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On the road to possible recovery
Simi musician gets leukemia treatment
UNINSURED CANCER VICTIM finds a way TO GET CARE Photos by Karen Quincy Loberg / Star staff Lead singer Victor Vega practices for a show at The Canyon club with his Old School Crisis band members, including bass player Jeff Knight. Vega has been battling leukemia and the health insurance industry, but has found care at City of Hope. Old School Crisis is one of four bands that will play for a cancer fundraiser Thursday.
STORY TOOLS 
More from County NewsVictor Vega doesn't like to think about it.
When the 25-year-old lead singer from Simi Valley was diagnosed with leukemia around Halloween, he couldn't get treatment because he didn't have insurance, according to his doctors. Afraid gaps in the healthcare system were threatening his life, he left one hospital and rolled in a wheelchair into another emergency room, where he demanded care.
He got it and now, six months later, Vega is waiting for a bone marrow stem cell transplant he believes will save his life. The thought he tries to blot out of his mind is what would have happened if he had trusted the system and stayed in Simi Valley Hospital, which does not provide the high-risk chemotherapy he needed. What if he had waited for a larger hospital to accept his transfer though he wasn't covered by Medi-Cal?
"I just think it would have been a tragedy," said Vega, whose story was first told in November when his family and friends turned to the media for help in finding him care. Now he has been accepted into Medi-Cal and is being treated at City of Hope in Duarte, one of the nation's best-known cancer centers and one of several hospitals that initially refused Vega's transfer.
"If anyone else were not as young or as savvy as him, his family and friends, I wonder if they would have been able to work it out," said Dr. Ashwin Kashyap, a Thousand Oaks blood disease and cancer specialist who has helped Vega since the beginning of his ordeal. "Probably, they would have died."
Hospitals can reject patient transfers but can't refuse care for someone who comes to the emergency room. The federal law helped Vega when he showed up with his mother and his best friend at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar. He was admitted and started an initial cycle of a treatment known as induction chemotherapy.
During his two-month stay at Olive View, Vega was accepted into the state's insurance program. Then, he said, doors began to open. With Kashyap's help, he was admitted to Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center in Thousand Oaks. There, he received his second cycle of chemotherapy and after about a month returned home to Simi Valley.
Kashyap once worked at City of Hope. He arranged to have Vega admitted there. Hospital officials say the real barrier to transfers isn't insurance but a patient's condition. They won't accept transfers from the intensive care unit — where Vega was initially kept at Simi Valley Hospital — because patients are too fragile.
Kashyap said the issue was always insurance.
He's in remission
"Once he got the barest minimum, they'll take him," he said. "The problem is Victor had no insurance. That's where the system almost fell down."
At City of Hope, Vega passed his time playing guitar in his room and feeding koi fish in a hospital garden. He's in remission and last week finished his third monthlong cycle of chemotherapy.
He has a short break from the hospital; long enough to sing with his band, Old School Crisis, in a leukemia benefit Thursday in Agoura Hills and a gig Saturday in Simi Valley.
Then he'll return to City of Hope for a final course of treatment. His body will be exposed to increased doses of chemicals and radiation in an attempt to kill all the blood cells in his body and any trace of cancer.
The treatment can be lethal. Kashyap, who is no longer Vega's primary doctor but is familiar with the procedure, said stem cells from his bone marrow have already been extracted and preserved. They'll be transplanted back into his body to grow new blood cells and enable him to survive.
If that doesn't eliminate the leukemia, Vega has been told he'll need to start chemo all over again. Kashyap said his chances of complete recovery are better than 50 percent.
Feeling more in control
Vega has had setbacks like pneumonia when he was first diagnosed and a case of E. coli caused by bacteria from his own digestive system.
But while he once felt trapped by the uncertainty of his disease and treatment, he now feels more in control.
"As far as my percentages and my numbers, none of that really matters to me," he said. "I'm completely convinced, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not in the near future, but I'm going to get done with it."
Kashyap said Vega's story shows how people without insurance get stuck in a healthcare corner where they can't get care. Others say the safety net is far more effective than critics admit.
People who show up at Ventura County Medical Center get treatment whether they have insurance or not, said Dr. Bob Gonzalez, medical director of the county Health Care Agency. About 20 percent of the hospital's oncology patients have no insurance but still get care.
But the county hospital was one of the facilities that didn't accept Vega as a patient.
Gonzalez said the problem was that the hospital doesn't offer the leukemia care he needed, suggesting the case shows the need for more specialized treatment.
Vega said he knows only that what happened to him shouldn't happen to anyone.
"I'm fortunate I am where I am," he said from his room at City of Hope. "I don't think it should have been this hard to get me here."
Posted by Freedom1 on April 30, 2008 at 5:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope that Mr. Vega's treatment is successful. However, and I think that he should at least be grateful to the taxpayers and those of us that purchase health insurance for making it possible. He used the system by entering for care through an emergency room and it appears had plenty of assistance in doing so. We used to value personal responsiblity in this country, not we treat it like a disease. Better to be less responsible and demand others to take care of you when life throws you a "hard ball."
Posted by AnnaWhaat on April 30, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Most companies do NOT offer any kind or form of medical insurance. So you can get a job........But your unable to afford insurance. Have you even seen the cost of trying to afford insurance. Its unreal.......... If my tax paying money goes to saving this man then GREAT!!!! All my prayers are with him and so glad he is in remission! I hope an pray you stay that way. God Bless !!!!
Posted by luv2sail on April 30, 2008 at 7:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Although I feel for Mr. Vega, at his age health insurance is fairly inexpensive and easily obtained.
I agree with freedom1, it is time for people to take responsibility.
Was recently in line at a coffee shop and the young lady in front of me was telling her friend that she couldn't sfford insurance, yet she was buying a six dollar cup of coffee.
Posted by hotwildflower on April 30, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If he had obtained insurance while healthy he could have paid less than $100.00 a month, now he wants everyone to cough up money to help him? I am not trying to be heartless, but when it comes to health insurance people never try to get it until they need it.
Do you call an auto insurance agent when you get in an accident to obtain auto insurance? Do you call a homeowners insurance agent when your house is on fire? What is your most valuable asset?? Your health!!!!
Listen, I am not making mega bucks, but I have a job and my employer pays for my health insurance, but I am paying for my husband and children's portion because their health is invaluable to me! I am not going to rely on public assistance or someone else to cover my expenses.
There are so many options available to families for this children from Health Families, Kaiser Kids, AIM (Infants and pregnant women) there are catastrophic plans that will cover you in the event of an emergency that are also low cost and have caps on them to help people from severe financial hardships.
People just need to be more responsible with their own healthcare!
Now, with all that said...I hope this guy gets healthy and beats this terrible illness. I hope this serves as a message to others to get health insurance NOW rather than when it's too late if you are not able to get it through your employer.
Posted by LoVeMyKiDsAlWaYs on April 30, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I bet if this was a child they were talking about, comments like these would not have been made.
Posted by speedracer_chance on April 30, 2008 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lil_leopard_grl_69 child or not this comments would have still been made... its true this guy needs to grow up and maybe considering getting a JOB that will give insurance or SAVE money and purchase a policy... I work for the largest insurance company out there and we offer low cost plans that cover everything for his age group.. he is the one that should have gotten off his butt and researched the insurance instead of doing an article like this complaining about the situation...
Posted by noonespecial on April 30, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW, these comments are incredible!! Here is a story about someone doing well and all the “perfect” people can see is negativity.
I know that at 25, although I worked, I could not afford health insurance. Remembering this, I agree with AnnaWhaat, if my taxes are going to help someone live then I'm more than happy to give.
I also agree with lil_leopard_grl_69, if this were a child all these negative comments would instead be well wishes.
Posted by hotwildflower on April 30, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think at 25 the idea is whether or not you can afford health insurance but rather where you would prefer to spend your money. You see yourself as invincable and think it can wait.
As mentioned above, there are many many low cost plans that would have covered him. I just ran a quote with his specifics and he could have been covered for as little as $45.00 a month, a far better plan for $60.00 and for $99 a month, a plan with NO deductible!
By getting so defensive, you are only enabling those who choose to be irresponsible with their healthcare and making the problem worse.
Again, I am very happy this guy is getting well and I pray that this is the end of his ordeal, but I also truly hope this serves as a wake up call to more 25 years olds that they NEED health insurance.
Posted by BeaHappi on April 30, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hotwildflower - you are right on the money! It's not that you don't feel bad for him and want him to recover. But stories like this should serve as a wake-up call to those w/out health insurance. At a minimum do some research and see what's out there in regards to affordable coverage.
I love your analogy about buying car insurance after the fact of an accident.
So at a minimum he could have paid $45/month and had coverage. I've worked FT since I was 18 and have always had health insurance. Even when I was making very little money; I found a way to pay for it.
You just never know when something will come along.
I too hope that he fully recovers and hope that others will take a moment to consider their situations and do some homework to see what they can do about coverage.
Posted by hotwildflower on April 30, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks, Bea Happi! :)
Posted by hotwildflower on April 30, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
www.coverageforall.org
California Uninsured Help Line 800-234-1317
Pass on the information to those who are uninsured and think they can't afford it or won't qualify.
Believe it or not, California is one of the best states in the US with options and affordability for health insurance.
Posted by LoVeMyKiDsAlWaYs on April 30, 2008 at 6:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Noonespeacial hit the nail on the head. Exactly my point. I'm a young adult that has gone with out insurance living life thinking nothing could happen to me. But i now have a 2 year old and one on the way. ANd let me tell you, insurance is expensive NO MATTER what. I think people are jumping the gun in assuming this guy has no job and is banking on everyones else to pay for his survival. Maybe I missed something inthe artical, but i didn't see a conformation that he is jobless and abusing the system. Every life should be considered precious. Insurance or not he should not have to do with out. We all know that the cost of living is only getting higher and pay rates are staying the same. Some people can afford it, some people can barely afford it like myself, and some can't afford it at all. I don't think it's fair to judge someone like the way this man is being judged when you ahve no clue what his personal life is. He has a right to live just like everyone else.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on April 30, 2008 at 7:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hotwildflower ,Please tell me what the name of this medical insurance is. And does it also cover prescriptions for that cost? Much appreciated. I have a 23 year old with no medical insurance. Thankyou!!!!!!oh just found your other post and will call and get a quote.
lil_leopard_grl_69 ,I agree
Posted by LoVeMyKiDsAlWaYs on April 30, 2008 at 11:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hotwildflower - So you're implication is that most or ALL 25 year olds would rather spend their money on other things than health insurance because they think they are invincABLE?? I have health insurance and have had the best plan AND the worst plan at the same time. I was just on Ehealthinsurance.com and the best cost for mediocre insurance is DEFINITELY not 45, 60 or even 100 dollars. The fact is that for coverage where you don't end up paying much on the co-insurance part OR the deductible part you need to pay a higher premium. There is no perfect health insurance you end up paying out the rear either way. The best way to go is to bite the bullet on the higher premium and go with the 0% co-insurance and 0$ deductible with a $20 co-pay for office visits with a prescription plan. It would run the guy an average of about $200 at the very least. THAT's THE FACTS. Did you know all of the guys information first because you were close and immediate family with a detailed description of his health record or were you assuming he was just the average broke jobless 25 year old musician because you can read an article? Did you add the cost of the increase once they figure out that he had a pre-existing condition which they call CANCER and most insurances won't take you with CANCER as a pre-existing condition? Why don't we all just start telling every 18-25 year old that having health insurance is now mandatory and they have to fork over the dough or they're going to get it anyway and their wages will be garnished. Maybe we should all just talk new-speak and listen and read only what our "leaders" tell us is OK. That Orwellian future lies ahead of us if we keep trying to make some people do things that makes other people more comfortable. I don't care what 25 year olds do because it doesn't affect me or MY family. And if you think he's burdening the system with his Leukemia then give me a break, if my tax money didn't go to him, then it would go to a pregnant teen who can't afford their baby, or an undocumented alien with a twisted knee. It doesn't matter where the money goes because the governement'd take it anyway. You should just be glad the governement didn't take more and keep your opinions to yourself. OH WAIT nevermind you had plenty of well wishes for the guy so that negates all the bogus garbage that was spewing from your fingers beforehand.
Posted by BeaHappi on May 1, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lil_leopard_grl_69...I really don't think that hotwildflower was judging Mr. Vega. To me it's just more about at least looking into what options might be available in regards to health care.
Even if that coverage is just for major medical, which in Mr. Vega's case would have helped.
Bottom line is that as adults we should be responsible for ourselves and if someone chooses not to have health insurance, that's certainly their business. But health care is not free and in the end, someone will end up footing the bill.
Posted by hotwildflower on May 1, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You know, I never insulted this guy or said he was jobless or worthless, so please don't sit up at nearly midnight cause you are too uncomfortabely pregnant to sleep and have a breakdown on here.
Rates given were assuming a healthy 25 year old in Simi, I don't know his medical history and if I did, I sure as heck wouldn't be sharing it due to HIPAA laws...look that one up too...there's another health ins. option in that one, as well.
I gave specifics about where you can go to see what you are eligible and what is out there. I am not spewing nonsense, but your mindset is the problem with the nation, little Miss Leopard grl on and the 69 was a nice touch, real classy.
By the way, the uninsured, whether it be health insurance, auto insurance or anything else are affecting you far more than you are aware and from your rant, I have a feeling it is far more than you care.
Posted by LoVeMyKiDsAlWaYs on May 1, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First off, I think the guy would be insulted to hear that you think it's his fault that he didn't have insurance and his story should be a wake up call to his generation. Everyone already knows you should get insurance, but the question isn't necessity, it's affordability. Now I could go on and on and type a bunch of acronyms to demonstrate my pseudo-intelligence because I learned how to work the google on my internet machine. But I won't, I'll just end with the statement that your habitual judgementalism has been proven by the implication that I'm sitting here at close to midnight because I'm uncomfortably pregnant and having a breakdown. Because this is lil_leopard_GUY_69 lil_leopard_grl's husband. So that said maybe my liberal mindset is dragging the nation down and destroying what could be classified as a hypocritical, wanna-be democracy, but that's the goal. I don't have to play the I told you so game like hotwildflower because our current President's job approval rating is an I told you so enough for the whole country. So in conclusion opinions are everywhere the question is why can't you handle anyone's but your own? So I won't make any more personal attacks on hotwildflower (because that name's SOO much classier than mine). I'm done with you. NEXT!!!
Posted by bgillard on May 1, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here is my advise:
If you are a young uninsured person with low income MEDICAL is the best insurance. If you have mental illness MEDICAL is the best insurance. Seniors who have supplimental insurance: Get RID OF IT! Medicaid will have better insurance for you then if you have a co-pay insurance co.
Our Tax dollars should go to these programs-not the oil companys etc......
Healthy Families for your kids.
Posted by hotwildflower on May 1, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Excuse me, but for ME being the one who is unable to accept other opinions, maybe you should scroll up to see that I was the one called out...
Again, I am not saying he deserves any of this, what I am saying is his situation SHOULD be a wake up call for people to take responsibility. I don't know this man and I don't know his story to tell you if he was able to afford insurance BUT there are plenty of 25 years olds who are able and choose not to. I am simply calling attention to this fact and that people should be thinking of this in advance.
Maybe while you are sitting there waiting for someone to pay for YOUR health insurance, you can use your little google search engine to look up how well Canada's socialzed health insurance has worked for them...once diagnosed with cancer, you can't received treatment for 4-6 weeks because they are so backlogged. The rich people come to the US to get health care so they can be seen in a timely manner. I am sorry, but I do not want the DMV handling my health care on a take a number basis.
The bills currently on the table for the state of CA are either going to drive employers out of the state or it will leave this state in a greater financial mess.
Posted by bgillard on May 1, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not only Canada but England as well. We need to have programs for the poor, mentally ill & uninsurable to stay in place.
I just hope this young man continues to get well. I wouldn't go to Simi Hospital as it is now for any procedure!
Posted by hotwildflower on May 1, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
bgillard, I completely agree we need these programs in place...100%+ for those who NEED it!
As I posted above:
www.coverageforall.org
California Uninsured Help Line 800-234-1317
Too many are uneducated about so many programs that are out there to help them become insured, yet I guess I am "the bad guy" for saying those was are able to pay for their own...SHOULD!
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