For many cancer patients and cancer survivors the thought of dealing with medical cost and insurance can be daunting. Finding the best insurance shouldn’t be hard. Below is information about the open enrollment period for the health insurance and a checklist for cancer patients and survivors.
Open enrollment for the health insurance marketplaces begins on November 15th. From then until February 15th, you may buy health coverage for 2015 on your state’s marketplace by visiting HealthCare.gov or CuidadoDeSalud.gov.
If you have cancer, a history of cancer, or a risk of cancer, the process of shopping for health insurance may be overwhelming. To help, the Cancer Support Community and a group of advocacy organizations created the Cancer Insurance Checklist, which is newly updated for the 2015 open enrollment period. You may use the Checklist to easily compare plans to decide which insurance is best for your needs and your budget.
By printing and filling out the Checklist for each plan that is being considered, you can make a comparison by taking your own personal medical needs, coverage options and costs into account. The Checklist can be helpful not only when you are comparing insurance plans yourself, but also when you are discussing your needs with your navigator, marketplace representative or health care provider.
The Checklist is available in English and in Spanish at www.CancerInsuranceChecklist.org or www.SegurosMedicosYCancer.org. These websites also provide helpful links to other resources related to cancer and insurance in English and Spanish.
We urge you to use and share this helpful new tool with anyone who may need it. And if you need any assistance with cancer related issues, please call CSC’s Helpline at 1-888-793-9355.
