The following non-governmental organizations are often good places to start in your search for financial assistance, most of which offer English/Spanish publications and a bilingual helpline: American Cancer Society (ACS) is a national agency based in Washington, D.C. that can direct you to the local ACS office in your area.
Where can I get financial assistance for a friend with cancer?
There are a number of national organizations that can provide limited financial assistance for treatment-related expenses, including Cancer Care and the National Children’s Cancer Society. You may want to recommend that your friend contact these organizations directly to find out if their family is eligible for assistance.
Are there any government programs to help people with cancer?
Federal and State Health Agencies In addition to non-profit programs, there are governmental channels that can provide direct assistance to people with cancer: Medicaid is a jointly funded, federal-state health program for people who need financial assistance for medical expenses.
How can I get help with the cost of cancer treatment?
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, through its Patient Aid program, can help some families with the cost of gas and parking for outpatient treatment. This aid is only for those with blood cancers (leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma). There’s a limit on the amount of financial help to each patient and family for each year.
Where can I get financial aid for breast cancer treatment?
Offers financial aid to low-income and uninsured women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer. It is a unit of CancerCare and can be reached at the same phone number and website. Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition.
Can you get cancer treatment if you have no money?
Look for grants. They're out there. Cancer.net has a financial assistance page that will lead people to grants. CancerCare also offers financial assistance, and managecancer.org has links to resources that offer financial help.
What financial resources are available for cancer patients?
Government AssistanceU.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Information on public assistance and food stamps.U.S. Administration on Aging. ... Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. ... Social Security Administration. ... Needy Meds. ... CancerCare® Co-Payment Assistance Foundation. ... Good Days. ... HealthWell Foundation.More items...•
Is cancer treatment funded by the government?
The American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2017 National Cancer Opinion Survey found that 73% of Americans support the government spending more on finding treatments and cures for cancer—even if it means higher taxes or adding to the deficit.
Does the American Cancer Society provide treatment?
The American Cancer Society offers programs and services to help you during and after cancer treatment.
How do you pay bills when you have cancer?
The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC) is a group of national organizations that provide financial help to patients. CFAC provides a searchable database of financial resources. CancerCare provides limited financial assistance for co-pays, transportation, home care, and child care.
What types of cancer qualify for disability?
If you have been diagnosed with one of the following cancers, you should automatically, medically qualify for disability benefits:Esophageal cancer.Gallbladder cancer.Brain cancer.Inflammatory breast cancer.Liver cancer.Pancreatic cancer.Salivary cancers.Sinonasal cancer.More items...•
What happens in America if you have cancer and no health insurance?
Cancer Treatment Without Insurance is an Expensive Proposition. For a person facing cancer, no insurance to help pay for expenses can present financial challenges as they recover. In fact, cancer patients are 3 times more likely to go bankrupt than people without cancer.
Which cancer gets the most funding?
Breast cancer received the most funding by far, at $460 million, accounting for a third of all cancer-specific nonprofit revenue. Next in line—with less than half the funding of breast cancer—were leukemia ($201 million; 15% of total revenue), childhood cancers ($177 million; 13%) and lymphoma ($145 million; 11%).
What happens if you are diagnosed with cancer and have no insurance?
However, without insurance, you will be charged 100% of the cost of treatment unless you take action. You can negotiate your bill with the hospital. Another option is to apply for charity care. By law, nonprofit hospitals must make charity care (aka indigent care) available to needy patients.
What services does the American Cancer Society provide?
We promote healthy lifestyles to help you prevent cancer. We research cancer and its causes to find more answers and better treatments. We fight for lifesaving policy changes. We provide everything from emotional support to the latest cancer information for those who have been touched by cancer.
Is cancer treatment free in California?
California provides free cancer screening for breast and cervical. EWC provides free clinical breast exams, mammograms, pelvic exams, and Pap tests to California's underserved women.
What is the American Cancer Society source of income?
We're primarily funded from personal donations—like yours. In 2019, you helped us invest more than $145.9 million in cancer research. Since 1946, we've invested more than $5 billion in research grants to the best scientists across the country. Your donations also support vital patient services and programs.
What is government assistance?
Government Assistance. There are a number of federal and state programs that provide financial benefits to individuals and families. These benefits, known as entitlements, are primarily set up for low-income households, older adults and the disabled. Each entitlement has eligibility requirements.
Does Needy Meds cover cancer?
These programs have their own eligibility rules and may cover only certain cancers. Contact each organization to learn more.
What is the number for cancer care?
A 24-hour helpline is operated at 800-227-2345 (800-ACS-2345) with a live chat available on the organization's homepage. CancerCare is a national, non-profit agency that offers free support, information, and financial assistance to people with cancer and their loved ones. Services are provided by oncology social workers over the telephone, ...
What are some ways to get financial assistance?
Other Means of Financial Assistance 1 Community service organizations such as the Salvation Army, Lutheran Social Services, Jewish Social Services, Catholic Charities, and the Lions Club may offer financial help. These organizations can be found in your local phone directory. 2 Community fundraising and crowdfunding are other mechanisms well worth considering. Many people find that friends, family, and social networks are more than eager to contribute financially if they are aware of a difficult situation. Online fundraising websites like GoFundMe are frequently used for these kinds of campaigns, allowing families to cull wider support using social media channels. 3 Income tax deductions allow you to deduct many of your medical expenses from annual income before taxes. Examples of tax-deductible expenses might include mileage for trips to and from medical appointments, out-of-pocket costs for treatment, prescription drugs/equipment costs, and the cost of meals during lengthy medical stays. Your local Internal Revenue Service (IRS) office can help you determine which costs are deductible.
What is the number for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society?
Callers may request a booklet outlining LLS's Patient Aid Program, as well as the number of their local LLS office. Telephone 800-955-4572.
What is the VA medical cancer number?
Telephone 844-698-2311.
What is Road to Recovery?
Road to Recovery is a service offered by the American Cancer Society that allows online users to search for and connect with free or low-cost local transportation services using their zip code or city/state information. Learn more by calling 800-227-2345 or via live chat on its website.
What is the phone number for the Patient Advocate Foundation?
Telephone 800-955-4572. Live chat is also available on the organization's website. Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) provides education, legal counseling, and referrals to people with cancer regarding insurance, financial issues, job discrimination, and debt crisis. The PAF Co-Pay Relief Program is a subsidiary of the PAF ...
Can cancer patients get financial assistance?
For these individuals, there are a number of financial assistance programs that can help cover the cost of health care with resources ranging from government-subsidized programs to community-based services. Individuals with cancer should never hesitate to discuss their financial concerns with their doctor.
What is cancer care?
CancerCare. CancerCare has two main programs designed to help ease the financial burden of receiving cancer treatment. The financial assistance program is designed to help offset costs that are related to a long-term illness, such as transportation, child care, and medical supplies.
What is the American Cancer Society?
American Cancer Society. As one of the most famous organizations that help those struggling with cancer, this non-profit organization focuses on educating people about the warning signs of cancer, from breast cancer to leukemia to pancreatic cancer, and hopes to use their web site and other sources to educate people about early detection of cancer. ...
What is the reinstatement process for cancer?
Essentially, the viatical settlement process allows late-stage cancer patients to explore all options before lapsing the life insurance policy because of unaffordable premiums.
What is co-payment assistance?
The co-payment assistance program helps with covering the cost of insurance copays for cancer treatment. While the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid can help to make health care less expensive, medical bills can still pile up.
What is the American Life Fund?
American Life Fund helps cancer patients access large sums of cash within two weeks by guiding them through the process of selling their existing life insurance plan. This money can then be used to pay for medical treatment, prescription drugs, home care, and other healthcare needs. If health insurance doesn’t cover the cost and ...
What is direct financial assistance?
These direct financial assistance programs are typically sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and aim to offer financial aid to people battling cancer who don’t have health insurance coverage. They can provide low-cost access to prescription drugs and get help paying for other medical expenses.
What happens if you are going through cancer treatment?
When someone is going through cancer treatment or receiving associated medical care, they most likely want a family member nearby. But if the health care provider or treatment center is far from home, the family will have to find lodging, which can be expensive.
What is cancer care?
CancerCare, www.cancercare.org, 800-813-HOPE, is a national nonprofit organization based in New York that provides transportation, some medications for treating side effects, and childcare costs to cancer patients in need of those services. Grants vary greatly depending on individuals’ need and expenses.
What is CFAC in cancer?
Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC) is a coalition of financial assistance organizations joining forces to help cancer patients experience better health and well-being by limiting financial challenges, through educating patients and providers about existing resources and advocating on behalf of patients.
What are the organizations that are members of the CFAC?
Among CFAC’s member organizations are the American Cancer Society, Cancer Care, the National Marrow Donor Program and nine more. While CFAC cannot respond to individual requests for assistance, the group maintains a database of resources searchable by diagnosis, type of aid (housing, expenses, prosthetics) and zip code.
Can cancer be a burden on your family?
A diagnosis of cancer can quickly impose an economic burden on you and your family, especially if you’re in a lower income brackets. Costs for surgery, other treatments and medication can mount, even if you have insurance and are dealing only with co-payments.
Is there a financial aid program for cancer?
Other financial aspects of life can also be negatively impacted by the cost of cancer. Cancer and Careers has launched a Financial Assistance Grant program, new in 2020, to provide aid in the form of a onetime $500 grant for a variety of areas where financial support may be needed.
How to contact Cancer Lifeline?
If you would like Cancer Lifeline to help connect you to a social worker or other healthcare representative at the site where you are treated, send these four pieces of information to [email protected] or call and leave them on our financial assistance line at (206) 832-1282.
Does Cancer Lifeline fund breast cancer?
Important Note: While Cancer Lifeline was able to provide funding to breast cancer patients, including more than a single grant for metastatic cancer that began as breast cancer, this separate source of funding is no longer available. As such, Cancer Lifeline is no longer able to fund patients with metastatic cancer more than once per lifetime.
What is the organization that helps cancer patients?
These are some of the organizations and companies that focus on the financial and emotional needs of cancer patients: American Cancer Society. This organization, founded in 1913 when cancer was almost always a death sentence, has played a huge role in turning the malady into a treatable disease.
What is the phone number for cancer care?
The organization’s phone number is (800) 813-4673 and its website is www.cancercare.org.
What is AvonCares program?
AvonCares Program for Women Fighting Cancer. Offers financial aid to low-income and uninsured women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer. It is a unit of CancerCare and can be reached at the same phone number and website. Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition.
How to contact LLS?
The society, which has chapters around the country, can be accessed at https://www.lls.org/ or by phone at (800) 955-4572. Community organizations. Community-based church and nonprofit services such as Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army can either provide direct assistance or recommend organizations the might.
What is patient travel?
Patienttravel.org. The organization handles referrals for help getting to medical treatment centers. It helps with commercial airline tickets and connections to volunteer pilots. It also assists with arranging ground transportation by providing gas cards as well as bus and train tickets. Visit the organization’s website for more information at http://patienttravel.org/
What are some organizations that help people with special needs?
Organizations include Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services and Jewish Family Services. If you are a member of a congregation, ask you church about services for cancer patients. Government programs.
How much did cancer cost in 2014?
Cancer accounted for about $87.8 billion in healthcare costs in 2014. Most of the money was paid by private insurance companies, Medicare paid one-third of that amount, but patients still paid $3.9 billion themselves. Medicaid and nonprofits might be able to help some low-income individuals cut the bills.
What is the number to call for cancer care?
Please call us at 800-813-HOPE (4673) to apply.
What is the number for Patient Advocate Foundation?
Patient Advocate Foundation (800-532-5274) offers a co-payment relief program and seeks to ensure patients’ access to care.
What is CFAC in cancer?
The website of the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC) has a searchable database of national and regional organizations that provide financial assistance and other services for people with cancer.
What is Partnership for Prescription Assistance?
Partnership for Prescription Assistance (888-477-2669) matches patients to programs offering free or low-cost prescription medicines. And finally, Cancer Care ’s professional oncology social workers can also refer patients for financial assistance and to organizations that offer free counseling services. Answered by.
Does Cancer Care provide transportation?
Cancer Care also offers limited assistance for transportation, homecare, and childcare for patients who qualify. Some local divisions of the American Cancer Society may also have help with transportation to treatment as well as assistance with wigs.
Can you cover daily living expenses for breast cancer?
Covering general daily living expenses can also be challenging, especially if there is a loss of income due to the diagnosis and treatment. There are organizations that offer financial help to people with cancer to cover some of the costs related to their diagnosis. Several specifically assist breast cancer patients.
Government Assistance
Pharmaceutical Patient Assistance Programs
- Programs and services differ among drug manufacturers but may include: 1. Help with insurance reimbursement 2. Referrals to co-pay relief programs 3. Help with the application process 4. Discounted or free medications for patients who do not qualify for other assistance To see if the drug company that makes your medication has a patient assistance program, check its website…
Nonprofit Programs For Co-Pay Relief
- A number of nonprofit organizations provide help for expenses such as drug co payments, deductibles and other medical costs. These programs have their own eligibility rules and may cover only certain cancers. Contact each organization to learn more. CancerCare®Co-Payment Assistance Foundation 866-55-COPAY (26729) Good Days 877-968-7233 HealthWell Foundatio…
Cancer Organizations
- CancerCare 800-813-HOPE (4673) American Cancer Society 800-227-2345 Be the Match (National Marrow Donor Program) 888-999-6743 The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 800-955-4572 Lymphoma Research Foundation 800-500-9976 Patient Advocate Foundation’s Colorectal CareLine 866-657-8634 Sarcoma Alliance 415-381-7236 Susan G. Komen Foundation 877-465-6…
General Organizations
- United Way Community Organizations To find local resources, check to see if there is a 211 information and referral service (www.211.org) in your area. Edited by Victoria Puzo, LCSW
Nongovernmental Service Organizations
- The following nongovernmental organizations are often good places to start in your search for financial assistance, most of which offer English and Spanish publications and a bilingual helpline.
Federal and State Health Agencies
- In addition to nonprofit programs, there are governmental channels that can provide direct assistance to people with cancer:
Other Means of Financial Assistance
- Community Service Organizations
Community service organizations such as the Salvation Army, Lutheran Social Services, Jewish Social Services, Catholic Charities, and the Lions Club may offer financial help. - Community Fundraising and Crowdfunding
Community fundraising and crowdfunding are other mechanisms well worth considering. Many people find that friends, family, and social networks are more than eager to contribute financially if they are aware of a difficult situation. Online fundraising websites like GoFundMeare frequentl…
Summary
- Economic burdens cause extra stress for patients and families fighting cancer. Financial assistance programs can help with cancer-related costs, including co-pays, utilities, transportation, etc. There are private organizations, government-subsidized programs, and community-based services to help offset some of the costs associated with fighting cancer. So…
A Word from Verywell
- Having financial burdens when coping with cancer can be scary and frustrating. Fortunately, multiple programs and organizations can help you navigate the healthcare system, as well as provide financial assistance. Don’t hesitate to discuss financial concerns with your healthcare providers. They often refer cancer patients to cancer foundations, social workers, or care coordi…