El Localizador de Atención para el Cáncer de Florida Cancer Connect helps residents find health care facilities, including hospitals and cancer treatment centers. Additional providers are added regularly.

When facing a cancer diagnosis, understanding and navigating the health care system can be challenging in an already stressful time. The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) offers a Guía para el Consumidor de Seguros Médicos that may help answer your insurance-related questions. Although the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation is responsible for licensing and regulating insurance companies, DFS handles consumer-related matters.

If you are a Florida Medicaid member and you are experiencing challenges with your managed care plan, contact the Agencia para la Administración de Atención Médica de Florida en línea o llame al 1-877-254-1055 (TDD 1-866-467-4970).

It is important for adults and children with cancer to maintain continuous health insurance coverage that includes necessary cancer treatments. Here is what caregivers need to know about health insurance:

• Conozca los detalles del plan de seguro individual y la cobertura de su ser querido. Solicite al administrador del plan un resumen de beneficios (SBC, Summary of Benefits).
• When possible, call the insurer to make sure planned medical services (such as surgery, procedures, or treatments) do not require prior authorization.
• If you are changing insurance plans, do not let your policy lapse until the new one becomes effective. This includes switching to Medicare.
• Pay health insurance premiums and other costs in full and on time to avoid any gap in coverage.

Cosas adicionales que debe saber sobre el seguro médico:

• If a bill looks odd or wrong, call or email the insurer to avoid being mistakenly overcharged.
• Presente reclamaciones por todos los gastos médicos, incluso cuando no esté seguro de que estén cubiertos.
• Lleve un registro completo y exacto de todas las reclamaciones presentadas, pendientes y pagadas.
• Guarde copias de toda la documentación relacionada con las reclamaciones, como cartas de necesidad médica, explicaciones de beneficios (EOB), facturas, recibos, solicitudes de incapacidad por enfermedad o de incapacidad médica familiar (FMLA) y correspondencia con las compañías de seguros.
• Get a caseworker, hospital financial counselor, or social worker to help if finances are limited. Oftentimes companies or hospitals can work with you to make special payment arrangements if you let them know about your situation.

La organización Programa de Detección Temprana del Cáncer de Mama y Cervical del Departamento de Salud de Florida promotes early detection and treatment of cancer by encouraging all women to receive regular screenings. If you do not have access to a health care provider, you may be able to receive free or low-cost screenings through the Early Detection Program. The care of most women diagnosed under this program is supported by Florida Medicaid.

El presupuesto total del Programa de Detección Temprana es de 6 millones de dólares, que incluye fondos estatales igualados en una proporción de 3:1 por los dólares federales.

In 2001, the state of Florida established a Medicaid eligibility determination process to enroll women with newly diagnosed breast or cervical cancer. Women may be eligible if they are:

• Sean examinadas a través del programa estatal de detección temprana del cáncer de mama y cervical financiado por los CDC y el estado.
• No cuenten con seguro o tengan una cobertura que no incluya los tratamientos necesarios.
• No sean elegibles bajo un grupo de Medicaid por mandato federal.
• 65 years old or younger.
• Sean ciudadanas o ciudadanas no calificadas.

Given that individuals must first meet the qualifications for the screening program, nearly all women who apply will qualify. In rare cases, women who do not qualify for Florida Medicaid are referred to the American Cancer Society for charity care (if available). If eligible, women will receive full Medicaid benefits, rather than those being treated for cancer.

La elegibilidad para Medicaid de Florida finaliza cuando:

• the course of treatment ends;
• the patient no longer meets eligibility criteria;
• the patient obtains health insurance or Medicare that covers treatment; or
• the patient moves out of Florida.