New Updates to Health Care Reform!

The Leukemia Lymphoma Society has begun hosting weekly webcasts dedicated to addressing concerns facing young adult cancer patients and survivors. I listened in for the first time last night, and panel members provided some creative tips regarding how to deal with the impact of diagnosis on health insurance and employment:

Benefits During Medical Leave: 

Through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), companies that employ more that 50 workers on a regional scale are required to grant employees 12 weeks per year of unpaid medical leave while taking care of loved ones or undergoing treatment. During this time employees are assured job protection and the preservation of health benefits.

Plus, read about new ground-breaking details on health care reform and preexisting conditions:

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/07/20100701a.html

Several states are operating their own plans while others will be run by the Department of Health and Human Services. Premiums will NOT be determined based on disease category or salary.

Find out how to apply here.

Hitting the pavement for blood cancer research

Training for her fifth Chicago Marathon, my friend Jill Forister has generously elected to raise funds for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.  There's nothing more inspiring than getting a brief glimpse of running friends enclosed in an athletic herd. This year she's doing it for a worthy cause thanks to my own connection to LLS. Check out her fundraising page:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/il/chicago10/jforister

Run, Jill, run!! (Because "dance, Jill, dance!" elicits a very different response...)

And as long as we're being supportive...

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and OVAC have joined forces to urge legislators to increase the budgets of the National Institute of Health and the National Cancer Institute. This supports vital cancer research efforts. Contact your representatives here.