Triage Cancer®

A podcast from Triage Health simplifies health insurance and finances to help people facing serious illness make informed, confident decisions: © stock.adobe.com.

If you’ve ever tried to make sense of your health insurance coverage, file an appeal after a denial, or figure out what workplace protections apply when you’re sick, you know it can feel overwhelming. For people coping with cancer or any serious medical condition, those challenges are magnified.

That’s exactly why Triage Health, a program of Triage Cancer, created the How to Triage Health Podcast. This podcast is designed to help patients, caregivers, and health care professionals make informed decisions about care, coverage, and finances.

Breaking Down Complex Topics, One Episode at a Time

Each episode of How to Triage Health takes on a real-world issue that aDects individuals and families facing serious illness. Topics include:

Choosing and using health insurance eDectively

Managing medical bills and understanding financial assistance

Planning ahead financially during and after treatment

What sets this podcast apart is its clarity. Each episode breaks down complex topics into simple, practical steps that help listeners feel informed, confident, and in control.

Tools and Resources to Support Every Listener 

Each episode links to free, evidence-based resources on TriageHealth.org and TriageCancer.org, including Quick Guides, videos, worksheets, and interactive tools — all available in English and Spanish. These resources cover everything from comparing insurance options to managing debt or tracking expenses.Empowerment Through Knowledge

The How to Triage Health Podcast bridges the gap between health and legal information, oDering real solutions for real challenges. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or health care professional, this is a trusted space to learn how to make the health care system work for you.

Start with the introductory episode, About Triage Cancer and Triage Health, to learn more about the mission and resources behind the show. Then explore new episodes each month on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or directly at TriageHealth.org/podcast.

Have a question you’d like featured? Email AskTriage@TriageCancer.org.

Articles

The How to Triage Health Podcast, a program by Triage Cancer, aims to assist patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals in navigating complex healthcare topics. It addresses issues such as health insurance, medical bills, insurance denials, workplace rights, and financial planning. Each episode simplifies these topics into actionable steps, providing clarity and confidence to listeners. The podcast also offers free, evidence-based resources in English and Spanish, including guides and tools. It serves as a bridge between health and legal information, empowering listeners to manage their healthcare effectively.

A podcast from Triage Health simplifies health insurance and finances to help people facing serious illness make informed, confident decisions.

Navigating Health Care Just Got Easier: The “How to Triage Health” Podcast

Between paying for treatment, managing a reduced income, and understanding insurance, the financial side of cancer can feel overwhelming.

A cancer diagnosis can bring big changes—emotionally, physically, and financially. Between paying for treatment, managing a reduced income, and understanding insurance, the financial side of cancer can feel overwhelming.

Triage Cancer o?ers a unique program that connects people with volunteer Certified Financial Planners® (CFPs). These planners provide free, one-on-one financial guidance to individuals and families coping with cancer or other serious medical conditions.

This e?ort is supported by the Foundation for Financial Planning, which works to make pro bono financial advice more accessible to people in need.

Through Triage Cancer’s Volunteer Financial Planner Program, individuals and caregivers are matched with trained CFP® professionals. Many volunteers have personal experience with cancer or chronic illness, and they’re passionate about helping others find financial stability during a di?icult time.

Creating or adjusting a budget on a limited income

Understanding how job changes may a?ect finances

Planning for retirement after a cancer diagnosis

Managing debt or building emergency savings

Each meeting is personalized to fit the individual’s needs, helping participants feel more confident and in control of their financial future.

Triage Cancer’s Volunteer Financial Planner Program works together with its Legal & Financial Navigation Program, which helps people understand their legal rights, options, and benefits that may be available to them.

When someone’s questions go deeper into the details of their financial situation, such as how to manage their debt or prepare for retirement based on their individual situation, they could be referred to a volunteer financial planner for additional help.

Most people meet with their volunteer financial planner at least twice:

1. FirstMeeting–Theplannerreviewsgoals,gathersbackgroundinformation,and helps identify challenges.

2. Follow-Up–Theparticipantreceivesashortfinancialplanoranswerstospecific questions.

The sessions are flexible and can be tailored to fit each person’s needs.

Both individuals and financial planners can take part in this program:

Financial planners interested in volunteering can complete a short interest form through Triage Cancer.

Individuals a?ected by cancer who want free financial help can connect with the program by filling out an online intake form.

Managing money during cancer treatment can be stressful and confusing. This program provides people with trusted experts who can help them make clear, informed choices about their finances at no cost, helping them find stability, and peace of mind.

A cancer diagnosis often leads to significant emotional, physical, and financial challenges. Triage Cancer offers a program connecting individuals with volunteer Certified Financial Planners® (CFPs) to provide free, personalized financial guidance. Supported by the Foundation for Financial Planning, this initiative aims to make pro bono financial advice accessible to those in need. The program works in tandem with Triage Cancer’s Legal & Financial Navigation Program, offering comprehensive support. Participants typically meet with planners twice, receiving tailored financial plans to help manage their finances during cancer treatment.

Financial Planning Support for People and Families Impacted by Cancer

Open Enrollment Made Simple © stock.adobe.com.

Choosing the right health insurance plan during Open Enrollment can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. With a little preparation, you can make confident decisions that protect your health and your wallet.

Here are 3 tips to help you pick the right plan this Open Enrollment season:

Don’t be swayed by low monthly premiums alone. You have to figure out what your out-of-pocket costs will be, too. Use this formula to find your total annual cost:

(Monthly Premium × 12) + Out-of-Pocket Maximum = Total Annual Cost

A plan’s “network” determines where you can receive care covered by the plan. Visiting out-of-network providers can result in steep out-of-pocket costs—or no coverage at all. Make sure your preferred doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies are included in any plan you are considering.

Make Sure Your Prescription Drugs Are Covered

To avoid surprise costs, check to see if your medications are covered under the plan, by looking at the list of drugs covered. This list is called the formulary.

This Open Enrollment, take advantage of Triage Cancer’s free 

Health Insurance Comparison Calculators & Worksheets

 to simplify your decision-making. We also offer tools for comparing 

For more in-depth education on Open Enrollment, attend our 

Close the Knowledge Gap: Key Tips for Open Enrollment.

 If you can’t attend live, you can watch the recording. It will be available in our 

With the right preparation, you can feel confident that you’re choosing the best plan for your needs. 

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to 

subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.

Open Enrollment can be daunting, but with proper preparation, selecting the right health insurance plan becomes manageable. Key strategies include calculating total annual costs by considering both premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, ensuring preferred healthcare providers and prescription drugs are covered, and utilizing available tools for plan comparison. Triage Cancer offers free resources, including Health Insurance Comparison Calculators and a webinar for deeper insights into Open Enrollment. By leveraging these resources, individuals can make informed decisions that align with their healthcare needs and financial considerations.

Choosing the right health insurance plan during Open Enrollment can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. 

Open Enrollment Made Simple: How to Pick the Best Plan for You

Triage Health offers free, expert-led education on the legal and practical issues that impact individuals coping with chronic or serious medical conditions: ©  stock.adobe.com.

Triage Health offers free, expert-led education on the legal and practical issues that impact individuals coping with chronic or serious medical conditions. Through our Triage Health Conference, we provide guidance on key topics including health and disability insurance, finances, employment rights, advocacy, and more. This event is part of the broader work of Triage Cancer.

Our next Triage Health Conference will take place online on May 17. 

Individuals diagnosed with chronic or serious medical conditions (e.g., cancer)

Advocates and anyone interested in health care rights and resourcesContinuing education (CE) credits or professional development credits are available for nurses, social workers, patient advocates, and human resource professionals.Why Attend?
Learn how to reduce the financial and emotional burden of a medical diagnosis. We’ll giveyou the tools to make confident decisions about insurance, work, and other real-life challenges. Topics include:

Understanding your health insurance options

Appealing denials and picking the right plan

Managing medical bills and finding financial assistance

Becoming an empowered patient and advocateRegister TodayDon’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable, actionable information—and have some fun, too! Join us for a day of education, connection, games, and prizes. triagecancer.org/conferences/may-2025

Triage Health offers a free, expert-led conference addressing legal and practical issues for those with chronic or serious medical conditions. The event, scheduled for May 17, provides guidance on health insurance, finances, employment rights, and advocacy. It targets individuals with medical conditions, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and advocates. Attendees can earn continuing education credits. The conference aims to reduce the financial and emotional burden of medical diagnoses by equipping participants with tools for confident decision-making in insurance, work, and legal matters, while also offering opportunities for connection and engagement.

Triage Health offers free, expert-led education on the legal and practical issues that impact individuals coping with chronic or serious medical conditions.

Triage Cancer^®

Navigating Health Care Just Got Easier: The “How to Triage Health” Podcast

Financial Planning Support for People and Families Impacted by Cancer

Open Enrollment Made Simple: How to Pick the Best Plan for You

Triage Health Conference: Free Education to Navigate Health Care

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