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Our 24/7 cancer helpline provides information and answers for people dealing with cancer. We can connect you with trained cancer information specialists who will answer questions about a cancer diagnosis and provide guidance and a compassionate ear.
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Available any time of day or night
Our highly trained specialists are available 24/7 via phone and on weekdays can assist through online chat. We connect patients, caregivers, and family members with essential services and resources at every step of their cancer journey. Ask us how you can get involved and support the fight against cancer. Some of the topics we can assist with include:
For medical questions, we encourage you to review our information with your doctor.
Financial and Insurance Matters
The (CHIP) offers free or low-cost health insurance coverage for children and teens in families who can’t afford private insurance.
CHIPs are joint state and government programs. Each state has its own CHIP, but your state may call it a different name.
Pre-existing conditions are ALWAYS covered. No medical conditions are excluded. All state CHIPs must cover certain things like:
of what services states are required to cover and which are optional under CHIP?.
Children in low-income households might qualify if they:
Some states also cover pregnant women and their newborn for a certain amount of time.
States might have other rules around eligibility, cost, and benefits. The income requirements are higher for CHIP than Medicaid. So even if your child isn’t eligible for Medicaid, they still might be eligible for CHIP.
If you or your child have a Marketplace plan and get approved for Medicaid or CHIP, you must cancel the Marketplace plan.
If you don’t quit the Marketplace plan, you might have to pay back tax credit payments you received for the months you or your child qualified for Medicaid or CHIP coverage. But don’t cancel your Marketplace plan until you know for sure that you are approved for Medicaid or CHIP.
You can get more information or an application by calling 1-877-543-7669 (1-877-KIDS-NOW).
You can also go to the and find your state’s CHIP program. Most states have applications available online and in-person. You can apply for CHIP for your child anytime.
Along with the American Cancer Society, other sources of information and support are:
US Department of Health & Human Services
Website:
For the most up-to-date information on health care and insurance laws and how they might affect you
Medicaid and CHIP – US Department of Health and Human Services
Toll-free number: 1-877-696-6775
Website:
Information about coverage and eligibility: Your state social service or human service agency can give you the best answers to questions about your benefits, eligibility, and fraud.
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Department of Human Services. Children’s health insurance program (CHIP). Accessed July 27, 2023. https://www.dhs.pa.gov/CHIP/Pages/CHIP.aspx.
Medicaid.gov. Children’s health insurance program (CHIP). Published 2015. Accessed July 27, 2023. https//www.medicaid.gov/CHIP/index.html.
Last Revised: September 30, 2023
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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