Employment, Insurance and Financial Resources for Patients With Blood Cancers

Living with a cancer of the blood brings many challenges, typically raising practical questions about work, insurance, finances and housing. That's why we created this guide to finding answers and support. Our goal is to help you access the resources and assistance you need so you can focus on your health.

Employment resources

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Information about employment rights for disabled individuals. Note that the ADA can apply to people with cancer when their disease makes it difficult to work or go places. Call 800-514-0301.
• California Civil Rights Department. Information about employment rights, including the California Family Rights Act, which provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, protected leave to tend to their own serious health condition or care for a family member with a serious health condition. Download this fact sheet on the law.
• California Department of Rehabilitation. Job training, education, job placement and transportation assistance for individuals with disabilities.
• Cancer and Careers. Practical information about cancer and employment. Download free educational materials, including the Living and Working With Cancer Workbook.
• Family and Medical Leave Act Regulations and Information. This federal law allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of protected, unpaid leave per year for family or medical reasons.
• Job Accommodation Network. Information about workplace accommodations, your legal rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and how to negotiate with employers to find solutions.

Disability benefits

• Benefits Education Center. Provides counseling on private benefits for issues related to disability, insurance and employment. Particularly helpful for complicated cases.
• California Foundation for Independent Living Resource Centers. Offers a variety of services for disabled individuals, including free benefits counseling and workshops. To find your local center, call 916-325-1690 or search "find an ILC" at www.cfilc.org.
• California State Disability Benefits. Eligibility information and application download available. Call 800-480-3287.
• Department of Veterans Affairs. Information about disability and pension benefits. Veterans with diseases related to toxin exposure during wartime (such as agent orange) may be eligible for disability compensation benefits. Veterans may also be eligible for free medical care and medications. Call 800-698-2411.
• Disability Benefits 101. Information about disability benefits and insurance in California.
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). These federal programs provide financial assistance to people unable to work because of a disability. SSDI payments are based on past income; SSI payments are based on need.

Health insurance

The following resources can answer questions about COBRA, COBRA conversion and HIPAA guaranteed issue (extending insurance after COBRA expires).

• Keep Your Health Coverage (COBRA). The California Department of Managed Health Care website provides information about benefits under state and federal COBRA laws. Call 888-466-2219.
• COBRA Information. Get answers to your questions from the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration. Call 866-444-3272.
• HIPAA and Conversion Health Plans. California Department of Managed Health Care. Call 888-466-2219.

These resources can answer questions about private insurance

• California Department of Insurance. Call 800-927-4357.
• Help Center of the California Department of Managed Health Care. Call 888-466-2219.

For information about Medi-Cal

• California Department of Health Care Services. Application and eligibility information. Call 916-445-4171.
• Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) Program. Assistance with payment of private insurance premiums for people with Medi-Cal.
• Medi-Cal Regulation Specialists. Private counseling and representation for those seeking Medi-Cal benefits. Helpful for complicated cases and applicants with excess assets. Call 877-677-6334.

For information about Medicare

• Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP). Free in-person education about Medicare. Call 800-434-0222.
• Medicare Rights Center. Education about Medicare with a free hotline. Call 800-333-4114.

Legal assistance

• Bay Area Legal Aid. Provides free legal representation to low-income Bay area residents on issues related to housing preservation, domestic violence, health care access and benefits. Call 800-551-5554.
• Cancer Justice. Free information and hotline for cancer-related legal issues, such as insurance coverage, taking time off work, access to health care and benefits, and estate planning. Call 213-736-1031.
• FindLegalHelp.org. American Bar Association website with links to legal information and various legal resources. Call 800-285-2221.
• Patient Advocate Foundation. Information, mediation and negotiation to settle issues with access to care, health insurance appeals, medical debt and job retention. Call 800-532-5274.
• State Bar of California – Certified Lawyer Referral Service. Use the online tool to search for a lawyer by location and specialty.
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly. Programs of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that provide free tax help to people with disabilities.

Financial assistance

• American Cancer Society. Help with lodging and transportation. Call 800-227-2345.
• CancerCare. Assistance with treatment-related expenses, such as transportation, child care and prescription co-payments. Call 800-813-4673.
• David Andrew "Pooh" Maddan Foundation. Financial grants for young adults ages 18 to 35.
• Good Days. Assistance with insurance premiums and drug co-payments. Call 877-968-7233.
• HealthWell Foundation. Assistance with insurance premiums, co-payments, deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. Call 800-675-8416.
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Offers a variety of financial assistance programs for insurance costs, treatment-related expenses and nonmedical expenses. Call 800-955-4572.
• Lymphoma Research Foundation. Offers grants that provide limited assistance with medical expenses and travel for patients with lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Call 800-500-9976.
• National Marrow Donor Program. Financial assistance for transplant-related expenses. Call 888-999-6743.
• Partnership for Prescription Assistance. Database of organizations offering co-pay help.
• Patient Access Network Foundation. Provides grants to help with insurance premiums, drug co-pays and other treatment costs. Call 866-316-7263.
• Patient Advocate Foundation. Assistance with drug co-pays. Call 866-512-3861.
• Women's Cancer Resource Center. Assistance grants for patients in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Call 510-601-4040.

Fundraising

• Help Hope Live. Guidance on fundraising campaigns to cover medical expenses. Call 800-642-8399.

Housing assistance and foreclosure prevention

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Information on rental assistance and subsidized housing programs in California.
• Homeowner's Hope Hotline. Provides free financial and foreclosure prevention information. Call 800-642-8399.