How to Triage Cancer Triage Cancer

Cancer is expensive. Searching for financial assistance while dealing with cancer can be overwhelming. It can be helpful to keep an open mind when thinking about financial assistance. Although you may need one type of assistance, if you are able to get assistance in a different category, funds you have saved can be shifted. For example, if you have money for your gas bill, but not your rent, you may be able to get utility assistance and shift those funds to help you pay your rent. Learn more tips on today's episode.



Resources Mentioned:

Triage Cancer's Checklist to Finding Financial Help

Triage Cancer's Cancer Finances Module on Financial Assistance

ArmorUp for Life

In today's episode, we talk about ways to avoid higher medical bills before care, understand balance billing and surprise billing, what to do when an insurance plan says no, tips for getting organized, and paying medical bills. As always, you can learn more on the Triage Cancer website.

Resources Mentioned:


Medical Bill Tracker (Note: This will open as a Google Sheet)
Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs – Prescription Drugs
Quick Guide to Managing Medical Bills
Checklist: Avoiding Financial Toxicity
Checklist: Finding Financial Help


Read more about our co-host, Emmy Award-winning journalist Loriana Hernández Aldama and Armour up for Life.

Short-term, long-term, federal, state, private – what is disability insurance anyway? Let us explain! Disability insurance can replace lost wages if you have to take time off work due to a serious medical condition like cancer, but it’s important to understand how it works, when to apply, how to apply, and what to do if your application is denied (hint: never take no for an answer!). We cover it all in Episode 5 of the How to Triage Cancer Podcast.

The FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) and the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) are more than just letters! In fact, these federal laws can provide enormous work protection to individuals diagnosed with cancer – allowing you to take time off work and keep your job, and request reasonable accommodations. However, there is more to it than that! There may be state-level laws and even workplace policies that provide even more protection if you need to take time off from work. It’s all covered in Episode 4 of the How to Triage Cancer Podcast!

In this episode, we dive into COBRA, one of the primary options for people who have lost their employer-sponsored health insurance. But COBRA isn’t the only option! You may be eligible for Medicaid, Medicare, or a private insurance plan with financial assistance through the Marketplace (think insurance shopping mall). We’ll break it all down in this episode of How to Triage Cancer.

Picking the right health insurance plan could save you thousands! In this episode, we introduce you to key terms that are critical when comparing insurance options. We’ll also teach you how to figure out how much your health insurance and medical care will actually cost. And, you’ll learn how and when to pick a plan that meets your specific needs. How to Pick a Health Insurance Plan is the one class you wish you could’ve taken in high school!