A woman from Lewis County in Tennessee was diagnosed with cancer and subsequently removed from TennCare. She now finds herself in a difficult situation as she struggles to find coverage for her chemotherapy treatment.
Sandra Goff is currently going through a tough time both physically and emotionally, on top of which she has to deal with a financial hardship. After being diagnosed with lymphoma and lung cancer, she was unexpectedly removed from TennCare within a few months.
Goff adamantly refused, “No, no, no! The ending date cannot be April 1 as I have surgery scheduled.”
Goff’s eligibility for TennCare has been affected due to an increase in her social security benefits at the beginning of this year. As a result, she now receives an amount that exceeds the eligibility criteria for TennCare.
Goff expressed frustration as he stated, “I make $82 too much.”
According to KFF, individuals who are no longer eligible for TennCare may have access to alternative coverage plans. Unfortunately, adults without dependents, like Goff, have very few options available to them, as noted by the nonpartisan health research firm.
Jennifer Tolbert of KFF explained that Tennessee’s lack of adoption of the Medicaid expansion means that adults without dependent children are not covered, resulting in what is known as a “coverage gap.”
What is Goff’s approach?
Goff expressed her frustration with the situation, stating that when she contacted TennCare, they informed her that there was little she could do except ask for the bills to be sent to her. The representative also suggested that she could reapply once the bills accumulated to a significant amount.
Her daughter is concerned about the weight of the burden.
Amy Jett, Goff’s daughter, expressed her distress, stating that she would not only have to cope with the loss of her mother but also the overwhelming debt that would inevitably come her way.
According to Goff, she plans to undergo chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments for at least a year. She also expressed her hope for a miracle.
At present, WSMV4 is investigating the number of individuals who lost their insurance coverage this year because of the benefits increase. However, it’s worth noting that those who have been diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer have been able to retain their insurance coverage.
According to a representative from TennCare, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000 was passed by Congress. This act permits states to provide treatment access to individuals through the Medicaid program. In Tennessee, those who are eligible can receive Medicaid benefits under the Breast or Cervical Cancer (BCC) Category of Eligibility (COE). However, it’s important to note that Congress has not specified eligibility categories for other types of cancer.
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