Article 5exists to help people when they become ill. Unfortunately, manypeople are finding that their policies are being cancelled when theyare diagnosed with a serious illness, such as cancer.
Inmany cases, people with cancer may find themselves unable to work. Asa result, insurance companies are canceling their policies. Withoutinsurance coverage, there is little hope that cancer patients will beable to afford the treatment needed to defeat their disease.
IfYour Insurance is Cancelled
Ifyou are facing cancer treatment without medical insurance, discussany cost-related worries with your doctor, the hospital socialworker, and the hospital's business office before you begintreatment. They doctor may be able to recommend alternativetreatments, the social worker can lead you to outside resources tohelp with payment, and the business office can set up a plan to workwith you.
MaintainingHealth Insurance During Cancer Treatments
Thefollowing tips can help you to maintain health while undergoing treatment for cancer:
Considerhealth insurance alternatives before you begin treatment (e.g.,switching to your spouse's policy).
DoNOT quit your job until you have located an affordable insurancecompany that covers people with pre-existing conditions.
Someplans only cover pre-existing conditions after 12 months ofcoverage. Read the fine print, and make sure your old coveragedoesn't lapse before the new coverage goes into effect.
GettingYour Insurance Company to Pay for Your Cancer Treatments
Thefollowing tips will help you get the most from your insurancecoverage:
Obtaina copy of your insurance policy prior to treatment and find outexactly what your coverage includes.
Keepcareful records of all your covered expenses and claims.
Fileclaims for all covered costs.
Gethelp in filing a claim if you need it. If friends or family can?thelp, ask a social worker.
Ifyour claim is denied, find out why and file your claim again. Askyour doctor to explain to the company why the services meet therequirements for coverage under your policy. If you are turned downagain, find out if the company has an appeals process.
Ifyou believe your claim has been unjustly denied, file an appeal.
Lobbyingfor Change
companies should be more sensitive to the delicate, and sometimesdire situations of cancer patients. If you feel that your insurancecompany has treated you unfairly, call your state insurancecommissioner. If your policy was cancelled, write a letter to yourCongressman asking for help with enacting legislation that wouldforce insurance companies to offer insurance premium forgiveness tocancer patients. Help put an end to unacceptable insurance practices.
References
HenryJ: GettingCancer: Understanding the Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.San Clemente, CA: Shining Lion Publications, 2008.
Insurance For Cancer Patients
Insurance Representation forSecuring the Best Possible Medical Treatment
Cancer ?a word shrouded with stress, anxiety and fear.Numerous questions swirl around at a dizzying pace within one?smind.?What will the treatment belike?Will there be side effects? Howmuch will treatment cost?Will I be ableto work?Will I lose my job?How long will the treatment processtake?Will my medicalcover the cost ? all the costs? Will life or death be the ultimateresult??How can any patient with thisocean of uncertainty properly advocate for himself?Herself?How many people really understand their medical insurance policies tobegin with?
The Need for MedicalInsurance Advocates
Even if apatient does understand the elements of his or her policy, with the intenseamount of emotional and mental stress a diagnosis of cancer plunges a patientinto, it would logically follow that the ability to focus clearly is severelyminimized and constrained.The abilityto cope with the stress of scrutinizing the fine details of an insurance policyis compromised as well.How can anypatient under intense turmoil advocate efficiently for himself?Herself?
Elements of Advocacy
Advocacyinvolves some of the following elements:
1.Attentionto detail;
2.Theability to analyze language and concepts;
3.Theability to communicate efficiently orally and/or via the written word;
4.Theability to sustain mental and emotional alertness for large time spans;
5.Theskills to case manage all the components associated with the subject inquestion, in this case the diagnosis and treatment of cancer;
6.Torecognize and cope with conflicts;
7.Toconfront when necessary; and
8.Giventhat this is a partial list of characteristics, an advocate must possess enoughenergy to follow through with the aforementioned components as well as thosenot mentioned.
The Side Effects ofCancer Treatment
Chemotherapy,surgery and radiation therapy all have consequences.Some are immediate, some are manifested lateand some are long-term.
SideEffects may include some of the following, but are not limited to:
1.Tirednessto extreme tiredness;
2.Queasiness;
3.Needingto regurgitate;
4.Subtleto profound hair loss;
5.Memoryproblems; and
6.Eventhe occurrence of another form of cancer.
Becausethere are diverse dynamics involved with side effects, just which ones willemerge cannot be ascertained specifically.Given this information, how can any cancer patient adequately advocatefor himself?Herself?Therefore, to ensure that the cancer patienthas the opportunity to receive the best medical treatment possible, the servicesof an objective is necessary.An advocate, who, though in the midst of theproblem, is able to remain objective.Anadvocate who is able to uphold the client's as well as the client's family?sbest interests to the appropriate stakeholders, throughout the duration of thediagnostic/treatment phases.
Sources
http://www.qai.org.au., written for a website, no author or date.
. ,written for a website, no author or date.
www.mayoclinic.com., written for a website, no author ordate.
www.cancerandcareers.org.,written for a website, no authoror date.
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Michele has sinced written about articles on various topics from Finances, Health Insurance and Gardening. Michele Moore is an internet entrepreneur and is an expert SEO. He frequently writes about SEO articles including article submission , blog submission, directory submission etc. You can read his other articles only here on ext.com.. Michele's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
Joe has sinced written about articles on various topics from About My Space, Types of Cancer and Family. Joe marc is a highly qualified doctor and has successfully treated large number of cancer patients. His service has been extremely beneficial and has brought smiles to many patients. He also provides free advice for cancer patients to overcome their probl. Joe's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.
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