The PSPRS Cancer Insurance Program provides financial assistance to eligible public safety members and retirees who are diagnosed with cancer. The program helps offset out-of-pocket expenses by offering lump-sum payments for covered cancer diagnoses, treatment and reimbursement for treatment-related expenses.
In addition to diagnosis benefits, the program may provide payments for a range of cancer-related care, including imaging, radiation, chemotherapy, pharmacy costs, genomic and genetic testing, and approved experimental treatments. Benefits are limited to actual incurred expenses and are subject to program limits and rules. All benefits paid through the Cancer Insurance Program are not subject to taxes.
The Cancer Insurance Program is funded through annual premium payments made by participating employers or retired members and investment returns generated by a separately maintained trust. The program is governed by the PSPRS Board of Trustees, which maintains both a plan document and a funding policy. Learn more below or from this downloadable flyer.
Below is a table of contents to help members learn more about PSPRS Cancer Insurance Program:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Eligibility
MEMBER | PSPRS |
Active members: | Yes |
Retired members: (extended eligibility) | Yes. Retired members are provided with 5 months of coverage, at no cost, for every year of credited service including years in DROP (if DROP effective September 2019 or later) |
Retired members who have completed their extended eligibility | Who had a diagnosis of cancer PRIOR to the end date of their extended eligibility coverage period, may elect to continue coverage and pay the annual premium |
Premiums
Cancer Insurance Program | PSPRS Employers |
Participation: | Mandatory |
Fees Paid by: | Employer |
Annual Premium*: | $50 |
Participants: | Active, DROP and retired members (if eligible) |
* Premiums are set annually by the Board of Trustees per statute (A.R.S. § 38-641), not to exceed $180 per year, and are invested by PSPRS in a trust used to pay members claims. Members have a 24-month period to submit claims for out of pocket expenses. | |
Benefits
Each year, the Cancer Insurance Program (CIP) provides eligible active members and retirees with benefits and/or reimbursements for out-of-pocket costs for the following:
- Initial diagnosis of cancer, including skin cancer
- Subsequent diagnosis of cancer (non-skin)
- Intensive care treatment
- Pharmaceuticals
- Experimental treatments
- Imaging, radiation and chemotherapy
- Genomic and genetic testing
- Hospital confinement
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Home hospice care
- Death
Benefits vary by diagnosis and reoccurrence. Please see table for full details:
BENEFITS | LIMITS & AMOUNTS | |
| Overall lifetime maximum benefit under plan | $100,000 | |
| Diagnosis of cancer | First cancer diagnosis, not skin cancer | $15,000 |
| Second and subsequent new cancer diagnosis | Not skin cancer | $7,500 |
| Skin cancer diagnosis | For each positive diagnosis, up to seven (7) | $500 |
| Lifetime maximum amount for this benefit | $3,500 | |
| Imaging (including scans), radiation and chemotherapy | Lifetime maximum amount for this benefit; Reimbursement not to exceed actual incurred expenses | $10,000 |
| Pharmacy | Benefit subject to overall lifetime maximum | |
| Genomic and genetic testing | Maximum benefit amount; Reimbursement not to exceed actual incurred expenses | $15,000 |
| Experimental treatment | Maximum benefit amount; Reimbursement not to exceed actual incurred expenses | $5,000 |
| Hospital confinement | Daily benefit; Reimbursement not to exceed actual incurred expenses | $200 |
| Cancer intensive care | Daily benefit; Reimbursement not to exceed actual incurred expenses | $500 |
| Skilled nursing facility | Daily benefit; Reimbursement not to exceed actual incurred expenses | $40 |
| Home hospice care | Daily benefit; Reimbursement not to exceed actual incurred expenses | $50 |
| Hospice care | Daily benefit; Reimbursement not to exceed actual incurred expenses | $180 |
| Death | Not subject to the lifetime maximum benefit | $10,000 |
Apply for Benefits
Cancer Insurance Program | Forms to use |
First claim: | Complete and submit the Public Safety/CORP Cancer Insurance Policy Program INITIAL Claim Form PACKET. NOTE: Each skin cancer claim should use this packet as well even if it is not your first skin cancer diagnosis |
Subsequent claims: | Complete and submit the Public Safety/CORP Cancer Insurance Combined-Supplemental and Pharmacy Benefits Claim Form. |
Additional forms: | All current forms are available on our Forms and Resources page. (In the forms and resources page, select Cancer Insurance and HIPAA category for the cancer insurance forms). |
Payment Process
Once your claim is approved with a diagnosis of cancer or skin cancer:
For Active or Retired PSPRS Members:
- All claims will be paid directly to you from our office.
Coverage in Retirement (Revised January 2026)
- Members earn five months of cancer insurance coverage at no cost during retirement for every year of credited service and years in DROP*.
*DROP service accruing cancer insurance coverage is limited to members in DROP as of August 27, 2019, and after, per state law.Retiree Cancer Insurance Coverage Estimate Table Years of Service Months of Coverage Years & Months of Coverage 20 100 8 years, 4 months 21 105 8 years, 9 months 22 110 9 years, 2 months 23 115 9 years, 7 months 24 120 10 years, 0 months 25 125 10 years, 5 months 26 130 10 years, 10 months 27 135 11 years, 3 months 28 140 11 years, 8 months 29 145 12 years, 1 months 30 150 12 years, 6 months Availability of Additional Coverage
- Additional cancer insurance coverage beyond the earned period is available to eligible retirees who elect to pay annual premiums and had previously been covered when actively employed.
- Because coverage did not begin for fire fighters until July 1997, a firefighter who retired prior to July 1997 would not be eligible for additional coverage.
- Because coverage did not begin for law enforcement until July 2007, law enforcement retirees who retired prior to July 2007 would not be eligible for additional coverage.
- Retirees who have received claim payments for cancer diagnoses have a one-time option to elect to pay annual premiums at the standard rate to continue coverage.
- Retirees with cancer claim payment history who have previously declined or decline to pay premiums are prohibited from future coverage.
- NOTE: Retirees with cancer claim payment history who believe they were not contacted and afforded an opportunity to extend their coverage may contact PSPRS to request an inquiry that could result in additional cancer insurance eligibility. For those eligible to re-instate coverage past premiums must be paid prior to reenrollment.
Retirees whose coverage expired as of January 1, 2026
- Retirees whose free coverage expired before 2026 will have 12 months, until January 1, 2027, to elect to pay annual premiums and continue coverage.
- Eligible retirees will be contacted by email and mail.
- Retirees can elect to receive additional cancer insurance by submitting a completed form and payment by check to PSPRS.
- A pro-rated premium amount of $92.50, payable by pension deduction from April 2026 pension payments, is required to receive coverage from January 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026, before the first full-year billing cycle begins July 1, 2026.
- The annual premium amount of $185, payable by pension deduction from July pension payments, is required to receive coverage from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
- Retirees who elect to continue coverage and pay premiums may request a one-time refund within 180 days but doing so will end coverage and eligibility for future coverage.
Retirees whose coverage expires in 2026
- Retirees whose free coverage expires in 2026 will have until January 1, 2027, or within the timeframe of their invoice to elect to pay annual premiums and continue coverage.
- Eligible retirees will be contacted by email and mail.
- Retirees can elect to receive additional cancer insurance by submitting a completed form and payment by check to PSPRS.
- A pro-rated premium amount of $92.50, payable by pension deduction from April 2026 pension payments, is required to receive coverage from January 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026, before the first full-year billing cycle begins July 1, 2026.
- The annual premium amount of $185, payable by pension deduction from July pension payments, is required to receive coverage from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
- Retirees who elect to continue coverage and pay premiums may request a one-time refund within 180 days but doing so will end coverage and eligibility for future coverage.
Retirees whose coverage expires as of January 1, 2027
- Beginning January 1, 2027, retirees who reach the end of their free coverage period will have their annual premium automatically deducted from pension benefits.
- Deductions will occur annually during July or August of each year.
- Retirees may request a refund within 180 days of deduction but doing so will end coverage and eligibility for future coverage.
Coverage limitations and benefits
- Additional cancer insurance coverage cannot provide claim payments for cancer diagnoses incurred during periods in which a retiree was not covered or before a retiree elects to receive or receives additional coverage.
- However, additional coverage may also provide reimbursements for ongoing expenses related to cancer diagnoses incurred prior to the renewal of coverage.
- Additional cancer insurance coverage beyond the earned period is available to eligible retirees who elect to pay annual premiums and had previously been covered when actively employed.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Overview
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was enacted to expand health coverage by improving the portability and continuity of health insurance coverage. Additionally, The United States Department of Health and Human Services established the HIPAA Privacy Regulation which took effect on April 14, 2003. The Privacy Rule, as it is commonly referred, provides for the protection and privacy of individually identifiable health information and guards against the misuse of this information. The Privacy Rule sets forth administrative requirements, privacy and security requirements, and individual rights regarding the use and disclosure of protected health information. The Privacy Rule also establishes penalties for the misuse or disclosure of individually identifiable protected health information.
As administrators of the Public Safety/CORP Cancer Insurance Program, which is a Group Health Plan, PSPRS is considered a covered entity and must adhere to the requirements outlined in HIPAA. As part of your rights under HIPAA, the PSPRS Notice of Privacy Practices provides a general description of the privacy practices of the Public Safety/CORP Cancer Insurance Program outlining when and in what circumstances protected health information (PHI) will be used, or disclosed, in addition to informing Cancer Insurance Program participants of their rights. As well as, there are several forms that may be used to view, obtain and alter your PHI, which all forms are located in the Forms & Resources section under Cancer Insurance & HIPAA Forms.
HIPAA regulations require the PSPRS Administration to assign a HIPAA Privacy Officer and the PSPRS Compliance Officer is the Agency’s HIPAA Privacy Officer. Questions, concerns, and complaints about HIPAA Privacy matters may be sent to the following address:
PSPRS Administration
Attention: HIPAA Privacy Officer
3010 E. Camelback Road, Suite 200
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Signing up for additional Cancer Insurance Program coverage
- Retirees must complete and send to PSPRS the PSPRS/CORP Additional Cancer Insurance Policy Coverage Enrollment form