A True Success Story                   Paying for Insurance           How DCF Helps with Insurance

A True Success Story

Krystyna Rejniak is cancer-free now. She thanks her doctors and Desert Cancer Foundation.
Imagine being alone with uterine cancer. And having no health insurance.
Krystyna’s diagnosis came through a routine check-up. She was scared. The doctor said: “Don’t’ worry. We will find you something. We will try Desert Cancer Foundation.”
The 59-year old thought the approval process for help and treatment would take months.
“But DCF approved me quickly,” she says. “And my surgery was done quickly with no complications. I didn’t need chemotherapy or radiation treatment.”
She was lucky because the cancer was in an early stage.
“I’m now cancer free," Krystyna says. “I’m cured because of my wonderful doctors and the compassionate people at DCF. They know that time is very important for cancer patients.”
About uterine cancer: There is no commonly recommended screening test for uterine (endometrial) cancer. Women of any age who experience abnormal bleeding should see a doctor immediately.

For more information: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/uterinecancer.html.
 

Paying for Insurance Sometimes is Best Decision

Otilio Lozano is courageously fighting Hodgkins’ lymphoma, with DCF’s support.
Only 32, he was diagnosed in late 2006. He used to move thousands of pounds of food each day as a truck driver for Sysco. Chemotherapy weakened him. He lost his job, and went on Social Security disability. With a family to support, he couldn’t afford health insurance.
He found Desert Cancer Foundation. It paid for his health insurance premiums until he qualified for Medicare. This ensured his treatments continued. So he would have a fighting chance.
Now Otilio, who lives in Bermuda Dunes, Calif., can’t wait to get back to work.
“Once I get better—because I am going to get better—I am going to open my own business and pay Desert Cancer Foundation back two-fold,” he said.
About Hodgkin's lymphoma: a cancer of lymph tissue in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, bone marrow and other places. The first sign is an enlarged lymph node. It is most common among people aged 15 to 35 and 50 to 70. For more information: http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.

Helping through Insurance Premiums

Sometimes DCF pays insurance premiums, co-pays and deductibles for a client.
Many more individuals are facing the plight of being “underinsured.” Many people who have insurance through employers have seen a decline in health benefits.
Frequently patients in active cancer treatment lose their jobs. Treatment often makes it impossible to work full-time. That’s what happened to Otilio Lozano (above). Many oncology treatments are very expensive. Co-pays for insured patients may cost thousands of dollars.
DCF believes there are strong benefits to assisting insured clients. They are:
➢ Continuity of insurance coverage. Someone with cancer who has let coverage lapse may not be able to obtain health insurance again. Even after treatment has ended.
➢ Availability of services. There are more options for an insured patient. Some oncology providers and specialists do not accept uninsured clients, so the all treatments/services may not be readily available or nearby.
➢ Cost. The cost for assisting an insured client is usually significantly less that the costs of funding the same treatment for an uninsured client. The ability to leverage donated dollars means that DCF can help more residents in need.
“Customizing the benefits to the client’s situation ensures the best for both the client and the Foundation,” said Executive Director Peggy Bilous.