Financial Considerations

Financial circumstances may not be the first thing you think about when you or a loved one is diagnosed with lymphoma, but it is something that needs to be considered as early on as possible. Below you will find information about employment, health insurance, and important facts about and your rights as a lymphoma patient. 

Employment

For some lymphoma patients, working during treatment is possible. For others, the effects of the lymphoma itself or the side effects of treatment cause extreme fatigue and make concentrating on work exceedingly difficult. Some patients must return to work for income or health insurance purposes, while others may choose to return to work only after they have finished treatment. If you continue working during your lymphoma treatment, take care of yourself by eating well and getting adequate amounts of rest.

As a lymphoma patient, you might be able to take a medical leave of absence (with or without pay) from your job due to a medical disability. You might also qualify for disability income from the Social Security Administration.

Some individuals may experience discrimination upon returning to work or when looking for a new job, post treatment. The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) provides people with information about their rights and responsibilities based on the Americans with Disabilities Act. JAN also provides on-the-job and workplace accommodation ideas. You may also want to explore the Cancer Legal Resource Center and the Patient Advocate Foundation for additional information and helpful resources.

Health insurance

For lymphoma patients who are newly diagnosed or going through treatment, health insurance is an important issue. Some patients have no health insurance at the time of diagnosis, while others might lose their coverage as a result of having to leave work due to treatment. As a result, patients and their families may face a great deal of stress and strain when determining how medications, doctors' bills, and other lymphoma related expenses get paid. Patients who do have health insurance may incur large debts as a result of co-pays and deductibles.

For more information on health insurance and lymphoma, refer to "Cancer and Health Insurance: A Never-ending Challenge" by Beth Darnley, Sandy Shook, LPN, and Tina Howell of the Patient Advocate Foundation. For additional information on legal and insurance-related issues, visit the Loyola Law School Cancer Legal Resource Center.

For further information on financial resources, contact the Lymphoma Research Foundation's Helpline at: 800-500-9976 or e-mail helpline@lymphoma.org