Disabilities Related To Cancer Treatment
Even if a patients cancer treatment is successful, they can be left with serious impairments. For example, heart, lung, liver, and bone problems have been linked to chemotherapy, while cognitive dysfunction and bone weakness can be long-term effects of radiation.
If you develop a disabling condition as the result of successful cancer treatment, your disability will be evaluated without considering the cancer diagnosis. The Blue Book criteria for your specific condition can offer insight as to whether your long-term side effects of cancer treatment are severe enough to qualify for SSDI benefits.
Q: Ssdi For Prostate Cancer Suffers
Were sorry to hear about your illness.
Your caseeven more than many otherswill depend on the exact circumstances of your medical and financial conditions. We cant give you a definite answer here, but we will be able to outline the key issues that will influence your decision whether to apply for SSDI based on a prostate cancer diagnosis.
Getting Social Security Disability Benefits After A Cancer Diagnosis
Cancer is the third most common reason adults are awarded disability benefits. The Social Security Administration reports 11.8% of all Social Security disability insurance applications approved in 2018 were related to a cancer diagnosis such as leukemia, lymphoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, or prostate cancer.
SSDI benefits provide a financial lifeline for cancer patients who are unable to work due to their illness. However, a cancer diagnosis wont automatically qualify you for benefits. To increase your chances of being successfully approved, youll want to work with an experienced Social Security disability attorney.
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Qualifying For Ssdi As A Cancer Patient
Chemo and radiation can have many unpleasant side effects, including vomiting, cognitive impairment, and chronic fatigue. While theres no doubt that these symptoms can make working difficult, you wont be approved for benefits simply because you are undergoing cancer treatment.
To qualify for SSDI, your condition must be expected to last one year or longer or result in your death. Cancer treatment symptoms typically last less than one year and are not severe enough to prevent you from working the entire time.
Cancer that is caught in the early stages and responds well to treatment wont qualify for disability benefits. Only advanced cancers that meet one of the following criteria are eligible for SSDI benefits:
Disability Benefits For People With Cancer
All of the medical problems that make someone eligible to receive disability benefits are listed in the Social Security Administrations Blue Book. Each listing in the Blue Book has a set of requirements that must be met to be considered eligible for disability benefits. Not every type of cancer has a listing in the Blue Book, and the ones that do, have very specific requirements, so please read this information carefully.
In general, any cancer that is Stage IV or terminal will automatically qualify a person to receive disability benefits. A very serious cancer diagnosis qualifies for the Compassionate Allowance program, which expedites the claim for disability benefits to start receiving money quickly. To qualify for Compassionate Allowance, the cancer must meet one of these requirements:
- The cancer has spread beyond the region of origin
- The cancer is inoperable
- The cancer is recurrent despite treatment
If your cancer meets one of these requirements, you should submit a claim as soon as possible for disability benefits. You will also need to submit medical records, such as test results, MRIs, and a cancer diagnosis from an oncologist at our cancer center. The Social Security Administration will automatically flag your claim for Compassionate Allowance because of the seriousness of the diagnosis. You dont have to ask for Compassionate Allowance.
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Ssas Disability Listing 1324 For Prostate Cancer
SSAs listing 13.24 gives us the standards for an award of benefits for prostate cancer. The SSA considers many factors when deciding whether to award benefits, including:
- The origin of the cancer
- Duration and response to treatment
- Effects on your life if problems, like incontinence, do not respond to treatment
Listing 13.24 includes specific elements that you must meet to qualify for benefits. Below please find the entire listing:
Applying For Disability Insurance After Cancer
Once you are in remission, have had your cancer removed or treated, and a doctor has given you the all-clear after a follow-up appointment, you can apply for a disability insurance policy to ensure that your income is protected from other health issues in the future.
Former cancer patients arenât uninsurable, but applying for disability insurance with a pre-existing condition can mean that youâll have higher premiums.
There are several ways to lower your premium if you have a history of cancer:
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Exclusions: If you have a history of cancer, itâs very likely that cancer will be listed as an exclusion and wonât be covered by your policy. How specific the exclusion is depends on your history, including what type and stage of cancer you had.
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Shorter benefit period: Depending on your health history, an insurance agent may suggest that you purchase a policy that only provides benefits for three to five years, instead of until retirement. Once you have several years without claims, you can reapply for a more robust policy.
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Step-graded coverage for illnesses: Step-graded coverage means that when you first buy the policy, youâll have lower coverage for illnesses but full coverage for accidents. Then, each progressive year without a claim means you get more of the full coverage amount if you become disabled from an illness.
We can help you can get disability insurance quotes, and a Policygenius disability insurance specialist can help you personalize your quotes to your needs.
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What Is Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the prostate, which is a gland in the male reproductive system. The prostate gland is below the bladder and in front of the rectum.
When the cancer spreads from its original site, it can affect distant parts of the body, such as bones, skin, brain, or the spinal cord. If prostate cancer spreads, then it is called advanced or metastatic prostate cancer.
Making A Disability Insurance Claim With Cancer
If you have received a cancer diagnosis and need to learn about disability insurance options, the first step is to survey what coverage you may already have. There are three primary types of disability coverage:
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Social Security disability insurance, provided as a benefit through the federal government.
Talk to your HR department about what coverage you have through work. If you have a private disability insurance policy that youâve purchased on your own outside of work, look into claim requirements.
A cancer diagnosis doesnât guarantee that you can receive disability benefits. To make a successful disability claim and claim benefits, a diagnosis has to lead to a disability that keeps you from working.
To make a claim, youâll have to get a statement from your doctor that explains your health status and that youâre disabled and unable to work. That information has to meet your policyâs definition of disability. Some insurers may also require a statement from your employer.
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The Cost Of Treating Prostate Cancer
According to Drug Watch, the cost of a prostatectomy is about $15,000. The cost for eight weeks of chemotherapy can vary from $8,000 to $20,000. On average, the patient diagnosed with prostate cancer will spend about $20,000 on treatment. It is dependent upon your cancer, its stage, your location, and the hospital and medical providers used.
If you have recurrences of the cancer, the overall treatment for prostate cancer is estimated to be anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000. Even for individuals with health insurance, the copays and deductibles can add up rather quickly.
Applying For Social Security Disability Benefits With Prostate Cancer
The Journal of The National Cancer Institute reports there are nearly 2 million men living in the America today who are prostate cancer survivors, and the Prostate Cancer Foundation reports more than 220,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S.
While prostate cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related death for American men as well, it is also among the most treatable and curable forms of cancer, which is why it may or may not qualify you for disability benefits.
If your prostate cancer was advanced when diagnosed or has recurred after initial treatment, then you automatically medically qualify Social Security Disability. If it is not advanced, you will need to meet Blue Book listing 13.24 to qualify. Either way, you will need to apply and provide medical records to back up your claim though.
If your prostate cancer is caught early and responds to treatment, then you wont qualify for benefits through the typical review process. Instead, youll have to show that your cancer symptoms, treatments, and complications severely disrupt your ability to function on a daily basis.
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What To Do If You Receive A Denial Or Unacceptable Rating Decision From The Va
If you are a veteran with a service-connected disability and you feel that the VA has made an unfair determination regarding your disability benefis, we urge you to contact us right away. With decades of combined experience appealing unfair Regional Office and Board of Veteranâs Appealsâ decisions, we are confident we can win you the benefits you deserve. When you are ready, send us a note or give us a call at -629-1712.
The Costs Of Prostate Cancer
A prostate cancer diagnosis is often followed by multiple consultations with specialists, including urologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists, among others. Follow-up appointments with various doctors and specialists may also be necessary.
Office visit co-pays are among the initial expenses, but you must tack on top of these the costs of various treatments, which may include a combination of radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, prescription drugs, and surgery.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation and Dr. Jay Ciezki of the Cleveland Clinic report that patients accumulate medical expenses at varying rates after initial treatment. Annual expenses depend highly on the type of treatment a patient undergoes. For example, men that have their prostate gland surgically removed incur annual direct medical costs that average about $3,200 thereafter.
Patients that undergo other initial treatment methods average annual medical expenses that range from about $2,600 to $6,400.
According to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institutes, between 22 and 30 percent of men report that their cancer and cancer treatments affect their ability to perform physical job functions 12 months after diagnosis. For many, this is well after initial treatment for prostate cancer has ended.
If you are no longer able to work, then Social Security disability can be a means of ensuring consistent income.
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Travel And Travel Insurance
If you’re planning a holiday your cancer could affect things like where you go and how long you go away for. This shouldn’t stop you from travelling but it may affect what you need to take with you and the sort of things you do while you’re away.
Read our travel information for more information about planning a holiday and tips for sorting out travel insurance.
Can I Get Disability Benefits For Prostate Cancer
Can I get disability benefits for prostate cancer?Prostate Cancer is cancer that only effects man as it occurs in a mans prostate a small walnut-shaped gland that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. It is one of the most common types of cancer in men-only skin cancer is more common with men. One out of every three diagnoses of cancer in men each year is prostate cancer.
This form of cancer usually grows slowly and initially remains confined to the prostate gland, where it may not cause serious harm. Unfortunately, the disease is relatively symptom free during the early stages and problems may not arise until the cancer has progressed. With more advanced stages of the disease, symptoms include: trouble urinating, decrease force in the urine flow, blood in the urine and seamen, swelling in the legs, pelvic discomfort and bone pain.
The Code of Federal Regulations lists several conditions and the required symptomology that must be present in order for someone to meet disability standards. The medical requirements for prostate cancer is found at Listing 13.24. If you do not meet or equal this listing, you may still be entitled to disability benefits if your condition, in conjunction with any other physical or mental impairment, prevents you from returning to work you have done in the past and other substantial work you might be qualified to perform given your age, education and acquired work skills.
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Early Stage Prostate Cancer And Disability Benefits
When caught early and appropriately treated, most prostate cancers are survivable. Some men also do not experience significant, lasting side effects or complications from their cancer or cancer treatments. Every patient is different. If you, however, are unable to continue working after diagnosis and treatment, then you may be able to qualify for benefits despite not meeting the SSAs disability listing.
A residual functional capacity or RFC analysis is necessary to get benefits without meeting a listed disability. Through this additional review, the SSA examines your daily limitations caused by your cancer, cancer treatments, and by any other medical conditions you may have. If they find your limitations prevent you from working in any job for which you possess the education, training, or skills, then you will be found eligible for benefits.
The Financial Cost Of Prostate Cancer
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is one of the most devastating things you can experience, and trying to figure out how to balance treatment and associated costs can be overwhelming. Even with insurance there are still costs that will be incurred throughout treatment, including medication costs and copays.
Each visit with a doctor could mean a new copay, and every lab test, imaging scan or chemotherapy appointment will also require a copay. Medication can also be very expensive, and when youre suddenly faced with all of these expenses it can be a challenge to pay for it all when youre not able to work.
When you are too sick to work, whether its from the prostate cancer itself or the side effects of treatment, it makes going to work an almost impossible task. You might run out of sick time to get to your appointments and so you wont receive compensation for the time missed from work.
If the effects of your prostate cancer are making it impossible for you to meet the demands of your job, then applying for Social Security disability benefits might be an option for you.
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Va Disability Erectile Dysfunction Secondary To Prostate Cancer
If a veterans injury during service immediately caused erectile dysfunction , it would be considered directly service connected. However, ED would be a secondary service connection in any other scenario.
Veterans with prostate cancer may also experience erectile dysfunction. The diagnosis can reduce sexual desire, and the treatment of prostate cancer can increase the frequency of ED. As a result, erectile dysfunction can be a secondary service connection for veterans with prostate cancer.
When You Have Long
Many cancer survivors suffer permanent side effects from their treatment for cancer often these complications do not appear for months or years following the successful treatment of their cancer. When the long-term side effects of chemo or radiation are disabling, it’s easier to get Social Security disability benefits than for the short-term effects.
Chemotherapy has been associated with the following long-term impairments:
- cognitive dysfunction, and
If you develop any of these conditions as a result of your cancer treatment, the SSA will evaluate the impairment on its own, without consideration of the cancer. For instance, if you have heart problems following chemo, your condition would be evaluated as a cardiovascular disability.
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S You Can Take To Win Your Disability Claim
The majority of people who apply for disability benefits are initially denied. It can be discouraging to be so sick and yet feel that others do not think you are too ill to work.
Remember that medical evidence is arguably the most important factor in winning your Social Security disability claim for prostate cancer.
Formally, the Blue Book was a paper manual printed with a blue cover, hence the name. However, the entire Blue Book is now available exclusively online. You should review section 13.24 with your oncologist.
Together you can determine if you meet the listing as described in the Blue Book.
There are several ways your oncologist can help including:
- Ensuring that your full medical history related to your prostate cancer is up to date
- Listing your upcoming treatments and their durations
- Documenting all of your medications and experienced side effects
- Performing any additional blood tests or procedures that you are missing
- Documenting any mental or emotional difficulties that you are having related to your cancer.
Individuals who hire a Social Security disability attorney or advocate are much more successful at winning their claim for disability than those who do not have representation. You should consider a free evaluation with an experienced lawyer or disability advocate in your area today.
Do I Qualify For Disability Insurance Benefits If I Have Prostate Cancer
Disability insurance companies dont always make it easy for policyholders who have prostate cancer to get the disability benefits they deserve.
1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer more than 220,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. It is typically slow growing and, unfortunately, in the early stages, there are no symptoms. That is why annual prostate cancer screening is crucial.
Cancer can be aggressive when it spreads and reach the bones, lymph nodes, lungs and other tissue.
Symptoms can include:
- Pain in the genital and pelvic area,
- Frequent urinary tract infections,
- Pain in the lower back or pelvic area,
The symptoms and progression vary from person to person, which disability carriers often fail to take consideration. These symptoms are similar to prostatitis, erectile dysfunction or an overactive bladder.
Disability carriers are notorious for denying and terminating many claims.
Carriers frequently say:
Many disability claims are denied. Other reasons carriers deny claims:
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