Hi,
I was very glad to see this finally coming out from the internet. I have rarely seen the program advertised or even mentioned. I tell as many people as I can, and it has been a tag on my email for over a year.
I did not have health insurance for almost a year and only went for a mammogram after a friend who is a mammogram tech urged me, and encouraged me to find a free test. I was unable to find any mention on line, and I almost gave up. I would have told her I had the mammogram, to keep her from pestering me.
The last thing I tried was to call a public health clinic that I had visited previously for knee problems. They said, sure, come on in, we can get you a free mammogram. No mention of the program.
Here in Washington, if you are diagnosed with BC or CC after a test through this program, the Washington Breast and Cervical Cancer Health Program, you are immediately put on full Medicaid, as a CNP (categorically needy person.)
I was diagnosed with BC after my mammogram which was a shock, of course. I didn't know anything about the BCCHP, didn't actually realize I was "covered" under the program, so one of the first things I did was to call a medical charity agency in our area (They paid for the x-ray on my messed-up knees). I asked the woman if I was going to lose my house. She told me that I would not, and to call her back in a few days.
It was at least 2 weeks after my diagnosis (by phone call) before I knew I would be covered for the medical treatment. A difficult period, as you know. Nightmares about what my family and friends would say.
So, thank you very much for writing about the program, but we are not boobs. This amazing program, a true blessing for all low income uninsured women and their loved ones, is not well-known.
As I said, almost no one I have talked to has ever heard of the program. I have been guessing that the program administrators don't want it well publicized, because of the increased cost...
There are lots of women who are uninsured and low income who do not go to public health clinics. They either don't get medical care, or they infrequently go to a regular doctor. We certainly don't get mammograms, and most of us have never heard of this program.
Catharine Fletcher in Seattle
Hi,
I was very glad to see this finally coming out from the internet. I have rarely seen the program advertised or even mentioned. I tell as many people as I can, and it has been a tag on my email for over a year.
I did not have health insurance for almost a year and only went for a mammogram after a friend who is a mammogram tech urged me, and encouraged me to find a free test. I was unable to find any mention on line, and I almost gave up. I would have told her I had the mammogram, to keep her from pestering me.
The last thing I tried was to call a public health clinic that I had visited previously for knee problems. They said, sure, come on in, we can get you a free mammogram. No mention of the program.
Here in Washington, if you are diagnosed with BC or CC after a test through this program, the Washington Breast and Cervical Cancer Health Program, you are immediately put on full Medicaid, as a CNP (categorically needy person.)
I was diagnosed with BC after my mammogram which was a shock, of course. I didn't know anything about the BCCHP, didn't actually realize I was "covered" under the program, so one of the first things I did was to call a medical charity agency in our area (They paid for the x-ray on my messed-up knees). I asked the woman if I was going to lose my house. She told me that I would not, and to call her back in a few days.
It was at least 2 weeks after my diagnosis (by phone call) before I knew I would be covered for the medical treatment. A difficult period, as you know. Nightmares about what my family and friends would say.
So, thank you very much for writing about the program, but we are not boobs. This amazing program, a true blessing for all low income uninsured women and their loved ones, is not well-known.
As I said, almost no one I have talked to has ever heard of the program. I have been guessing that the program administrators don't want it well publicized, because of the increased cost...
There are lots of women who are uninsured and low income who do not go to public health clinics. They either don't get medical care, or they infrequently go to a regular doctor. We certainly don't get mammograms, and most of us have never heard of this program.
Catharine Fletcher in Seattle