Receiving the diagnosis of cancer can be terrifying, and the prospect of prolonged treatment and recovery intimidating. State laws on hospital accountability vary widely. A recently-diagnosed cancer patient also has the high cost of such treatment exceeding the benefits limit on her health insurance coverage among her concerns. Even more calamitous, some 11 million cancer patients do not have health insurance. In most cases, though, hospitals can turn away any patient unless she requires emergency treatment. There are a few ways that cancer patients can receive treatment without acquiring health insurance or without having had health insurance.

Government Benefits

If the patient qualifies for either benefit package, he can enroll and begin treatment immediately. Medicare is the program designed for patients 65 and over, and Medicaid is for individuals who have prohibitively low incomes and cannot afford health insurance. Many veterans and their families qualify for specific benefits packages available through TRICARE. For children, the Insure Kids Now Program is a federal program that secures insurance for children of low-income families.

Personal Grants

CancerCare, a non-profit agency, offers limited grants for treatment and other services to cancer patients. The cancer patient must apply individually and be awarded some of this limited funding. Some groups award grants in specific regions, states, counties or cities; for example, the Laurendeau Foundation limits its scope to patients in Bellingham, Washington. Alternately, some professional organizations allocate funds for members who have cancer or other serious illnesses. The American Cancer Society provides services to help patients locate and secure these funds.

Acquiring Health Insurance

Cancer patients who want to acquire health insurance often cannot because of the diagnosis of illness. There are a few ways of acquiring insurance anyway. COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) and the HIAPP (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) have provisions for people who are changing jobs or experiencing major "life events." All businesses must comply with these Acts.

Free Clinics and the Public Health Service Act of 1975

Some hospitals offer free clinics where some services are offered. Unfortunately, these services are very limited. For low-income cancer patients, it is worth inquiring about the other ways that local hospitals comply with the Public Health Service Act of 1975. According to stipulations in this Act, hospitals must offer a certain amount of free care to those who cannot afford it. To meet these requirements, hospitals arrange treatment for low-income patients, including cancer patients.

Source:

American Cancer Society