11: Your Rights After a Cancer Diagnosis: Monica Bryant on Insurance, Work & Financial Protection

In this episode of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship, Caleen Allen sits down with Monica Bryant, Esq - lawyer, Chief Mission Officer of Triage Cancer, and national advocate for cancer patients’ rights. Monica breaks down the complicated but critical issues every cancer patient and caregiver needs to understand, from health insurance and job protection to medical leave, COBRA, disability benefits, and financial assistance programs. She shares how patients can protect their privacy at work, avoid costly mistakes with insurance, and access resources that can make the difference between financial ruin and survivorship with dignity. This conversation is equipped with knowledge and confidence to ask the right questions, understand your options, and advocate for yourself at work, in treatment, and in life. ✨ Learn more: triagecancer.org  | sistersnetworkinc.org  🔔 Subscribe for more empowering episodes of SIS: Sisters In Survivorship KEY POINTS:  - [0:00] Introduction - [3:39] What Triage Cancer does and how it helps survivors and caregivers - [4:32] Free resources, legal navigation, and financial education available online - [6:09] How patients can slow down and gather information - [9:22] Understanding your health insurance and avoiding costly mistakes - [10:48] Privacy at work: Do you have to disclose a cancer diagnosis? - [13:15] Job protection, FMLA, ADA, and medical leave explained - [15:41] How FMLA works, its 12-week limit, and misconceptions - [18:28] Advocacy to expand leave laws and improve protections for patients - [23:31] COBRA vs. Marketplace plans: what to know in treatment transitions - [26:13] Medicaid, Medicare, and supplemental insurance options - [28:43] Training healthcare professionals on financial toxicity and advocacy - [30:22] Post-treatment costs: screenings, surveillance, and hidden expenses - [33:18] Social Security disability benefits and why most claims are denied - [35:51] Why you shouldn’t take “no” for an answer in disability appeals - [36:02] Advice for newly diagnosed patients feeling overwhelmed - [39:37] The future of insurance, Medicaid, and patient advocacy QUOTES: "Triage Cancer is a national nonprofit that I co-founded over 13 years ago to provide free education on all of the legal and practical issues that can arise after a cancer diagnosis." – Monica Bryant, Esq. "Our goal is to provide people with enough information so that they can figure out what needs to be dealt with right now and what can maybe wait until later. Which, of course, is the definition of triage." – Monica Bryant, Esq. "Access to accurate legal information isn't a luxury, it's something that every single person should have access to." – Monica Bryant, Esq. "Whether we're talking about someone's job, their insurance or their medical care, I want people to understand that they have options." – Monica Bryant, Esq. RESOURCES:  Monica Bryant, Esq. Website - https://triagecancer.org/staff  Website - sistersnetworkinc.org IG -  @sistersnetwork YouTube Channel - @SisInSurvivorshipPodcast