Uninsured and found a lump, what to do next

What are my options if I think I have testicular cancer and no insurance?  I live in Georgia. I have a part time job and no insurance. I found a bump on my testicle and I’m afraid it’s cancer.

Worried

Dear Worried,

You have a few options in your circumstance.  One is to find a free or sliding scale clinic to have an examination.  You can call a regular physician’s office and ask how much a visit will cost, if you’d prefer to not use a public clinic.  You would have to pay out of your own pocket for the visit, and for any laboratory test.  (You might get a blood test, for example.)  

You can e-mail the Prostate Cancer Foundation at info@pcf.org to get their list of community resources.  There may be a low or no cost program near you.  

Georgia did not “expand” Medicaid to include all low-income adults.  So this is not an option unless you become disabled.  Let’s hope that’s not where you end up.  

You can wait until November and sign up for health insurance at the marketplace.  Your insurance would start January 1, 2015 and it will cover you for physician exams and laboratory tests, etc.  The plan will also cover any pre-existing conditions, if you in fact have cancer.  

I hope that helps and good luck!

Linda Riddell

About Linda Riddell

A published author and health policy analyst with 25 years’ experience, Linda Riddell's goal is to alleviate the widespread ailment of not knowing what your health plan can do for you.