Man enlists because of wife's cancer

[yoopermom]

This was the cover story in the local paper where I grew up yesterday, and I noticed that Yahoo just picked it up. Here's the link...
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/64677772.html

What's amazing, to me, is that he's 39 and enlisting largely so that treatment for his wife's recurrent cancer will be covered by insurance. Just so sad, because she'll have the insurance, but not him (at least the article makes it sound like she and the kids will stay in WI while he's enlisted, and so far he's been her constant caregiver).

Terri

 

[georgina]

Hope he checked to make sure it covers pre-existing conditions.

 

[Skatermom23]

Why won't he have insurance? He will be active duty and fully covered. I don't think going active duty has a pre existing clause.

 

[yoopermom]

I wondered, too, if she'll have to go to Army's choice of doctors/hospitals and give up her own?

Terri

 

[Magic Mom]

There's no pre-exisitng clause. She will be covered. And just because he is enlistng doesn't mean she won't have him. He may deploy, or he may not. Even if he does she will still have him.

 

[georgina]

Skatermom, I had to read that sentence a couple of times too - I think she meant she will have the insurance, but her husband will be gone during her treatments, not that he won't have insurance. The government is probably better than the insurance we get through DH's work - a pre-existing condition like cancer may not be covered.

 

[a1tinkfans]

SAD.....cancer is an AWFUL disease tearing people apart both figuratively and unfortunately physically as well.
A cancer survivor here!

EVen sadder that they could not make other arrangements to keep their family together...like selling off cars and downsizing a home to an apartment, moving in with family for a while, whatever it took/takes to stay together...dealing with cancer is awfully hard and support especially that of family is so paramount...............I pray that he stays safe, she beats the cancer and their family survives this entire insurance nightmare! so sad

 

[Magic Mom]

I wondered, too, if she'll have to go to Army's choice of doctors/hospitals and give up her own?

Terri

They will have the choice of different insurance plans. One plan will cost less out of pocket but use mainly military doctors and facilities, the other cost more out of pocket, but allow for more choice in authorized doctors.

 

[yoopermom]

I meant no insult Magic Mom, just that she wouldn't have him physically there by her side since they're not going to be in the same state.

Terri

 

[Magic Mom]

I meant no insult Magic Mom, just that she wouldn't have him physically there by her side since they're not going to be in the same state.

Terri

I know you didn't. I guess I'm just sensitive right now. Her husband might not ever deploy. I actually know several soldiers that have never deployed. I know that they are not the norm, but it does happen.

 

[yoopermom]

Don't feel bad, MM, I'm sensitive, too. DH has had to go back by my folks to work (4 hours away) sometimes for months at a time over the years, and I know how hard that was for me, healthy and well. So I'm just feeling a lot of sympathy for this couple seemingly choosing to be separated (doesn't it sound like she won't even move to be with him within the States wherever he's posted?).



Terri

 

[Magic Mom]

Don't feel bad, MM, I'm sensitive, too. DH has had to go back by my folks to work (4 hours away) sometimes for months at a time over the years, and I know how hard that was for me, healthy and well. So I'm just feeling a lot of sympathy for this couple seemingly choosing to be separated (doesn't it sound like she won't even move to be with him within the States wherever he's posted?).



Terri

She can't go with him to basic training, but when he finishes school she could as long as there were appropriate medical services for her and she wanted too.

 

[locolala]

Tricare doesn't care about preexisting conditions. I have severe back pain from an accident when I was 16. They're sending me to physical therapy to help it out. That's the great thing about Tricare. The PP was right that she can either see military doctors or civillian docs. For things like cancer, even if you're on Prime (military docs) they will send you to specialists at hospitals like Johns Hopkins and places like that. Pretty nifty.

 

[Golf4food]

And people wonder why health insurance is expensive? This is called "antiselection" - people who need it are more likely to sign up for it, increasing costs to the health insurer, which is why so many of them only offer coverage to large groups like big companies because they can blend the rate among all employees (often required to have a high percentage enrolled) instead of only getting the "sick" ones. In auto insurance, on the other hand, most states I'm aware of require you to get auto insurance if you have a car (sure some people still don't but for the most part...) - so the auto companies don't suffer from the same antiselection, prices are lower, competition is heavy, and there is no national outcry against auto insurers...

 

[jsmith]

EVen sadder that they could not make other arrangements to keep their family together...like selling off cars and downsizing a home to an apartment, moving in with family for a while, whatever it took/takes to stay together...dealing with cancer is awfully hard and support especially that of family is so paramount...............I pray that he stays safe, she beats the cancer and their family survives this entire insurance nightmare! so sad

This kind of ticks me off-as a military spouse who has dealt with cancer treatments for more than one family member-i dont think enlisting just to get Tri-Care coverage is a good reason to enlist but i really fail to see how downsizing or selling off items is a better choice than taking an honorable job that will not only provide health insurance but a stable solid if not get rich income, housing, and what ever other special needs will be met. Surprisingly while he may have to deploy the army does have an exceptional family member program and takes things like this into consideration when they assign soldiers.How is NOT incurring massive debt for treatment, having access to good healthcare with out prexsisting clauses and a community that takes care of family members when they need it (army wives ya know) a bad thing-oh and even when my husband is 10 thousand miles away-i still "have" him and his love and support.

 

[rcpae]

What sacrifice and love this man is showing for his wife!! I wish them well. I really don't know much about this at all but it seems to me that he is doing whatever it takes for his wife.

 

[RitaE]

Well, they seem like a really nice family.

I think it is sad that she has to face cancer. I think it is sad that main source of emotional support is going to be - at best - hours away from her.

I really admire her husband in his willingness to do something like that to take care of his family. What an awesome guy.

Best thoughts for all of them. They deserve to have something good happen now.

 

[DVC Sadie]

This kind of ticks me off-as a military spouse who has dealt with cancer treatments for more than one family member-i dont think enlisting just to get Tri-Care coverage is a good reason to enlist but i really fail to see how downsizing or selling off items is a better choice than taking an honorable job that will not only provide health insurance but a stable solid if not get rich income, housing, and what ever other special needs will be met. Surprisingly while he may have to deploy the army does have an exceptional family member program and takes things like this into consideration when they assign soldiers.How is NOT incurring massive debt for treatment, having access to good healthcare with out prexsisting clauses and a community that takes care of family members when they need it (army wives ya know) a bad thing-oh and even when my husband is 10 thousand miles away-i still "have" him and his love and support.

I agree 100%!

 

[yoopermom]

mods, please feel free to combine the threads, I searched before I posted, but didn't see the other one, sorry...

OP

 

[Anne34]

SAD.....cancer is an AWFUL disease tearing people apart both figuratively and unfortunately physically as well.
A cancer survivor here!

EVen sadder that they could not make other arrangements to keep their family together...like selling off cars and downsizing a home to an apartment, moving in with family for a while, whatever it took/takes to stay together...dealing with cancer is awfully hard and support especially that of family is so paramount...............I pray that he stays safe, she beats the cancer and their family survives this entire insurance nightmare! so sad

How is selling off all your stuff and moving in with families going to pay for cancer treatments? There is no way they could raise that kind of money. What he did is make the best of a very difficult decision -- he is hoping this way can help save the life of a wife he obviously cares very much about.

It will be hard on the children, but they are all old enought to understand what needs to be done and to help out.