Cancer Legal Resource Center
CLRC is a program of the Disability Rights Legal Center (DRLC), a 501C-3 non-profit, public interest advocacy organization that champions the civil rights of people with disabilities as well as those affected by cancer and other serious illness.
DRLC’s Cancer Legal Resource Center provides information through its national telephone assistance line, outreach programs and community activities to educate and to support cancer patients, their families, healthcare professionals and advocates on matters like maintaining employment through treatment, accessing healthcare and government benefits, taking medical leave and estate planning.
Since its founding in 1997, DRLC’s Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC) remains unique, providing invaluable cancer-related legal information and resources to people nationwide. The success of the Center’s work is reflected in the enormous need for the information it provides. Throughout its 15-year history, CLRC has served more than one-half million people.
Unfortunately, a cancer diagnosis may carry with it a variety of legal issues, including insurance appeals, employment rights and leave time, access to health care and government benefits, and estate planning. These legal issues can cause people unnecessary worry, confusion and stress, and can be overwhelming. When these legal issues are not addressed, people may find that although they have lived through treatment, they have lost their homes, jobs or insurance coverage. Although it should not take legal resources to access health care, understand insurance options or preserve one’s job, it frequently does.
When information is readily and easily accessible, quality outcomes for patient survivorship improves, and stress and anxiety decreases. CLRC is committed to providing information and resources on cancer-related legal issues to health care professionals, such as physicians, nurses, social workers, psychosocial care providers, physician’s assistants, patient navigators, patient advocates and community health advocates. Ultimately, the goal is to train health care professionals to identify cancer-related legal issues and legal barriers to health care. CLRC also provides appropriate referrals, which improves quality of life for cancer survivors and caregivers.
Triage Cancer’s Legal and Financial Navigation Program
When Sally was diagnosed with cancer, she had a lot of questions, but they were not the kind that could be answered by her doctor. Could she work through treatment? What if she needed to take time off? Would she lose her job? What would happen to her health insurance? How would she pay her bills?
When you receive a cancer diagnosis, you are faced with the difficult task of navigating many practical and legal issues, including things like employment, insurance, and finances. Many times, these issues fall outside the expertise of your oncologist. With the help of the Legal & Financial Navigation Program offered by Triage Cancer, you can get answers. Having accurate information about your rights and options will empower you to make the best decision when it comes to life beyond the walls of the treatment center. With a better understanding of how to navigate these issues, you can lower your stress and anxiety.
Triage Cancer is a national non-profit that provides education about the practical and legal issues that arise after a cancer diagnosis. Because no two situations are exactly the same, Triage Cancer launched its Legal & Financial Navigation Program (LFN) in March 2021 to provide information and resources through a one-on-one discussion with a professional about the caller’s concerns. Through the LFN, callers can talk to us about their situation and we will provide information about their options. Calls come from individuals diagnosed with cancer, caregivers, and medical professionals. In 2021, we helped more than 900 callers navigate their unique situation. Just like all of our other resources, calls to the LFN program are free.
Triage Cancer does not provide legal advice or representation; however, we do provide people with information about the law and the options that may be available in their situation. Through the LFN program we have been able to help callers navigate working through treatment, taking time off, health insurance, disability insurance, estate planning, and much more.
After a call with an LFN attorney, Sally felt better equipped to take the time off she needed for treatment and transition back to work when she felt ready, while also understanding her options to maintain some income in the process and keep her health insurance. Armed with this information Sally was less stressed about finances and could focus on her treatment.
If you would like to schedule a call, please visit the Legal & Financial Navigation page at TriageCancer.org to fill out an intake form. While you are there, check out the other resources we have to offer, like our Quick Guides, checklists and worksheets; animated videos, and our educational blog, along with many others. You may also want to join us for one of our monthly educational webinars or our Triage Cancer Conference to learn even more about these issues.
Leave a Reply