Hematology & BMT: Employment, Insurance & Financial Resources
Cancer and employment
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Information about employment rights for disabled individuals.
Phone: (800) 669-4000
California Department of Fair Housing and Employment
Information about employment rights, including the California Family Rights Act.
Phone: (800) 884-1684
Cancer and Careers
Practical information about cancer and employment. Offers free booklets for download including the Living and Working with Cancer Workbook.
Phone: (212) 685-5955
Department of Rehabilitation
Offers job training, education, transportation and job placement for individuals with disabilities to enter or re-enter the workforce.
Phone: (916) 324-1313
Family and Medical Leave Act Regulations and Information
U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards and Wage Division.
Phone: (866) 487-9243
Job Accommodation Network
Information about workplace accommodations.
Phone: (800) ADA-WORK
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Disability benefits
Benefits Education Center (Daniel Fortuno)
Expert private benefits counseling for issues related to disability, insurance and employment. Particularly helpful for complicated cases.
Phone: (415) 345-1725
California Foundation for Independent Living Resource Centers
Offers a variety of services for disabled individuals, including free benefits counseling and workshops. To find your local center, call (916) 325-1690 or search "find an ILC" at www.cfilc.org.
California State Disability Benefits
Eligibility information and application download available at www.edd.ca.gov/Disability/Disability_Insurance.htm.
Phone: (800) 480-3287
CA State Employees: (866) 352-7675
CA State Government Employees: (866) 758-9768
Department of Veterans Affairs
Information about disability and pension benefits. Veterans with diseases related to toxin exposure during wartime (agent orange) may be eligible for disability compensation benefits. Veterans may also be eligible for free medical care and medications.
Phone: (800) 827-1000
Disability Benefits 101
Information about disability benefits and insurance in California.
Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Federal disability income programs.
Phone: (800) 772-1213
Health insurance
COBRA, conversion and HIPAA guarantee issue (extending insurance after COBRA expires)
Keep Your Health Coverage (COBRA)
California Department of Managed Healthcare
Phone: (888) 466-2219
COBRA Information and Questions
U.S. Dept of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration
Phone: (866) 275-7922
HIPAA and Conversion Health Plans
California Department of Managed Healthcare
Phone: (888) 466-2219
Health insurance with a pre-existing condition
Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP)
Phone (800) 289-6574
Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)
Phone: (866) 717-5826
Private insurance questions and concerns
HMO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Questions
California Department of Managed Health Care, Help Center
Phone: (888) 466-2219
PPO Insurance Questions
California Department of Insurance
Phone: (800) 927-4357
Medi-Cal
California Department of Health Care Services
Application and eligibility information.
Phone: (916) 445-4171
Health Insurance Premium Payment Program (HIPP)
Assistance with payment of private insurance premiums for those with Medi-Cal.
Phone: (866) 298-8443
Medi-Cal Regulation Specialists
Private counseling and representation for Medi-Cal applications. Helpful for complicated cases and applicants with excess assets.
Phone: (877) 677-6334
Medicare
Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP)
Free in-person education about Medicare.
Phone: (800) 434-0222
Medicare Rights Center
Education about Medicare with free hotline.
Phone: (800) 333-4114
Legal assistance
American Bar Association or FindLegalHelp.org
For possible assistance with bankruptcy, estate planning and other legal matters.
Phone: (800) 285-2221
Bay Area Legal Aid
Provides free legal representation for issues related to housing preservation, domestic violence, health care access and benefits.
Phone: (800) 551-5554
Cancer Legal Resource Center
Free information and hotline for cancer-related legal issues such as insurance coverage, taking time off work, access to health care and benefits, and estate planning.
Phone: (866) THE-CLRC
Estate Planning — State Bar of California
Informational pamphlets, including "Do I Need a Will?" "Do I Need Estate Planning?" and "Do I Need a Living Trust?"
Legal referral helpline: (866) 44-CA-LAW
Patient Advocate Foundation
Information, mediation and negotiation to settle issues with access to care, health insurance appeals, medical debt and job retention.
Phone: (800) 532-5274
American Bar Association, Volunteer Tax Preparation
Phone: (800) 285-2221
Credit counseling
Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS)
Offers debt management and bankruptcy prevention.
Phone: (800) 873-CCCS
Financial assistance programs
American Cancer Society
Assistance with lodging and transportation.
Phone: (800) 227-2345
The Bone Marrow Foundation
Grant for patients undergoing transplant.
Phone: (800) 365-1336
CancerCare
Assistance with transportation expenses.
Phone: (800) 813-HOPE
Good Days
Assistance with insurance premiums and drug co-pays for Multiple Myeloma and MDS.
Phone: (877) 968-7233
David Andrew Pooh Maddan Foundation
Financial grants for young adults age 18 to 35.
Healthwell Foundation
Assistance with insurance premiums and drug co-pays for lymphoma, multiple myeloma and MDS.
Phone: (800) 675-8416
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Assistance grants to any patient with blood cancer. Additional funding for those with lymphoma, multiple myeloma, MDS and Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia.
Phone: (800) 955-4572
Lymphoma Research Foundation
Assistance with medical expenses and travel for those with lymphoma.
Phone: (800) 500-9976
National Marrow Donor Program
Assistance for unrelated-donor transplant recipients.
Phone: (888) 999-6743
Patient Advocate Foundation
Assistance with drug co-pays for those with lymphoma, multiple myeloma and MDS.
Phone: (866) 512-3861
Patient Access Network Foundation
Assistance with drug co-pays for those with lymphoma, multiple myeloma and MDS.
Phone: (866) 316-PANF
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Database of organizations offering co-pay help.
Phone: (888) 477-2669
Women's Cancer Resource Center
Assistance grants for those in Alameda and Contra Costa County.
Phone: (510) 601-4040
Fundraising
National Foundation for Transplants
Phone: (800) 489-3863
Help Hope Live
Phone: (800) 642-8399
Housing assistance and foreclosure prevention
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Rental Assistance and Subsidized Housing in California
Information about rental assistance and subsidized housing programs in California.
HUD's Local Office Directory
For public housing office locator by city.
Phone: (202) 708-1112
Foreclosure Prevention
Information about foreclosure prevention and directory of HUD-approved counseling agencies.
Phone: (800) 569-4287 to find a local HUD-approved counseling agency
Homeowner's Hope Hotline
Phone: (800) 642-8399
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Hematology and BMT Resource Guide
UCSF Health medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider.
