How to Get Health Insurance

As a young adult, you may think of yourself as invincible. But as a young adult cancer survivor (YAS), it's VERY important that you have continuous health insurance. Studies show that lack of health insurance is one of the main reasons many YAS do not get the follow-up care they need. Historically, there has been evidence to suggest that survivors of childhood cancer have been discriminated against in the private health insurance market in some areas of the country. Know the facts, understand your rights, and get skills in the crucial area of health insurance. Learn more:

BRAIN FOOD

	Beyond the Cure has information on ways to get insurance, what to do if you are denied insurance or denied coverage for a claim, laws affecting insurance, and making the most of your insurance.
	Health Insurance: Detailed Information from the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
	What Cancer Survivors Need To Know About Health Insurance is a free brochure from the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. Available in English and Spanish.
	Medical Insurance and Financial Assistance for the Cancer Patient has information and resources from the American Cancer Society.
	Patient Advocate Foundation has extensive information on health insurance. Type "health insurance" in the search window on the home page. Or call 1-800-532-5274.

HANDS-ON HELP

	LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare has partnered with CancerCare, Patient Advocate Foundation and EmergingMed to provide education, counseling services, and assistance with financial, employment or insurance issues, to all cancer survivors.
	Health Insurance Association of America offers assistance to people with a history of cancer in locating health insurance. Publications available.
	Department of Health and Human Services Inspector toll-free Hotline (800-368-5779) U.S. government hotline for complaints regarding Medicare or Medicaid; provides assistance with issues of entitlements, benefits, insurance, and community resources.
	Insurance Coverage and Disputes National Association of Insurance Commissioners offers help with situations in which you feel you or your family are not being treated fairly by your insurance carrier.
	Fertile Hope established a financial assistance program to increase patient access to infertility and fertility preservation services. While diagnostic tests for infertility are often covered by insurance, treatment costs [for fertility preservation] usually are not. The short time period to preserve fertility before cancer treatmen means patients and their healthcare teams must be proactive.
	Hill-Burton Care Program helps hospitals obtain construction funds from the Federal Government. Hospitals that receive Hill-Burton funds are required by law to provide some services to people who cannot afford to pay their hospitalization.
	The Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy launched Rise to Action, an educational and leadership workshop for young adult survivor’s covering topics that include health insurance barriers. They plan to expand their Washington debut to multiple sites.
	The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults goes to college campuses to educate students about how health insurance works and why it is important to maintain coverage after they no longer are insured under their parents’ policies.

COMPARING YOUR OPTIONS

	Health Insurance Consumer Guides are available from Georgetown University Health Policy Instituton's Web site. See "A Consumer Guide for Getting and Keeping Health Insurance" for each state . Also see Discount Plans - Know What They Are Before You Buy in the News to Use section. Guides are periodically updated.
	10 Key Considerations When Comparing Health Care Plans is an article on the About.com Web site operated by the New York Times Company.

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