If you are covered under an individual or group health plan, you should talk with your claims representative to find out exactly what your plan will cover. Plans can vary greatly on what types of treatment are covered, on the length of hospital stays and on the amount you must pay before your coverage begins. Some plans cover home care services, others do not.

If you are over the age of 65 or are disabled, the Medicare program may provide some health care benefits. Many people on Medicare have supplemental insurance policies to cover what Medicare does not. You can inquire about your eligibility for Medicare by contacting your local Social Security Office or the Medicare Hotline,1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Some people on Medicare are also eligible for Medicaid. You can find out about eligibility requirements for their services by contacting your state or local department of social services or through the federal government's Health Care Financing Administration website at http://hcfa.gov/.

In addition, CancerCare's social workers are available to provide guidance about financial benefits and sources of help.  They also have limited grants for certain types of cancers and for people in some locations. In order to qualify, you need to provide CancerCare with information about your source of income, monthly income and expenses, and in some cases, invoices for the costs of services. For information on financial assistance, call 1-800-813-HOPE (4673) or email info@cancercare.org .  

• Insurance at a glance

Conventional insurance allows a patient to choose any doctor, and go to virtually any hospital anywhere in the country. You have the assurance that your doctor's medical recommendations are made entirely in your best interest. Managed Care plans are corporations serving large groups of people through a method of financing and delivering health care for a set fee using a network of physicians and other health care providers. The network coordinates and refers patients to its health providers and hospitals, and monitors the amount and patterns of care delivered. Managed care plans usually limit which services patients may receive by using "gatekeepers", or primary care physicians, to make sure services considered unnecessary, or referrals outside the network are kept to a minimum.

An HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) is the most common form of "managed care". It is a group that contracts with medical facilities, physicians, employers and sometimes individual patients to provide medical care to a group of individuals. This care is usually paid for by an employer at a fixed price per patient. Patients generally do not have any significant "out-of-pocket" expenses. An HMO may, however, control the amount of health care the doctor is allowed to provide. Many HMOs require that you choose a primary care doctor from their list. Unless this practitioner decides your medical problem is outside his expertise, you may not receive approval to see a specialist. Likewise, many HMOs limit patients to selected hospitals.

A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) is a managed care organization that contracts with a network of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers who deliver services for set fees, usually at a discount to the managed care organization. In a PPO, consumers must choose primary health providers from an approved list and must pay extra for specialty services received outside the PPO group.

A POS (Point of Service Plan) is a health plan whose members can choose their services when they need them, either in the HMO or from a provider outside the HMO, at some cost to the member, or a plan in which the primary provider directs services and referrals.

Medicare is a health insurance program for people 65 years of age and older, some people with disabilities under age 65 and people with end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis or transplant. Medicare has two parts, Part A and Part B.

Part A covers hospital insurance; most people do not have to pay for Part A. This helps pay for care in hospitals as an inpatient, critical access hospitals (small facilities in rural areas with limited inpatient and outpatient services), skilled nursing facilities, hospice care and some home health care.

Part B covers medical insurance; most people pay monthly for Part B. This helps pay for doctors, services, outpatient hospital care and some other medical services that Part A does not cover, such as physical and occupational therapy and some home health care. Part B helps pay for these services when they are medically necessary.

Medicaid is a jointly funded federal/state health insurance program for certain low-income and needy people. It covers approximately 36 million individuals including children, the elderly, the blind and/or disabled and people who are eligible to receive federally assisted income maintenance payments.

• Documents everyone should have

Many people find themselves unprepared financially and legally when they are diagnosed with cancer, and while none of us want to dwell on the eventuality of not being able be remain with our loved ones and friends, it is important to plan ahead. If your estate planning is done in advance, it will make your wishes clear, and will help your family avoid unnecessary disputes and confusion later on. Since laws may vary from state to state, it is not the purpose of the “Financial/Planning” section of this website to offer specific advice on estate planning, however, it is generally suggested that the following documents be completed.

Will
A will is a legal document which specifies how you want the assets of your estate distributed following your death. Everyone should have a will regardless of the size or value of their estate. This is simply a sound practice which means you are planning ahead and looking out for the future of those who are close to you. By planning ahead, you can make sure that your assets are protected and that specific allocations to family, friends and/or organizations are carried out. It is always suggested that a will be drawn up by an attorney licensed in your state, preferably, an attorney who specializes in estate planning and probate. If you cannot afford an attorney, you can check your local telephone directory for legal aid societies that may be able to help. Once you have a will in place, it should be reviewed and updated as needed. Expressing your wishes by drawing up a will can also help you to keep control of certain aspects of your life you feel are important, and may ultimately provide peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones.

Powers of Attorney
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a written document in which you (“the Principal”)designate another person (“the Agent or Attorney-in-Fact”) to act on your behalf in making property, financial and other legal decisions. The most common types of Powers of Attorney include:

• Durable Power of Attorney
A Durable Power of Attorney allows the Agent or Attorney-in-Fact to act for the Principal even after the Principal is not mentally competent or physically able to make decisions. The Durable Power of Attorney may be used immediately, and is effective until it is revoked by the Principal, or until the Principal’s death. 

• Nondurable Power of Attorney
A Nondurable Power of Attorney is often used for a specific transaction, such as the closing on the sale of a residence, or the handling of the Principal’s financial affairs while the Principal is traveling out of the country. A Nondurable Power of Attorney takes effect immediately and remains in effect until it is revoked by the Principal, or until the Principal becomes mentally incompetent or dies.

• Springing Power of Attorney
A Springing Power of Attorney becomes effective at a future time when an Agent, or another third party, such as the Principal’s physician, determines that the Principal in no longer competent to handles his or her own financial affairs. A Springing Power of Attorney remains in effect until the Principal’s death, or until revoked by a court.

Powers of Attorney are important legal documents, and should be given only after careful consideration. A licensed attorney in your state can:

• Provide you with advice about the powers that are appropriate to be delegated
• Provide counsel on the choice of an Agent.
• Outline the Agent’s legal and fiduciary obligations while acting under a Power of Attorney.
• Ensure that the Power of Attorney is properly executed and meets all legal requirements.

Advance Health Care Directive
An Advanced Health Care Directive or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, is a written document in which you (the Principal) designate another person (the Agent) to make health care decisions for you in the event that you become unable to make those decisions yourself. By naming someone you trust in this capacity, you will have a person to actively participate in the decisions surrounding your health care. Copies of this document should be given to your attorney, your physician and your appointed Agent.

The following do’s and don’ts may help you decide what to include in his advance directive:

• Don’t use vague terms such as “no heroic measures,” when stipulating which life-sustaining treatments your spouse may prefer.

• Do use specific terms such as ‘no artificial nutrition or hydration’ to state his wishes for end of life care.

• Don’t use a generic form for a durable power of attorney for health care without checking the requirements for such forms in your state. For instance, some states require designation of one agent and one or two alternate agents for health care decision making. The Partnership for Caring website supplies state-specific forms which you can download.

• Do consult with your spouse’s doctors and an attorney if you are unsure about what to include in the advance directive. Provide copies to all providers for inclusion in your spouse’s medical records.

• Don’t agree to terms of an advance directive unless you are confident you understand your spouse’s wishes, and can carry them out in his place.

• Do revisit your legal documents at regular intervals (some experts advise every 6 months or so). Your spouse may get better, or your child’s cancer may recur. In addition, as someone proceeds through cancer treatment, his or her feelings about health care decisions can change.

You may feel uncomfortable talking about the possibility that your spouse or family member for whom you are caring might die. However, stress can actually decrease if you are able to talk about these issues and make your plans together and in advance. Many report that planning for their financial and health care future through advance directives enables them to focus on healing and being together, not on the "what ifs" that might someday arise.