If You Need: Help With Medical Or Hospital Costs
Cancer can be a very costly illness. Once you learn you have cancer, you should go over your insurance plan and other assets. Then you can prepare for any upcoming costs you might have.
You may find you don't have enough insurance, or you may be able to work only part-time or even unable to work at all. At these times, money problems can cause major concerns, and worries about money can make coping with cancer harder. People are often embarrassed to ask for financial help, especially from the government. If you are hesitant to ask for government help, remember that government services are funded by taxes, including the taxes you paid before you became sick. Your tax dollars can now help you through a troubled time. Take advantage of what the law says you can receive.
Help You Can Receive
- A hospital financial counselor can help you work out a monthly payment plan for
hospital bills.
- Local government or private agencies may help you pay for medicines.
Agencies include:
- The American Cancer Society
- Area agency on aging
- Drug company programs for medicines
- State programs
- State and county programs can help pay doctor, hospitals, and prescription
medicine bills. Assistance is often based on your income and assets.
- The Leukemia Society of America provides funds to help with the cost of
medicine for:
- Cancer of the blood forming tissues (leukemia)
- A lymph tissue tumor with cancer cells (lymphoma)
- A type of lymph cancer (Hodgkin's disease)
- Cancer patients eligible for job retraining or rehabilitation can receive help with
hospital, doctor, and medical supply bills.
- Social Security and Medicare benefits are available for people 65 and over.
Social Security assistance can begin at 62 if you choose. For information, contact the Social Security Administration office.
- Social Security Disability office can assist disabled workers under 65 who
have been employed the required length of time and cannot work any longer.
- Financial benefits and services are available to veterans of any age who are
honorably discharged. For information, contact the US Veterans Administration office and the American Red Cross.
How Do You Find These Services?
To obtain help with your hospital costs, contact the business or credit office in the hospital. Speak with the person who will be your credit agent (financial counselor). Also talk to your social worker or patient representative if you need more help.
To obtain help with other expenses, contact the agency that offers the service that best suits your needs. Government agencies are listed in the Blue Pages of most phone books.
If you are disabled for a short period of time, some community services can help you with living and medical costs. Places that may offer short-term help include:
- Local American Cancer Society office
- Local office of area agency on aging
- County Board of Assistance
- Local office for Vocational Rehabilitation
- Local Social Security Administration office
- Regional Veterans Administration office
- County American Red Cross office
Help will not usually include direct payment for treatments. Ask your hospital social worker about which local agencies provide financial assistance.
Helpful Hints
If your medical bills begin to add up faster than you can pay them, don't wait until you're in a financial crisis. Call the businesses to whom you owe money before they contact you. Businesses are usually willing to work with you if they know about your hardship.
Be sure to inform the agency workers of all the expenses you have. This will help them understand your financial situation
Keep track of all costs that relate to cancer, including treatment transportation expenses. Your major medical insurance may cover costs not covered by your hospital insurance plan.
Bills not covered by insurance or other assistance may be an income tax deduction.
Help with Medical or Hospital Costs
If you need help filling out insurance or other medical forms, you can ask for help from:
- The nurse at your doctor's office
- The social worker at your hospital
- The home health care service helping you
If they cannot help you, they can refer you to someone who does insurance-claim processing. That person may help you for a fee.
This Fact Sheet is adapted from the book, Helping People Cope: A Guide for Families Facing Cancer, written by loan F. Hermann, ACSW, Sandra L. Woitkowiak, RN, MSN, Peter S. Houts, Ph.D., and S. Benham Kahn, MD, and supported by the Pennsylvania Cancer Control Program of the Pennsylvania Department of Health; 1990 Revised Edition.
c 1993, American Cancer Society, Inc.
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