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Lung Cancer Issues

Money issues are central to everyone, not just those with lung cancer. Most people juggle jobs, family responsibilities, and finances. Having cancer, however, makes it necessary for financial planning to be more focused. Issues such as your job, your health insurance, your finances, and other practical matters may need to be looked at from a different perspective now. Returning to work after treatment, for example, could mean you'll need special accommodations to do your job. Or, you may find your health insurance does not cover all your treatment-related expenses. Knowing your legal rights and being proactive about your financial needs may help to lessen the load and positively impact the amount and quality of your medical care.

This section of our Web site will help you to sort through a variety of financial issues that are prudent to consider now. The following topics will provide clear information and access to other resources:

Health Insurance
Health Insurance Laws
Employment Rights
Writing a Will
Financial Issues

Take care of these important financial details—then concentrate on taking care of yourself!

Sources of Information

For information regarding financial issues, you may wish to contact these organizations and Web sites:
  • Cancer Care, Inc.
    275 Seventh Avenue
    New York, NY 10001
    1-800-813-HOPE (1-800-813-4673)
    http://www.cancercare.org
    Provides financial assistance, support, and education to people with all types of cancer.

  • CancerLinks
    http://www.cancerlinks.com
    A search engine, updated daily, listing hundreds of cancer sites on the Worldwide Web.

  • National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS)
    1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 770
    Silver Spring, MD 20910
    1-301-650-9127
    http://www.canceradvocacy.org
    A patient-led advocacy organization that works on behalf of people with all types of cancer and their families, and is dedicated to ensuring quality cancer care for all Americans.

  • National Partnership for Women & Families
    1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 650
    Washington, DC 20009
    1-202-986-2600
    http://www.nationalpartnership.org
    A nonprofit organization that promotes fairness in the workplace, quality healthcare, and policies that help people meet the dual demands of work and family.

  • Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
    1100 15th Street, NW
    Washington, DC 20005
    1-202-835-3400
    http://www.phrma.org
    A Web site offering information about pharmaceutical manufacturers' drug assistance programs for those in financial need.

  • Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF)
    700 Thimble Shoals Blvd, Suite 200
    Newport News, VA 23606
    1-800-532-5274
    http://www.patientadvocate.org
    PAF provides education and legal counseling to cancer patients concerning insurance and financial issues.

Additional Resources

The following books might help you deal with the financial and other issues you may face as you confront your cancer:

The Activist Cancer Patient: How to Take Charge of Your Treatment
Beverly Zakarian
John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 047-112026X, 240 pages
May 1996

Be Prepared: The Complete Financial, Legal, and Practical Guide to Living With Cancer, HIV, and other Life-Challenging Conditions
David S. Landry
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312180489, 447 pages
1998