Finding resources for living expenses are linked the needs of the person as well as demographics, household size, income and assets. There are ongoing programs such as LIHEAP ( www.liheap.com) that offers qualified individuls support toward heating and energy bills; LifeLine (www.lifeline.gov) for telephone; SNAP (http://www.snap-step1.usda.gov/fns) or SHARE food program (enter your state in google to find location) for food assistance; HUD.gov provides leads to reduced rentals, section 8 and other housing support. For one time support sometimes community action agencies, social services, local and/or national non-profits, disease specific organizations as well as churchs may be of support. I encourge you to utilize a Resource Directory athttp://www.patientadvocate.org/resources.php for a individualized list of resources based on your individual neeeds.

As you outlined, most alternative treatment is not covered by insurance, however be sure to consult with your plan and/or review your plan language before paying out of pocket. If your plan does not cover these services there are few resources to help financially. I would suggest finding a resource that will help offset the cost that you are already paying to help balance the added cost. Below are a few resources depending on your location and need may be of help.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has fact sheet provides a general overview of related topic and suggests sources for additional inforation athttp://nccam.nih.gov/health/financial.

The Annie Appleseed Project ( www.annieappleseedproject.org)provides information, education, advocacy, and awareness for people with cancer, their family and friends.

There are very little resources for alternative care, below are some resources that offer free or reduced services.

The Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic (www.charlottemaxwell.org)is located in Oakland, CA and offers free complementary alternative medical treatments to low-income women with cancer.

The Melonhead Foundation, Inc (www.melonhead.org) supports the needs of children and their families who are seeking alternative methods of healing.

Pacific College Acupuncture and Massage Clinic (www.pacificcollege.edu) offers low-cost treatment for a wide range of ailments using acupunture and other healing modalities of Traditional Oriental Medicine. Locations are in San Diego, New York and Chicago.

We recognize that making a decision on the best insurance coverage for you and your family is a challenging task. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) provides these tips to help you make the best choice of the options available for you and your family.

Whether you are part of the 153 million Americans who receive health insurance coverage from an employer, the more than nine million self-employed, or the almost 14 million unemployed, tough economic times, rising medical costs and new laws related to healthcare reform make now a great time to reeducate yourself about health insurance.

If you receive health insurance through an employer, consider the following before selecting a coverage plan this year:
• Look closely for changes: Don’t automatically renew the option you had before; many employers are making changes due to rising costs.
• Take advantage of wellness incentives: Find out if your employer offers a wellness program that includes money-saving incentives for healthy behaviors such as exercising regularly or not smoking.
• Check out tax-free savings: In addition to your health insurance coverage, you may be eligible to open a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or a health savings account (HSA). And don’t forget about dependent care savings accounts.

If you are self-employed or if your employer doesn’t offer coverage, you face unique challenges in finding and keeping health insurance, but you still have choices.
• Spouse plan: Check about being added to your spouse’s or domestic partner’s employer plan.
• Individual insurance: Consider shopping for private insurance. This option allows you to customize care to your lifestyle, health and budget. New Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans (PCIP) could help if you have had trouble qualifying for coverage in the past. Plus, recent tax law changes make it possible to deduct the cost of premiums from your taxable income.

If you are unemployed, within the past year you were likely forced to determine how, or if, to continue your health insurance. Now is a good time to review your decision. If you’ve been out of work for some time and your income has taken a significant hit, you or your family members might be eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Health Insurance for Your Life Stage

In addition to your work situation, your family structure and lifestyle also have an impact on your health insurance needs. Find the right fit for you.
• Young Singles: If you’re a recent college graduate and just entering the workforce, this is likely the first time you’re making your own health insurance decisions. Of course you have questions. What’s the difference between an HMO and a PPO? How long can you continue coverage on your parents’ health insurance policy? NAIC has answers.
• Young Families: A new spouse or baby can significantly change your health insurance needs and costs. In short, it’s not just about you anymore. Consider these tips to ensure you and your growing family are covered.
• Established Families: As your family matures, so do your health insurance needs. From maintenance drugs and braces to insurance for your college student, it’s important to know the facts.
• Seniors: Now that your children are grown, it’s more important that you focus on your own health. Make sure you have the right coverage before and during retirement.

Many other special health insurance considerations come into play for domestic partners, single parents, military, and seniors who are raising grandchildren. Knowing your options helps you save time, money and frustration.

What is Open Enrollment?
Open enrollment refers to the period of time during which all members of your group health insurance plan have the opportunity to enroll in certain benefit programs. During an open enrollment period, insurance carriers are required to accept all applicants of the group without underwriting or evidence of insurability. Open enrollment is generally only held once a year. If you miss your company’s annual open enrollment, you likely will not be able to enroll in your employer-sponsored health insurance program until next year. Certain exceptions apply for new employees or employees with life changing events.

Make sure to check with your human resources department to see when your company’s open enrollment period begins and ends, and when your policy goes into effect, and can discuss your concerns with the selected insurance plan.

Read and Understand the Materials
There are many different types of major medical plans typically offered by employers. For help understanding the fundamental differences between preferred provider organizations (PPO), health maintenance organizations (HMO), point of service plans (POS) or indemnity plans, go to the NAIC insurance education Web site, www.InsureUonline.org and click on the life situation that most closely matches your own. The health section includes basic information about each type of program. Plan materials will detail which medical providers (physicians, hospitals, labs, pharmacies, etc.) are considered in-network and out-of-network. They will also detail how much the insurance carrier will pay under each type of plan.
Before making a choice:
• Check to see if your current physicians and area hospitals are in the plan’s network. Using network providers generally will save money on your health care.
• Check to see if spouses or dependents are covered. Some plans will cover spouses and other dependents, while other plans will not.
• Read all of the plan materials thoroughly. Doing so will tell you what your rights and responsibilities are under each plan.
• Review any pre-existing condition exclusions and prior authorization requirements in the plan materials.
• If you take prescription medications, check them against the list of approved drugs in each plan booklet.
• If any part of a plan is unclear to you, ask for help from your human resources department or the insurance carrier.
• If you are not satisfied with the answers to your questions, contact your state insurance department. Go to www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm for a link to your state insurance department’s Web site.

Compare the Cost and Coverage of the Plans Offered
In this uncertain market, it’s important to carefully evaluate your healthcare costs when making your annual enrollment decisions. While one option might have high monthly premiums and a low deductible, and another might have a low premium but more out-of-pocket expenses, it could be misleading which plan is best for you until you do the figures.
To pick the best coverage, first calculate your healthcare costs from recent years and try to estimate what your costs might be for the coming year. Don’t forget to include the cost of doctor’s visits, daily medications and any procedures you might be planning.

Next, make a list of the premiums, out-of-pocket expenses and benefits under each plan. Co-payments, deductibles and additional charges for wellness care or specialists (e.g. chiropractic care, cosmetic surgery, etc.) are examples of out-of-pocket expenses that you are responsible to pay. Remember, if you use a medical provider that is out-of-network, you will generally pay more out-of-pocket expenses. Include these fees in your calculations.

Finally, decide how much you can afford to pay. Other things to keep in mind:
• Check for any annual limits and prior authorization requirements.
• Some prescription medications have higher co-payments than others and they might vary from plan to plan. Mail-order options might be available for maintenance drugs at a lower cost to you.
• If your dependents have health insurance coverage through their employer, school or the Veteran’s Administration, compare their costs and benefits to the family plans you are considering to ensure that you choose the best plan for every member of your family. Make the same type of comparisons for any dental or vision care plans that you are offered.

Visit the NAIC's Special Section: PPACA & State Insurance Regulation for the latest news regarding healthcare reform implementation efforts.

Visit HealthCare.gov for information from the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS).

Resource: http://www.insureuonline.org/health_page.htm

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers generic drugs to be equally effective as brand names. It's imperative to be aware of what your doctor is prescribing for you and to, whenever possible, choose medications that are covered on the formulary. Medications classified as non-formulary are typically brand-name medications that have no available generic equivalent. They are usually in the third tier of prescription benefits and require the highest out-of-pocket expense. In some cases the medications may require prior approval by your insurance company. Typically the health care provider obtains this approval.

The formulary medication lists are regularly reviewed by a peer review panel of physicians and pharmacists appointed by the insurance company, and medications are added or deleted as deemed appropriate by this peer review process. Patients can reduce their costs by consulting the formulary, because covered medications require less out-of-pocket cost to the insured.

Some medications are selected for the formulary because they are the only available drug to treat a disease and are a substantial therapeutic advance. When there are multiple drugs available to treat a single condition, the insurance companies review the various options for optimal cost-effectiveness. Drugs may be excluded from the formulary if it is deemed ineffective or its safety is called into question in comparison to similar drugs.

If the medication being ordered is the only medication that your health care provider believes will be effective for you, you can request an exception to the formulary. In order to do this your health care provider can contact the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) for your insurance provider, or write a letter of medical necessity to request approval for you to obtain the requested medication.

Read more: Formulary Vs. Non-Formulary | eHow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/info_7753756_formulary-vs-nonformulary.html#ixzz2IALCyFpE

Formularies are preferred drug lists, and the list should be readily available in your benefit information. Generally, this list of prescriptions extends to specific generic and brand-name medications that have already been approved by the FDA and are considered to be safe. The drugs on your formulary list are usually negotiated between the manufacturer and insurance company for special volume discounts. Some drugs on the formulary may require pre-authorization, be sure to refer back to your specific benefits.

The goal of the a drug formulary is to give physicians more information about alternative therapy, enhancing cost effectiveness and giving patients more access to information. Most formularies are chosen after being thoroughly reviewed by the insurance carrier and are placed on the preferred drug list because they are important therapeutically and/or are less expensive than other drugs with the same effect. Medicare introduced Specialty Tiers with Medicare Part D in an attempt to control the cost of drugs. Many insurance plans have adopted this model making less expensive drugs more accessible, and as the complexity and cost of the medications increase so may your co-payment.

Medicaid is a federally mandated but state run program. Eligibility for Medicaid is determined by each state and takes several factors into consideration. There are many categories of eligibility and several different Medicaid programs. Please review all of the eligibility information and if you think you may be eligible, the best thing to do is apply. While different Medicaid programs have different eligibility criteria, in general four main criteria are used to determine eligibility.

• Income/Family Size: Both earned (wages from a job) and unearned income (Social Security Disability payments). Income limits are adjusted to account for the number of people in your family.
• Age: Eligibility criteria can be based on age. Certain programs are designed for people in specific age groups.
• Resources/Assets: Certain things you have are taken into consideration when determining eligibility. Different programs count different resources/assets.
• Medical Needs: Specific medical needs may determine your eligibility and they may also determine which program can best serve your needs. Some programs are designed to meet the medical needs of a targeted group such as the disabled or aged population.

To learn more about your state Medicaid program and other options available to you, visit www.Medicaid.gov

Wheither you have outstanding debt or have not yet started treatment, call
the billing office of the hospital and ask if they have a hardship, charity or an indigent program. You will find that most public hospitals and faith-based facilities have a program. Be prepared to offer the facility details about your health and financial status.

There are many programs available to assist you with getting your medications. Many medications are available through patient assistance programs offered by the pharmaceutical companies. Each company has their own eligibility requirements and applications. You can visit www.needymeds.com or www.pparx.org for a complete listings of
all drugs available through these programs.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, family members typically are not obligated to pay the debts of a deceased relative from their own assets. What's more, family members – and all consumers – are protected by the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to try to collect a debt.

Does a debt go away when the debtor dies?

No. The estate of the deceased person owes the debt. If there isn't enough money in the estate to cover the debt, it typically goes unpaid. But there are exceptions to this rule. You may be responsible for the debt if you:
• co-signed the obligation;
• live in a community property state, such as California;
• are the deceased person's spouse and state law requires you to pay a particular type of debt, like some health care expenses; or
• were legally responsible for resolving the estate and didn't comply with certain state probate laws.

If you have questions about whether you are legally obligated to pay a deceased person's debts from your own assets, talk to a lawyer.

Who has the authority to pay the deceased person's debt out of his or her assets?

The person named in a will who is responsible for settling a deceased person's affairs is called the executor. If there is no will, the court may appoint an administrator, personal representative, or universal successor, and give them the authority to settle the affairs. In some states, others (or other people) may have that authority, even if they haven't been formally appointed by the court.

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0081-debts-and-deceased-relatives

Your ability to qualify for a loan is based on many factors, such as your credit score, income, debts, assets, etc. One thing we would recommend you watch for would be possible discrimination based on your diagnosis. You should not see any different attitude than you would expect in general from a lender. Interest rates, processing fees, processing time, etc. should all be in line with any loan that is being offered to a person submitting an application to the specific lending institution.

Another option you may want to consider is getting a viatical settlement. A viatical settlement is when a terminally ill person sells his or her life insurance policy to a third party for a lump-sum payment. In return, the third party, who may be an individual investor or a special firm, takes over the premium payments on the policy. This would allow you to enjoy your money or pay down your debt with the cash. Viatical settlements vary greatly depending on whom you are settling with, your state (or the policy’s state), and the terms of your individual policy.

The viatical industry is regulated on the state level but there is no federal regulation that governs these settlements. If you are interested in being party to a viatical settlement, you can start with the state insurance commissioner’s office or check with your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) office. If you are considering this option, the person who is buying your life insurance policy, known as the viator, becomes the new owner of the policy and is the beneficiary upon your death.
You will want to consult with a tax professional or attorney before making a final decision. There is a provision in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), terminal patients are sometimes not even required to pay federal taxes on the proceeds from a viatical settlement.

Some other options you may want to consider:
• Check to see if your life insurance policy has an accelerated death benefit This is generally only a partial benefit, but would give you cash relief and would not be hard on your beneficiaries.
• Take out a loan against the equity in your house or against the cash value of your retirement funds or other assets that you may have. This will provide you with some funds, and it will not totally penalize your heirs.
• For medical treatment debt, think about going on a payment plan using Visa or MasterCard. Most people are very responsible about their charge cards. But you need to pay only the minimum and your doctors get paid. While this will penalize your heirs eventually, it will relieve your worrying and keep you from feeling guilty every time you see your doctors.

https://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/financial/help-with-costs/viatical-settlements.htm

This is a situation we get asked on a daily basis. If your medical debt is through a hospital, you will need to contact the financial counselor or a social worker at the facility and find out if they offer any financial assistance. Most hospitals, especially non-profits, have assistance programs in place for low-income, uninsured, and under-insured patients. Some facilities call the program by different names, charity care or financial hardship programs, but you want to ask if they offer any financial assistance, do not worry about the name. There will be an application process where you will need to provide personal information such as household income in order to be screened for eligibility.

If you are approved for financial assistance, the hospital will notify the applicant of the discount or write-off amount they are able to provide. We suggest notifying other healthcare providers where you still have a balance due, that you were approved for financial assistance through the hospital and inquire if they would consider providing that same discount on your outstanding balance. Often times they will consider this discounted amount. After the providers have adjusted the accounts, if a balance remains, arrange a payment plan that is reasonable for your budget.

Locating solutions to medical needs should start at the prescribing facility/provider first to determine if they offer any support you need. If additional solutions are needed I do hope you find the below resources helpful.

There are many organizations that vary their assistance based on their mission. You can find help by geographic region, disease, age, gender, or a variation of these. PAF has three interactive tools that will help you navigate resources based on your specific needs. You can access them at www.patientadvocate.org/resources and select financial resource guide, underinsured resource directory (if insured) or uninsured resource directory (uninsured) depending on what best suits you. Your local www.2-1-1.org is sponsored by the United Way and will link you to all know local resources based on your zip code.

Typically assistance around medication is limited by non-profits so if you need is more sustained help I suggest you research the drug manufacturer for resources linked to that particular drug. Often their websites carry referrals especially if they offer insurance denial support, discount card, co-pay card or free drug program. There are two excellent websites that will link you to the programs offered by drug name. www.needymeds.org and www.pparx.org . There are also several national co-pay relief programs that offer pharmaceutical co-pay help and some offer premium assistance. I’ve listed them below:

• Patient Advocate Foundation’s CoPay Relief (CPR) www.copays.org 1-866-512-3861

• HealthWell Foundation www.healthwellfoundation.org 1-800-675-8416

• Patient Access Network www.patientaccessnetwork.org 1-866-316-7263

• Heart Support of America www.heartsupportofamerica.org

• Caring Voice Coalition www.caringvoice.org 1-888-267-1440

• Chronic Disease Fund www.cdfund.org 1-877-968-7233

• Patient Services Incorporated www.uneedpsi.org 1-800-366-7741

• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society www.LLS.org/copay 1-877-COPAY

• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) www.rarediseases.org or 1-800-999-6673

If you insured, Managed Rx Plans Inc (1-800-799-8765) maybe a option for you. They provide cost free prescriptions to individuals with long term recurring medication needs, accepting most major medical as payment in full, for all diagnoses. No income limitations. They do not accept Medicare or Medicaid and most HMO’s. Your insurance must cover 70% or better of the medication and results vary and depends on the insurance company and if the insurance company will allow the patient to use Managed Rx as their mail order pharmacy

Assistance provided through hospitals/facilities/doctors/labs, etc are based on their own internal policies. Always inquire about charity care, self-pay discounts, lump sum payment discounts, negotiated payment plans, prompt pay discounts etc. Be sure to follow you policy and elect in-network care to avoid unnecessary financial responsibility if warranted.

If you seeking DME such as a wig or prosthetic there are groups like ACS through their Look Good Feel Better Program (800-227-1213), Cancer Care (800-813-4673), Breast Cancer Network of Strength, formerly Y-ME (800-221-2141), and Crickett’s Answer for Cancer (301-935-4411). Wheelchairs, walkers and other similar items maybe available through donation closets at local charity groups or hospitals.