Financial assistance for cancer patients
Cancer imposes heavy economic burdens on both patients and their families. For many people, a portion of medical expenses is paid by their health insurance plan. For individuals who do not have health insurance or who need financial assistance to cover health care costs, resources are available, including Government-sponsored programs and services supported by voluntary organizations.
Cancer patients and their families should discuss any concerns they may have about health care costs with their physician, medical social worker, or the business office of their hospital or clinic. The organizations and resources listed below may offer financial assistance. Organizations that provide publications in Spanish or have Spanish-speaking staff have been identified.
Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition
The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC) is a coalition of organizations that help cancer patients manage their financial challenges by educating them about existing resources. Patients or health care providers can search the CFAC database for organizations that help with specific cancer diagnoses or that provide a specific type of assistance or need. CFAC is a coalition of organizations and cannot respond to individual requests for financial assistance via e-mail or telephone. Financial Assistance Type: Cancer Treatment (includes side effects, late effects), Children/Young Adults, Health Insurance/Co-Payments, Lodging (during treatment), Medication, Practical Needs (mortgage, rent, food, transportation)
CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation
http://www.cancercarecopay.org/
The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation was established to address the needs of individuals who cannot afford their insurance co-payments to cover the cost of medications for treating cancer. Specifically, the Foundation assists patients who have been prescribed an oral or intravenous medication (chemotherapy), but are unable to afford the out-of-pocket costs or co-payment responsibility required by the insurer or Medicare. The amount of assistance that people receive depends on factors such as income, amount of funding available, insurance coverage, and the actual co-payments that will be incurred within 1 year. The types of cancer and the medications covered by the Foundation change; for the latest information on available funding contact the Foundation or visit the Web site below.
Government Benefits
GovBenefits.gov is the official benefits Web site of the U.S. Government, with information on over 1,000 benefit and assistance programs. The Web site is designed to help users find Government benefit and assistance programs for which they may be eligible. The Web site features diverse benefit programs such as disability and financial assistance, insurance, and healthcare/living assistance. Users may complete an eligibility pre-screening questionnaire on the Web site that identifies Government benefits for which they may be eligible, along with information on how the user can apply.
Joe’s House
Joe’s House is an online nationwide service that helps cancer patients and their families find lodging near treatment centers. Joe’s House offers over 2,000 lodging facilities, including individual homes, hospitality houses, other nonprofit housing such as Ronald McDonald Houses and Hope Lodges, apartments, hotels, hostels, and more. You may search on the Web site to locate lodging by selecting a state, then selecting a city or healthcare facility. Information on each lodging facility is available, including complete contact information, amenities, rates, reservation methods, and requirements.
National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses
The National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses, Inc. (NAHHH) is an association of more than 150 nonprofit organizations located throughout the United States that provide family-centered lodging and support services to families and their loved ones who are receiving medical treatment far from their home communities. To encourage the development and growth of these homes, the NAHHH offers its membership educational opportunities, serves as a network for information exchange, and provides basic assistance to groups interested in creating similar programs. NAHHH promotes and assists not-for-profit programs that provide lodging and supportive services in a caring environment for families receiving medical care away from home.
Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief
http://www.copays.org/about_cpr.php
PAF Co-Pay Relief (CPR) provides direct financial assistance to qualified patients, assisting them with prescription drug co-payments their insurance requires. The program offers personal service to all patients through the use of CPR call counselors. The call counselor works directly with the patient as well as with the provider of care to obtain necessary medical, insurance and income information to advance the application in an expeditious manner. Upon approval, payments are made:
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To the doctor
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To the pharmacy
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To the patient directly
866-512-3861
Chronic Disease Fund
Chronic Disease Fund® is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization helping patients with chronic disease, cancers or life-altering conditions obtain the expensive medications they need.
They assist patients throughout the United States who meet income qualification guidelines and/or have private insurance or a Medicare Part D plan but cannot afford the cost of their specialty therapeutics.
Chronic Disease Fund® currently supports patients with more than a dozen different diseases, including many types of cancer (breast, colorectal, lung cancer, and multiple myeloma), multiple sclerosis, asthma, and macular degeneration, to name a few.
They are limited in the financial support we can provide for each disease, as it is based on the funding we raise each year through grants and contributions. Their organization receives no government assistance.
Healthwell Foundation
http://healthwellfoundation.org/
The HealthWell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2003 that is committed to addressing the needs of individuals with insurance who cannot afford their copayments, coinsurance and premiums for important medical treatments. Their vision is to ensure that no patient goes without health care because they cannot afford it. As patients are required to pay a larger share of health care costs each year, even many individuals with insurance find health care unaffordable. These patients face challenges affording the treatments they need to fight chronic and life-altering medical conditions. The HealthWell Foundation was established to address and help alleviate this problem.
800-675-8416
RX Assist
Patient assistance programs are run by pharmaceutical companies to provide free medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medicine. RxAssist offers a comprehensive database of these patient assistance programs, as well as practical tools, news and articles so that health care professionals and patients can find the information they need. All in one place.
401-729-3284
Needy Meds
NeedyMeds is a 501(c)(3) non-profit information resource devoted to helping people in need find assistance programs to help them afford their medications and costs related to health care. The mission of NeedyMeds is to make information about assistance programs available to low-income patients and their advocates at no cost. The NeedyMeds website is the face of the organization.
978-281-6666
The Medicine Program
The Medicine Program is a patient advocacy organization helping individuals and families all across America get access to up to 2,500 prescription medications available today for free or nearly free of charge through Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs).
Patient Assistance Programs have already helped millions of Americans afford their prescription medicine. We at TheMedicineProgram.com help eligible patients navigate through almost 450 programs in order to make the process simple, effective and efficient
MEDBANK of Maryland, Inc.
MEDBANK is a non-profit organization dedicated to accessing free prescription drugs for low-income, chronically ill Marylanders.
877-435-7755
Patient Services Incorporated
Patient Services Incorporated (PSI) is a non-profit organization primarily dedicated to providing health insurance premium assistance, pharmacy co-payment assistance and co-payment waiver assistance for persons with specific expensive chronic illnesses.
800-366-7741
Patient Access Network Foundation
The Patient Access Network Foundation provides financial support for out-of-pocket costs associated with a wide range of drugs, to treat a number of conditions.
866-316- PANF (7263)
Caring Voice Coalition
Caring Voice Coalition seeks to empower our patients to meet these challenges through comprehensive, effective programs and a knowledgeable, caring staff. They value their reputation as a responsible, responsive organization with a unique, holistic approach to improving the lives of their patients.
888-267-1440
Medicaid
(Medical Assistance) a jointly funded, Federal-State health insurance program for people who need financial assistance for medical expenses, is coordinated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). At a minimum, states must provide home care services to people who receive Federal income assistance such as Social Security Income and Aid to Families with Dependent Children. Medicaid coverage includes part-time nursing, home care aide services, and medical supplies and equipment. Information about coverage is available from local state welfare offices, state health departments, state social services agencies, or the state Medicaid office. Check the local telephone directory for the number to call. Information about specific state locations is also available on the CMS Web site. Spanish-speaking staff are available in some offices.
Medicare
Medicare is a Federal health insurance program also administered by HCFA. Eligible individuals include those who are 65 or older, people of any age with permanent kidney failure, and disabled people under age 65. Medicare may offer reimbursement for some home care services. Cancer patients who qualify for Medicare may also be eligible for coverage of hospice services if they are accepted into a Medicare-certified hospice program. To receive information on eligibility, explanations of coverage, and related publications, call Medicare at the number listed below or visit their Web site. Some publications are available in Spanish.
Toll Free: 1–800–MEDICARE (1–800–633–4227)
TTY (for deaf and hard of hearing callers): 1–877–486–2048
American Cancer Society
The national American Cancer Society (ACS) office can provide the telephone number of the local ACS office serving your area. The local ACS office MAY offer reimbursement or other resources for expenses related to cancer treatment including transportation, medicine, and medical supplies. Please note that services are different depending on where you are geographically, and which chapter of ACS you are working with. The ACS also offers programs that help cancer patients, family members, and friends cope with the emotional challenges they face. Some publications are available in Spanish. Spanish-speaking staff is available.
Our recommendation is that you contact your local ACS regarding what is actually available in your area for a complete understanding.
Telephone: 1–800–ACS–2345 (1–800–227–2345)