He th Helping Cancer Patients Navigate Health Insurance (NAPSA)—There’s a new resource to help people with cancer, a history of canceror a risk of cancer evaluate insurance plans in the health insurance marketplaces during the 2015 open enrollment period. WhatIt Is The Cancer Support Community (CSC) and a group of 18 partnering cancer and patient advocacy organizations created the Cancer Insurance Checklist, which guides consumersin reviewing the coverage within each insurance plan they are considering, including coverage for providers, specialists and hospitals, medications and various common cancer treat- ments and services they may need. The Checklist consists of three worksheets. The first, “My Care,” is where you can list your current health care providers, the places where you receive medical care and your current medications. The next sheet, “Treatment and Health Services,” outlines com- monservices that people with cancer may need to consider when choosing health insurance. Finally, “My Costs” allows you to detail the costs associated with each plan—the premiums, copays, deductibles and more. Fill out one set of worksheets for each insurance plan you are considering. The Checklist may be helpful when evaluating plans on your own or when discussing them with a navigator or health care provider. “We want to make sure that people impacted by cancer fully understand the coverage for cancer-related health services under each health insurance plan they are considering,” said Kim Thiboldeaux, CEO of the Cancer Support Community. WhoIt’s From The Cancer Insurance Checklist was created through a partnership of the following organizations: The Assistance Fund, Association of Community Cancer Centers, Avalere Health, Cancer Support Community, Chronic Disease Fund, Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation, International Myeloma Foundation, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer Alliance, Melanoma Research Foundation, Men’s Health Network, National Coali- tion for Cancer Survivorship, National Patient Advocate Foundation, Oncology Nursing Society, Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, Patient Advocate Foundation, Patient Services, Inc. and Prevent Cancer Foundation. Production costs for the Cancer Insurance Checklist were supported by a grant from Novartis Oncology. WhereTo FindIt The Cancer Insurance Checklist is available free of charge as a A free online resource can help people who have or have had cancer figure out what health insurance may be bestfor them. printable PDF at www.Cancer InsuranceChecklist.org. This website also features a glossary of insurance-related terms, as well as links to additional information on health insurance and health care reform and links to helpful resources for the cancer journey. Free Checklist Anyone with cancer concerns can download and print out the Checklist, free of charge, in English at www.CancerInsurance Checklist.org or in Spanish at www.segurosMedicosYCancer.org. About the Cancer Support Community The mission of the Cancer Support Community (CSC) is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community. In 2009, The Wellness Community and Gilda’s Club joined forces to become the Cancer Support Community. The combined organization, with more than 50 years of collective experience, provides the highest-quality social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer through a network of over 50 licensedaffiliates, more than 100 satellite loca- tions and a vibrant online community, touching more than 1 million people each year. Backed by evidence that the best cancer care includes social and emotional support, the Cancer Support Community offers these services free of charge to men, women and children with any type or stage of cancer and to their loved ones. As the largest, professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community delivers a comprehensive menu of personalized and essential services including support groups, educational workshops, exercise, art and nutrition classes and social activities for the entire family. In 2014, CSC delivered more than $48 million in free services to patients and families. The Cancer Support Community is advancing the innovations that are becoming the standard in complete cancer care. So that no one faces cancer alone. For more information, please visit www.cancer supportcommunity.org.
