Finances are often a major concern during an illness. To help our patients during this challenging time, qualified financial counselors are an integral part of the PAMF multispecialty cancer care team. Financial counseling can lead to peace of mind about medical expenses and leaving you free to concentrate on recovering.

Some of the services provided by our financial
counselors include:

• Estimates for future treatments, co-pays, and deductibles based on diagnosis and chosen treatment modalities
  
• Assistance with questions about billing policies, billing statements, and personal balance owed
  
• Help with understanding insurance benefits and obligations
  
• Assistance with completing important paperwork for patient assistance programs
  
• Guidance through the appeals process if denial of coverage occurs
  
• Aid the business office in resolving claims issues
  
• Help patients who are underinsured or have no insurance find assistive resources

Your financial counselor will work with you to find resources and facilitate patient referrals to organizations or companies that will help with cancer-related treatment expenses.

There are national and local organizations whose mission or charter involves helping people with cancer with different areas of their lives. Similarly, government programs exist so that uninsured or underinsured individuals with certain cancers can be immediately enrolled in state health insurance plans. Likewise, some pharmaceutical companies provide grants and assistance with the costs
of medication.

If a patient's illness affects his or her ability to work, he or she may need to file for State Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, Medi-Cal or Medicare. The financial counselor can help the patient determine where and how to apply for these programs.

If patients are unable to pay for their medical expenses and meet the low-income or moderate-income requirements, they may also qualify for financial assistance through PAMF. Our financial counselors can guide the patient through
this process.

PAMF Financial Counselors:

Blanca Diel
Mountain View Center
dielb@pamf.org

Caren Silber
Palo Alto Center
Silberc1@pamf.org
650-812-3838

Additional Online Resources:
California State Disability (www.edd.ca.gov/Disability)
Medicare (www.medicare.gov)
Social Security Administration (www.ssa.gov)
DisabilityInfo.gov (www.disabilityinfo.gov)
National Cancer Institute Financial Resource List (www.cancer.gov)
Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief (www.copays.org)
Partnership for Prescription Assistance (www.pparx.org)

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