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.
Chat live online
Select the Live Chat button at the bottom of the page
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:
- Referrals to patient-related programs or resources
- Donations, website, or event-related assistance
- Tobacco-related topics
- Volunteer opportunities
- Cancer Information
For medical questions, we encourage you to review our information with your doctor.
- Understanding Your Options and Making Treatment Decisions
- How Treatment Is Planned and Scheduled
- When Treatment Should Start
- Cancer During Pregnancy
- Questions to Ask Your Doctor When You Have Cancer
- If Cancer Treatments Stop Working
- Getting Cancer Treatment at Home
- Intravenous (IV) Lines, Catheters, and Ports Used in Cancer Treatment
- Tubes, Catheters, and Drains Used in Cancer Treatment and Care
- Coping with Cancer After a Natural Disaster
- Personal Health Manager
- More Information on Cancer Drugs
- How to Interpret News About New Cancer Treatments
- Cancer Treatment Videos
Will My Insurance Cover Alternative Medicine?
Some insurance companies may pay for some of the more well know alternative methods, such as homeopathy and naturopathy. If you are looking into alternative treatments, contact your insurance company to find out what your plan covers.
You may want to ask them:
- Does my insurance plan provide any coverage for [the alternative method you are interested in trying]? If so, how much coverage is provided and for how long?
- How much will I need to pay out of pocket for this treatment?
- Do I need a prescription or referral for this alternative treatment?
- Do I need to get this service preauthorized?
- Do I need to see a practitioner who is in my network? If so, will any coverage be provided if I go out of network?
Insurance companies usually will not cover alternative methods that have not been shown to be helpful for the illness or symptom you have. To be covered by insurance, a treatment must be shown to be safe, effective, and necessary for a certain condition.
Also note that your chosen alternative provider may not accept insurance. You may be required to pay out of pocket and submit requests for reimbursement to your insurance provider yourself.
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.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Paying for Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches. Nccih.nih.gov. Accessed at https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/paying-for-complementary-and-integrative-health-approaches on August 20, 2021.
Last Revised: August 30, 2021
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
American Cancer Society Emails
Sign up to stay up-to-date with news, valuable information, and ways to get involved with the American Cancer Society.