Legal Assistance
Triage Cancer Legal Assistance Quick Guide
American Bar Association Lawyer Referral Programs
LawHelp
www.lawhelp.org/find-help
American Bar Association Free Legal Answers
www.freelegalanswers.org
Medical-Legal Partnerships
http://medical-legalpartnership.org/partnerships/
State Cancer Information
California Department of Public Health
State Comprehensive Cancer Control Program
State Cancer Coalition: (California Dialogue On Cancer)
State Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan
State Health Care Coverage Facts
Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
https://ccf.georgetown.edu/state-childrens-health-facts/
Disability Insurance
State Disability Insurance (SDI)
Employment Development Department
800.480.3287
www.edd.ca.gov
Federal Disability Insurance (SSDI & SSI)
Social Security Administration
800.772.1213
www.ssa.gov
SSI State Supplement
www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-11125.pdf
To find your local SSA office:
https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp
Estate Planning & Medical Decision Making
Triage Cancer Quick Guide to Estate Planning
Triage Cancer Checklist: Getting Organized
Southern California HIPAA Forms Requesting Access to Protected Health Care Information
Northern California HIPAA Forms Requesting Access to Protected Health Care Information
California Advanced Health Care Directives
Wills & Trusts
State Laws on Creating Wills
Do I Need a Will?
Bankruptcy
How to File Bankruptcy in California for Free
Filing bankruptcy can be an effective way to eliminate medical bills and credit card debt among other kinds of erasable debts.
Employment
Federal Fair Employment Agency
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
800.669.4000
info@eeoc.gov
www.eeoc.gov
Reasonable Accommodations
Job Accommodation Network
800.526.7234
jan@AskJAN.org
www.AskJAN.org
Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
U.S. Department of Labor
Wage & Hour Division
866.487.9243
www.dol.gov/whd
State Fair Employment Agency
Department of Fair Employment & Housing
800.884.1684
contact.center@dfeh.ca.gov
www.dfeh.ca.gov
Certification Form for California Family Rights Act
State Paid Family Leave
Employment Development Department
www.edd.ca.gov/Disability/Paid_Family_Leave.htm
877.238.4373
Vocational Rehabilitation
California Department of Rehabilitation
916.324.1313 or 800.952.5544
https://www.dor.ca.gov/Home/Programs
Health Insurance
Triage Cancer Guide to Health Insurance Marketplaces in California
California Health Insurance Marketplace (a.k.a. Exchange)
Covered California
800.300.1506
www.CoveredCA.com
Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program & External Appeals
California Department of Managed Health Care Help Center
888.466.2219
helpline@dmhc.va.gov
www.healthhelp.ca.gov
California Department of Insurance
800.927.4357
www.insurance.ca.gov
COBRA
U.S. Department of Labor
Employee Benefits Security Administration
866.444.3272
www.dol.gov/ebsa
COBRA-California
California Department of Human Resources
916.324.0455
www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/cobra.aspx
HIPAA Plans
California Department of Managed Healthcare
800.927.4357
www.dmhc.ca.gov/HealthCareinCalifornia
High Risk Insurance
Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP)
www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/MajorRiskMedicalInsuranceProgram.aspx
State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Children's Health Insurance Program
977.543.7669
https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/formsandpubs/laws/Pages/Title-XXI-SPAs.aspx
Find Health & Dental Coverage For Your Family
InsureKids.gov
www.insurekidsnow.gov/coverage/ca/index.html
Medicaid Programs
Triage Cancer Guide to Medicaid Expansion
Medicaid
Medi-Cal
800.541.5555
www.medi-cal.ca.gov/
California Healthcare Coverage Facts
https://ccf.georgetown.edu/location/california
Health Insurance Premium Payment Program (HIPP)
916.650.0490
www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/pages/tplrd_cau_cont.aspx
In-home Support Services Program (IHSS)
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/in-home-supportive-services
Medicare
Medicare
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
800.MEDICARE (633.4227)
www.medicare.gov
Medicare Assistance
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP)
800.510.2020
https://www.aging.ca.gov/HICAP
Health Care Programs & Laws
Women’s Health & Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA)
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Sharing Medical Information with Family & Friends
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/
understanding/consumers/sharing-family-friends.pdf
Hill Burton Federally-Funded Health Centers
Federally Qualified Health Centers
National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP)
Unemployment Resources
Unemployment Agency
Employment Development Department
866.333.4606
www.edd.ca.gov
Agency: California Employment Development Department
File here: https://edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/filing_a_claim.htm. Payments are posted to a debit card. Click here to see the current weekly benefit amount and the maximum length of benefits. It takes at least three weeks to process a new UI claim. Assistance in filling out the application is available at https://edd.ca.gov/pdf_pub_ctr/de2338h.pdf. You can also make a phone appointment with the Employment Development Department for assistance by contacting https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/AmericanJobCenters/find-american-job-centers.aspx. Information specifically for self-employed people or independent contractors available at: https://edd.ca.gov/disability/Self-Employed.htm
Whether you have been fired from or quit your previous job, a phone interview will be conducted with you and your employer about two weeks after your application in order to determine if you are eligible for UI benefits. If you quit, you must be able to prove that you made reasonable attempts to keep the job and that you had good cause for leaving. If you attend school or training, you may still be eligible for UI if you are in an approved training program or if you remain available for work even while enrolled.
Updates related to California unemployment benefits and Covid-19: https://www.labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019/ and https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/faqs.htm
State Clinical Trials Law
The ACA requires that most, non-grandfathered, group health plans provide coverage for the routine costs when participating in clinical trials. Some states have more consumer protections. Click here for more information about clinical trials.
Cal. Health & Safety Code Ann. §1370.6, Cal. Ins. Code Ann. §10145.4, Cal. Welfare & Inst. Code Ann. §§ 14087.11, 14132.98 – The statutes apply to most health plans licensed to do business in California, including health care service plan providers (not including specialized health care service plan contracts), disability insurers (ones that provide hospital, medical or surgical coverage in California), County Organized Health System plans, and Medi-Cal. These entities and programs must cover and pay for routine health care services related to Phase I, II, III, or IV clinical trials.
The trial must either: (1) involve a drug that is exempt under federal regulations from a new drug application, or (2) be approved by: (a) NIH, (b) U.S. F.D.A. in the form of an investigational new drug application, (c) U.S. Dept. of Defense, or (d) U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Second, the clinical trials must have a ‘therapeutic intent ‘ for patients and be recommended by the patient’s physician. Third, in many cases, the patient must get clinical trial care from a doctor or hospital within the state. However, health plans must pay for care at treatment centers outside the state if there is no provider in California taking part in the study.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/01-02/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/sb_37_bill_20010810_chaptered.html
Paid Family Sick Leave
- Who’s eligible? California allows all private employees who have been paid at least $300 during the base pay period to receive paid family medical leave. Self-employed individuals can choose to opt in to the program. California’s paid family medical leave law allows
- Who can be cared for? Family members with serious health condition, or an employee’s own disability (unable to perform regular or customary work). Family member includes: child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, grandparent, grandchild, sibling or parent-in-law
- How much time is given? Six weeks for family leave. This will increase to eight weeks in July 2020. An employee is given 52 weeks for an employee’s own disability.
- How much is paid? 60-70% of wages earned in the last 5-18 months before the claim start date. The minimum payment is $50/week, with a maximum payment of $1,300/week. You can calculate your estimated weekly benefit amount here.
- How do I apply? By mail or online. You will need to provide:
- First and last name
- Social Security Number
- CA driver license number
- Most current employer’s business name, phone number, and mailing address
- Last date you worked your regular duties and hours or date you began working; and
- Any wage you received or expect to receive from your employer