram been compared to a prior mammograms and changes seen? I am not an expert on insurance issues but in some places conditions of insurability may have a delay of some months beyond employment anyway. I guess I would look into what could be taken care of now, talk with your doctor's office or local health department and check if there are programs available to have these things followed up, possibly at a reduced cost based on income etc. The follow up diagnostic mammogram may clear the whole situation up and save you alot of worry.
