Health insurance provider CIGNA prides themselves on their continuing efforts to assist people who have cancer, or are at risk for getting cancer. Their most recent efforts introduce a new partnership between CIGNA and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Their combined goal is to promote LLS’s efforts to help blood cancer patients cover the costs of prescription co-pays and health insurance premiums.

The LLS program offers assistance to blood cancer patients and their families by covering the costs of their private health insurance premiums, co-payment obligations, Medicare Part B, Medicare Part D, Medicare Supplementary Health Insurance, and Medicare Advantage Premiums or co-payment obligations. The program is designed to provide up to $5,000 in assistance to individuals who meet certain financial and disease criteria. As a result of the partnership, CIGNA is now making the LLS information available through their nurse care managers who work directly with cancer patients.

The costs of cancer can be quite significant. According to the National Cancer Institute, direct medical costs for medical care totaled more than $72 billion in 2004. And people with blood cancers are usually unable to work, leaving them with an even worse financial strain. Many times, even with an adequate health insurance policy, cancer patients often have to pay significant out-of-pocket costs for treatment. Both CIGNA and LLS are grateful for the chance to work together to deliver more assistance to cancer patients and their families.

This collaboration with LLS is just one of many efforts CIGNA has made towards assisting cancer patients. Some of their other programs include:

• Comprehensive Oncology Program - A program that reminds at-risk individuals to schedule appropriate tests, and provides counseling and support to help them adopt healthier lifestyles. The program also provides support to those who have been diagnosed with cancer, giving them access to specialized nurses, health educators, and behavioral health experts.

• Partnership with the Lance Armstrong Foundation - Cancer patients are provided with a LIVESTRONG Survivorship Notebook and educational materials, to help patients become more knowledgeable and informed.

• HopeLab - A unique, ground-breaking video game aimed at helping young people better manage their health while undergoing cancer treatment. The game is called “Re-Mission,” and it is offered to young patients at no charge.

• Child Leukemia Foundation (CLF) & The Hope Binder - A collaboration between CIGNA and the Childhood Leukemia Foundation to offer CLF’s Hope Binder, free of charge, to parents of children with cancer. This Hope Binder helps parents helps parents keep track of their child’s information, treatment schedules, and test results. CIGNA has added a free copy of the Re-Mission game in every Hope Binder.

• Colorectal Cancer Screening Program - CIGNA keeps track of their health insurance customers, and sends at-risk individuals free colorectal cancer home screening kits, to encourage those who are overdue for screening to take the test.