Benefits Handbook

With MSK Direct, you have direct access to a team of dedicated professionals who specialize in helping you navigate the cancer treatment process. The team includes experienced nurses, social workers and MSK Direct Care Advisors who will be there to guide you and help oversee the coordination of your experience every step of the way.

MSK is recognized as a leading, best in class cancer care provider. MSK Direct provides holistic support to ease the burden of a cancer diagnosis for you and your eligible family members.

In addition to the main hospital in Manhattan, MSK has outpatient facilities located in New York (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island and Westchester) and New Jersey.

If you are not able to travel to MSK for care, MSK Direct can provide a referral for a local provider outside of MSK. Currently, referrals are based on two factors: (1) whether there are providers in your area who were trained at MSK and (2) whether there are any Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers (ADCC) or National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive Cancer Centers available in your area. Taking these factors into consideration, a referral is provided to one or multiple facilities in the area or to the ADCC or NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Yes. MSK Direct can help you even before you receive a confirmed diagnosis of cancer.

You may contact MSK Direct when you receive results from a blood test, imaging exam, or pathology report that may suggest you have cancer, or when another physician recommends that you consult with an oncologist. The MSK Direct team will arrange for the needed tests to see whether or not you have cancer. If you are diagnosed with cancer, you can choose to immediately begin treatment at MSK. Any medical care provided by MSK is not part of the services provided by MSK Direct. Medical care provided by MSK is provided pursuant to your medical plan and subject to the terms and conditions of your medical plan.

You are welcome to access MSK Direct, even if you are already in treatment at MSK. The MSK Direct team provides support and is available to answers questions throughout your cancer journey.

However, your treatment team at MSK should continue to be your primary point of contact, including for any specific or individualized questions about your cancer treatment and questions specifically related to your care and course of treatment. 

You may reach out to MSK Direct for assistance even if you are already receiving cancer care elsewhere. The MSK Direct team can help answer general questions about cancer treatment and the cancer treatment process, but any specific or individualized questions about your care and course of treatment need to be directed to your physician and not MSK Direct.

During a period of an authorized unpaid leave of absence, you and your eligible family members remain eligible for MSK Direct.

During a period of approved disability, you and your eligible family members remain eligible for MSK Direct.

Your access to MSK Direct ends on the date you no longer satisfy the eligibility requirements. Eligibility for family members ends when yours does.