CANCER LEGAL CARE

IN 2025, CLC'S LEGAL CARE PROGRAM (LCP), OUR LARGEST COMBINED PROGRAM, PROVIDED FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO A TOTAL OF 647 MINNESOTANS WHO HAD A COMBINED 858 DIFFERENT LEGAL MATTERS; MAINTAINING THE 20+% GROWTH IN CLIENTS SINCE 2023. THE BIGGEST AREAS OF NEEDED LEGAL CARE WERE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE, ESTATE PLANNING, AND INSURANCE COVERAGE ISSUES. AS HAS BEEN THE TREND FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, A GROWING NUMBER OF CLIENTS HAVE STAGE IV CANCER. IN 2015, 26% OF OUR CLIENTS WERE STAGE IV. IN 2025, 52% OF OUR CLIENTS WERE LIVING WITH STAGE IV CANCER. THE LCP IS DESIGNED TO HELP OUR CLIENTS MAINTAIN FINANCIAL SECURITY AND FAMILY STABILITY EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY. THE FOLLOWING IS A BREAKDOWN OF CLIENT'S LEGAL NEEDS AND AREAS OF LEGAL CARE PROVIDED: 18% - INSURANCE COVERAGE (HEALTH INSURANCE, SHORT/LONG TERM DISABILITY)8% - HOUSING AND FINANCIAL (EVICTION, FORECLOSURE, CREDITOR ISSUES, BANKRUPTCY) 8% - EMPLOYMENT (ADA/MHRA DISCRIMINATION/REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, FMLA) 23% - LEGAL PLANNING (HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES, GUARDIANSHIP, WILLS, POWERS OF ATTORNEY) 34% - PUBLIC BENEFITS (SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY, MEDICAID) 9% - OTHER (IMMIGRATION, TAX, FAMILY).80% OF OUR CLIENTS NEEDED ADVICE OR INFORMATION ON A PARTICULAR LEGAL ISSUE OR POINT OF CONFUSION (WHY AM I NOT GETTING PAID FOR MY FMLA TIME OFF? CAN I BE FIRED BECAUSE OF MY CANCER? AM I ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS?) OR A REFERRAL TO A MORE APPROPRIATE AGENCY FOR THEIR NEEDS.20% OF OUR CLIENTS NEEDED EXTENDED LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN LARGER, ONGOING MATTERS (A COMPLEX INSURANCE APPEAL DENYING THEIR TREATMENT BASED ON MEDICAL NECESSITY, CREATION OF AN ESTATE PLAN INCLUDING GUARDIANSHIP FOR THEIR MINOR CHILDREN, APPLICATION ASSISTANCE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS). FOR THESE LONGER PERIODS OF ENGAGEMENT, A CLC STAFF ATTORNEY OR ONE OF OUR 70+ VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS WILL TAKE THE MATTER ON.OUR CLIENTS IN 2025:- WOMEN 58%, MEN 42%- 50% HAVE A HOUSEHOLD INCOME UNDER 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES- AFRICAN AMERICAN 11%, AI/AN 1% ASIAN 4%, HISPANIC 4%, UNKNOWN/PREFER NOT TO STATE 2%, WHITE 78%- 76% RESIDE IN THE TWIN CITIES METRO; 24% IN GREATER MINNESOTA- 36% LIVE ALONE- 22% HAVE MINOR CHILDREN IN THEIR HOME AND CARE- 74% ARE STILL OF WORKING AGE- 52% ARE LIVING WITH A STAGE IV CANCER - 34% SOUGHT HELP WITH A SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFIT ISSUE OR OTHER GOVERNMENT BENEFITS ISSUE (UP FROM 17% IN 2022).WORDS OF IMPACT FROM OUR CLIENTS:"EVERYONE HAS A PLAN UNTIL THEY GET PUNCHED IN THE FACE. I KNEW I NEEDED TO GET LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR THE INSURANCE SIDE OF THINGS. I HAD TO COME TO CANCER LEGAL CARE TO GET THE FOLLOW THROUGH.""CANCER LEGAL CARE WAS AS MANDATORY TO ME AND MY CANCER AS MY CT SCANS, BLOODWORK, EVERYTHING.""THE SOONER YOU CAN GET THE HELP YOU NEED, THE BETTER. THE STRESS, THE WORRY CANCER LOVES THAT AND IT WILL MAKE YOU SICKER. CANCER LEGAL CARE IS THE HUMAN SIDE OF THE LAW, AND PEOPLE CAN MAKE ALL THE LAWYER JOKES THEY WANT, BUT YOU CANNOT DO THIS ALONE. CANCER LEGAL CARE WILL GIVE YOU THE ABILITY TO CALL IT LIKE IT IS WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY."

ICARE - A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF OUR WORK TOOK PLACE IN 2020 WITH THE CREATION OF OUR ICARE PROGRAM UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF OUR LEGAL CARE PROGRAM OFFERINGS. ICARE (INSURANCE CLAIM ADVOCACY AND RESOLUTION) ADDRESSES THE GROWING NUMBER OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE DENIALS DUE TO MANY FACTORS INCLUDING SHRINKING NETWORKS AND EVER-CHANGING PRE-AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS. OUR GOAL WITH ICARE IS TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE HEALTH AND FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF OUR CLIENTS BY WAY OF ENSURING THAT THEIR INSURANCE COVERS WHAT IT SHOULD, AND THAT HOSPITAL BILLING AND CODING ERRORS ARE CORRECTED SO THAT OUR CLIENTS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR BILLS THAT ARE NOT THEIRS TO PAY. SINCE PILOTING THIS WORK IN 2019, WE HAVE CLOSED 176 COMPLICATED INSURANCE MATTERS WITH A 94% SUCCESS RATE FOR OUR CLIENTS. OF THESE CLOSED MATTERS, SUCCESS INCLUDED PROTECTING OR RECOVERING $4,471,875.94 IN HEALTH, DISABILITY, OR LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITS THAT HAD INITIALLY BEEN DENIED TO 85 OF OUR CLIENTS BY THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INDIVIDUAL CLIENT DOLLAR AMOUNT RANGES FROM $150 TO $565,000, WITH AN AVERAGE RECOVERY/PROTECTION OF $52,610.31 PER CLIENT. "YOUR SUPPORT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME, AND I TRULY COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.""THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. IT TRULY FEELS LIKE SOMEONE IS FINALLY ON OUR SIDE, AND MY FAMILY AND I DEEPLY APPRECIATE IT.""THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING FOR ME. IT ALLOWS ME TO FOCUS MY ENERGY ON GETTING MY HEALTH BACK ON TRACK. DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD HANDLE ALL THIS WITHOUT YOUR HELP."OUR ICARE PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES TO CLIENTS ON THE FULL SPECTRUM OF ASSISTANCE LEVELS, FROM EDUCATING CLIENTS ON PROTECTIONS OF THE LAW (SUCH AS THE NO SURPRISES ACT AND THE MINNESOTA DEBT FAIRNESS ACT), EXPLAINING BENEFITS AND CLAIM DETERMINATIONS, "COACHING" CLIENTS THROUGH THEIR OWN CLAIM DENIAL APPEALS, AND PROVIDING FULL REPRESENTATION AND CLAIM DENIAL APPEAL AND/OR MEDICAL BILLING DISPUTE HANDLING. WE TACKLE A WIDE VARIETY OF CLAIM DENIAL AND BILLING ISSUES SUCH AS MEDICAL NECESSITY, PRIOR AUTHORIZATION, OUT-OF-NETWORK, EXPERIMENTAL AND INVESTIGATIONAL PROCEDURES AND MEDICATIONS, OFF-LABEL MEDICATION USE, BILLING CODING ERRORS, PROVIDER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND GENERAL NAVIGATION OF THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN MEDICAL TREATMENT AND THE INSURANCE CLAIM PROCESS. OUR MODEL OF PROVIDING THESE SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE PROTECTS OUR CLIENTS' FINANCIAL STABILITY BY ENSURING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY MONEY TO RECOVER BENEFITS OR KEEP FUNDS THAT ARE RIGHTFULLY THEIRS TO BEGIN WITH. IN ADDITION TO DEALING WITH CANCER AND THE STRESSORS OF INSURANCE DENIALS, OUR ICARE CLIENTS ARE FACING INCREDIBLE FINANCIAL STRAIN. FULLY 29% OF OUR ICARE CLIENTS ARE UNDER 200% FPG (UP FROM 24% IN 2021), WITH ANOTHER 18% IN BETWEEN 200%-300% FPG. ALL OF THE ICARE WORK IS DONE AT NO CHARGE AND WITHOUT ANY INCOME ELIGIBILITY LIMITATIONS. WHY?1. VERY FEW FAMILIES COULD AFFORD AN ATTORNEY'S HELP IN LIGHT OF CANCER'S GROWING FINANCIAL TOXICITY.2. ANY BARRIER TO REACHING OUT OR GETTING HELP MORE OFTEN THAN NOT BECOMES A NON-STARTER FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THEIR PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND FINANCIAL BREAKING POINT. WE KNOW THAT INSURANCE ISSUES ARE AT THE TOP OF THE MOST STRESSFUL THINGS OUR CLIENTS FACE.