Insurance

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People who have had cancer can still qualify for life insurance; however, it will likely be more difficult. Acquiring coverage often depends on the specific insurance company, each of which has different requirements based on the type of cancer you had or how long you have been out of treatment. Some companies require that individuals be five years or more out of treatment before they issue a policy while others will look closely at the type of cancer you had and grant policies based on their statistics. It is important to research the different companies and to check with your employer who sometimes can provide a plan as part of your benefits package.

The following is a list of resources survivors can use to find out more about insurance-related issues.

  • National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) Insurance
    NCCS offers valuable information on what cancer survivors need to know about health insurance.
  • Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
    The Health Policy Institute has prepared a consumer guide for getting and keeping health insurance in each state and in the District of Columbia. The guides are accessible for printing or viewing online.
  • The Patient Advocate Foundation
    The Patient Advocate Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that offers cancer survivors resources and counseling about health insurance.
  • LegalHealth
    LegalHealth provides free legal services to patients within the medical setting. These services include individual consultations, advice and counseling, direct representation, and referrals to other legal services or private attorneys. Weekly legal clinics are offered at New York City hospitals.
  • Survivorship A-Z: Practical Information for Living Successfully After a Diagnosis
    Survivorship A-Z provides practical information survivors need to thrive in the “new normal” that exists after a life-changing diagnosis.
  • Insurance Information from the Lance Armstrong Foundation
    The Lance Armstrong Foundation provides descriptions about the following: disability income insurance, individual and group health insurance, life insurance, and property and casualty insurance.
  • Healthcare.gov
    This site, managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, provides information on understanding the Affordable Care Act which was passed on March 23, 2010.