Insurance Premium Forgiveness for Cancer Patients
Health Insurance exists to help people when they become ill. Unfortunately, many people are finding that their policies are being cancelled when they are diagnosed with a serious illness, such as cancer.
In many cases, people with cancer may find themselves unable to work. As a result, insurance companies are canceling their policies. Without insurance coverage, there is little hope that cancer patients will be able to afford the treatment needed to defeat their disease.
If Your Insurance is Cancelled
If you are facing cancer treatment without medical insurance, discuss any cost-related worries with your doctor, the hospital social worker, and the hospital’s business office before you begin treatment. They doctor may be able to recommend alternative treatments, the social worker can lead you to outside resources to help with payment, and the business office can set up a plan to work with you.
Maintaining Health Insurance During Cancer Treatments
The following tips can help you to maintain health insurance while undergoing treatment for cancer:
Consider health insurance alternatives before you begin treatment (e.g., switching to your spouse’s policy).
Do NOT quit your job until you have located an affordable insurance company that covers people with pre-existing conditions.
Some plans only cover pre-existing conditions after 12 months of coverage. Read the fine print, and make sure your old coverage doesn’t lapse before the new coverage goes into effect.
Getting Your Insurance Company to Pay for Your Cancer Treatments
The following tips will help you get the most from your insurance coverage:
Obtain a copy of your insurance policy prior to treatment and find out exactly what your coverage includes.
Keep careful records of all your covered expenses and claims.
File claims for all covered costs.
Get help in filing a claim if you need it. If friends or family can’t help, ask a social worker.
If your claim is denied, find out why and file your claim again. Ask your doctor to explain to the company why the services meet the requirements for coverage under your policy. If you are turned down again, find out if the company has an appeals process.
If you believe your claim has been unjustly denied, file an appeal.
Lobbying for Change
Health Insurances companies should be more sensitive to the delicate, and sometimes dire situations of cancer patients. If you feel that your insurance company has treated you unfairly, call your state insurance commissioner. If your policy was cancelled, write a letter to your Congressman asking for help with enacting legislation that would force insurance companies to offer insurance premium forgiveness to cancer patients. Help put an end to unacceptable insurance practices.
References
Henry J: Getting Cancer: Understanding the Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment. San Clemente, CA: Shining Lion Publications, 2008.
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Arizona Businesswoman Fighting Stage IV Breast Cancer at 30
Chandler, AZ (PRWEB) March 29, 2006
In March of 2004, Karen Blodgett saw her doctor for a typical yearly examination. Just previous to this visit, Karen had found a very small lump in her right breast. When she brought it to the attention of her doctor, he simply told her that it was Fibrocystic Breast Disease (a cyst) and that it was nothing to worry about. He told her that it “may get bigger”, but that he could just drain it in his office the following year.
No mammogram or ultrasound was performed.
Unfortunately, Karen did have breast cancer. Her misdiagnosed tumor grew and the cancer spread throughout her body. By the time she saw her doctor again — the following year, in 2005 — she was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. It had filled her lungs, her spine in two areas, her pelvic bones and most of her lymph nodes.
Regardless of the grim diagnosis, Karen was determined to beat her cancer. The day she found out that her breast cancer had metastasized throughout her body, she also announced to her family that she would “beat it, just like Lance.” She used Lance Armstrong as an example that so-called “terminal cancer” can be beaten even when confronted with the grim statistics of an advanced cancer.
Statistically however, Karen was literally 10 times worse off than Mr. Armstrong. She was even told that she was “in denial” by a hospital social worker. Karen went through 16 weeks of very intensive chemotherapy, followed by a lumpectomy. Just 7 months after she was given the horrific news, the hospital announced they could no longer find any evidence of breast cancer in Karen’s body. She beat incredible odds and went into remission, just as she said she would. When given the news, she simply said, “I told you so. You should have believed me.”
Karen wants to make herself available to the general public. She has prepared a speech about the importance of getting a second opinion, good nutrition and — most importantly — never giving up hope. Karen will speak to (almost) any organization that wishes to have her and will accept no money for her time. If your organization has a budget allocated for public speakers, Karen asks that the money be donated to a cancer-related charity in good faith.
Karen has been outraged to find that misdiagnosed breast cancer in women is far too common and absolutely needs to be addressed. Karen has an excellent sense of humor; her manner of speaking will be cheerful and insightful, not “doom and gloom” by any means. If you would like Karen to speak to your sorority, women’s group or any other non-political organization, please contact her at (480) 250-4901.
Karen also has a blog about her experiences fighting breast cancer at: http://www.fighting-breast-cancer.com
She hopes the blog will encourage others who are fighting breast cancer. Karen welcomes all contact and will help others in any way that she can.
Karen Blodgett is a mortgage broker licensed in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Iowa and Michigan, her home state. If you would like to contact Karen about a mortgage, please visit her website at http://www.azwm.com or call her at her office: (877) 551-8188
She promises to beat any deal offered by any other direct lenders. In addition, 10% of the revenues from new loans will be donated to a cancer-related charity. If you represent a cancer-related charity and would like to partner with Karen, please call her at (480)250-4901.
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Luketacular Online Celebrity Charity Auction to Benefit Children with Cancer through the Luke Neuhedel Foundation
(PRWEB) May 2, 2005
The Luke Neuhedel Foundation will hold an online charity auction of celebrity autographed items at http://www.lukefund.org from May 15 through June 4. Funds raised by LNF’s Luketacular Online Auction directly benefit children undergoing cancer treatment in the US. LNF has received donations from celebrities in entertainment, sports, politics, and more, including Benicio Del Toro, John Travolta, Carol Burnett, Bonnie Raitt, Tim McGraw, Robin Williams, Jackie Chan, Tiger Woods. A complete list of items available, including photos of the items, and instructions for participating in the auction, can be found at http://www.lukefund.org.
The Luke Neuhedel Foundation (LNF) was founded in 2002 in memory of Luke Neuhedel, who died at age 3 from heptoblastoma (a rare liver cancer) after a brave 32-month battle, by Luke’s family and friends. What was supposed to be a brief, losing battle with cancer turned into an educational introduction into the rollercoaster world of pediatric oncology. Yet, Luke’s family and friends followed his lead and helped him win each day with a smile. Luke endured over 30 surgeries, countless chemotherapy treatments, radiation treatments, experimental treatments to extend his wonderful life to age 3 years and 5 months – each day with a smile. Luke’s energetic spirit encourages volunteers who knew him and those who never got the chance to meet him to work toward LNF’s goal – to help make pediatric cancer an oxymoron.
LNF’s main goal is to provide grants to children with cancer and their families to assist with the many bills that make their life-and-death struggle so much harder to bear. LNF helps with various expenses, from medical to household to childcare, to even just getting groceries on the table. LNF’s secondary goal is to provide quality of life events to help families build happy memories, a factor that was as significant during Luke’s treatment as was getting his chemotherapy. LNF realizes this goal by sponsoring outings for children receiving treatment in the NY-Metro area to baseball games, movies, and special parties and events just for them and their family.
LNF raises funds through big events named for LNF’s inspiration, such as Luketacular and LNF’s summer event, Lukefest, and through small events that mainly focus on kids helping LNF’s kids, such as candy and bake sales, recycling collections, toy drives, and Cancer Awareness Projects.
All funds raised by LNF directly benefit children with cancer, who are recommended for assistance by their hospital social worker. Volunteers complete all LNF work, from office work to planning and running all events. LNF is pleased to be unique in this area; no salaries means all monies raised reach the children who need help. LNF is a 501c3 charity registered in New York State and with the Federal Government. While LNF is based on Long Island, New York, LNF does not limit assistance to one geographic area. Any child undergoing cancer treatment in the US is eligible to apply to LNF for help.
The Luke Neuhedel Foundation’s website is http://www.lukefund.org, and provides information on Luke, on pediatric cancer, on LNF events (past and present), and on ways you can have a direct impact on children who need help. LNF can also be reached at 516-882-9183 or at: Luke Neuhedel Foundation, PO Box 137, Massapequa Park NY 11762.
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(PRWEB) July 22, 2005
The Luke Neuhedel Foundation has created gold wristbands to increase awareness of children’s cancer. The wristbands are designed by LNF co-founder and President, Rebecca Tolson-Neuhedel. The wristbands are gold, the color adopted by children’s cancer awareness charities, and proclaim “…Because Pediatric Cancer Should Be an Oxymoron” the slogan for LNF, written by LNF co-founder and officer Paul Neuhedel. The wristbands also display LNF’s signature “smiley face” and website, www.lukefund.org. The gold wristband is available only from LNF at www.lukefund.org for $ 2.00 each. All funds raised from the Wristband Project are given to children fighting cancer in the form of grants.
The Luke Neuhedel Foundation was founded in 2002 in memory of Luke Neuhedel, son of Paul and Rebecca, who died at age 3 from hepatoblastoma. Hepatoblastoma ia a rare children’s liver cancer that affects less than one in a million children in the US every year, usually diagnosed before age 1 and most often found in boys. LNF was founded by Luke’s parents in response to their introduction into the world of pediatric cancer and their desire to help make the journey easier for other parents. LNF provides direct grants to families across the US whose child is diagnosed with cancer. Patients needing assistance may submit a brief application (available from LNF by contacting Rebecca at 516-882-9183) through their hospital social worker. LNF is pleased to have never turned down a child’s request for aid, and hopes that the Wristband Project and other LNF Programs will provide the funds to continue the support families desperately need.
LNF is unique among 501c3 charities in that all activities, fundraisers, and projects are completed by volunteers, most of whom knew Luke but by some who never met him. LNF does not spend any funds raised on salaries, benefits, oroffice space because the Neuhedels donate their home as the LNF headquarters and reach out to the community for volunteers. LNF has been able to help families struck by cancer by paying for medical treatment, food, phone and tv rental, rent and mortgage payments, and funeral expenses. Forty-six children a day in the US are diagnosed with cancer, and 15 children a day die from their cancer, so there is never an end to the children needing help.
LNF welcomes donations of any amount at any time. LNF also has many programs for all ages that can be accomplished from any location; LNF has worked with volunteers in the US and Europe on projects to raise funds for LNF. Rebecca Neuhedel, educated as an educator and librarian, has designed many programs for school-aged children to get involved in helping their peers in need. Please see what’s available at www.lukefund.org, or contact LNF directly at LNF, PO Box 137, Massapequa Park NY 11762/516-882-9183.
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