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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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Call us at 1-800-227-2345
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
If you, your spouse, or your child’s other parent is or was a military service member, or if your spouse or your child’s parent died or was disabled in the line of duty, you may qualify for health coverage from a source different from your job or your state health insurance Marketplace.
The Veterans Health Administration is a part of the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that supplies health care benefits to US veterans.
If you were ever on active duty in the military, you might qualify for Veterans Administration (VA) health care if:
You must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which you were called to active duty, unless any of the descriptions below are true for you.
This minimum duty requirement may not apply if any of these are true:
You must have been called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which you were called or ordered to active duty. If you had or have active-duty status for training purposes only, you don’t qualify for VA health care.
You’re eligible for VA health care.
Even if you don’t have or aren’t eligible for VA health benefits, you have access to free VA mental health services. Some of these services include:
Learn more about getting VA mental health services.
For more information on VA health benefits and how to apply:
The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act) is a newer law that increases VA health care benefits for veterans exposed to certain toxic substances. It includes several groups of veterans, including Vietnam era, Gulf War era, and post-9/11 combat veterans.
The PACT Act added more than 20 conditions and 11 types of cancers to the VA’s military service presumptive conditions list. If a veteran is diagnosed with one of these conditions or cancers, the VA assumes that toxic exposure during their military service led to the diagnosis.
These veterans may be eligible to receive disability compensation. If you are a surviving family member of a veteran, you may be eligible for certain benefits.
If you’ve been diagnosed with a new presumptive condition, you can file a disability claim online, by mail, or in person.
TRICARE is the name of the US Department of Defense’s health system. It supplies health care benefits to active duty and retired service members, as well as their dependents and survivors.
TRICARE health benefits are offered to:
Family members applying for TRICARE benefits must be registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a government health benefits program. VA shares the cost of certain health care services and supplies with certain family members of veterans who are deceased or disabled due to their service.
To be eligible for CHAMPVA benefits:
Call CHAMPVA Help Line: 800-733-8387
Here are other organizations that might have helpful information for veterans.
Medicare – US Department of Health and Human Services
Toll-free number: 1-800-633-4227
TTY: 1-877-486-2048
Website: www.medicare.gov
Answers questions, provides literature, and gives referrals to state Medicare offices and local HMO’s with Medicare contracts.
US Department of Labor, Employee Benefits, Security Administration (EBSA)
Toll-free number: 1-866-444-3272
Website: www.dol.gov/ebsa
Information on employee benefit laws and requirements of employer-based health coverage. Special information for military reservists who must leave their private employers for active duty can be found at: www.dol.gov/elaws/vets/userra/mainmenu.asp
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.
TRICARE. New to TRICARE. www.tricare.mil. Accessed July 27th. 2023. https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/New/.
TRICARE. Eligibility. Tricare.mil. Published 2019. Accessed July 27th, 2023. https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/Eligibility.
Veterans Affairs. Exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials. Published April 30, 2020. Accessed July 27th, 2023, at https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/
Veterans Affairs. PACT act toxic exposure screenings and your VA benefits. Published April 6, 2023. Accessed July 27, 2023. https://www.va.gov/new-jersey-health-care/programs/communications-and-outreach/pact-act-toxic-exposure-screenings-and-your-va-benefits.
Veterans Affairs. CHAMPVA benefits. Published January 15, 2020. Accessed Jul 28th. 2023. https://www.va.gov/health-care/family-caregiver-benefits/champva/
Veterans Affairs. Eligibility for VA health care veterans affairs. Published October 11, 2019. Accessed July 27th, 2023. https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/.
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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Daylight saving gives us one more hour to make a difference. Donate to fund lifesaving research.