Organizations That Can Help

One of our staff’s favorite resources to give patient is the booklet “Managing the Cost of Cancer” (PDF) by the Cancer Support Community. There are chapters on insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, public benefits, disability, Family Medical Leave, and foundations. Be sure to look at the “back” of the book where there is a graph listing national foundations, what they do, who they help, and their phone numbers and websites.

The Patient Advocate Foundation provides education, legal counseling, and referrals for people with cancer who need assistance managing insurance, financial, debt crisis, and job discrimination issues. It also provides co-pay assistance and financial aid for eligible patients. Their telephone number is (800) 532-5274. The foundation also has a National Financial Resource Directory that you may find useful.

Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition is an advocacy organization focused on helping cancer patients and their families with financial matters.

Triage Cancer is a national nonprofit organization that provides cancer survivorship materials and resources.

Cancer Finances offers an online tool to help guide you through some key topics that may impact your financial situation. Whether you are newly diagnosed, or many years past active treatment, their website can help you navigate finances after cancer.

Triage Cancer and the Sam Fund have collaborated to create A Toolkit for Navigating Finances After Cancer.

The Sam Fund webinar series “Moving Forward With Your Financial Health” addresses some of the most common financial challenges faced by young adult cancer survivors after treatment.

Coping with the Cost of Cancer is a practical guide to navigating the complex challenges of managing the expenses associated with the cost of cancer care.

American Cancer Society: Health Insurance and Financial Assistance for the Cancer Patients
Get information on issues surrounding private and government insurance plans, as well as other possible sources of financial help.

American Society of Clinical Oncology
Financial considerations, education and resources related to understanding the cost of cancer care.

Financial Considerations for Cancer Patients
Resources on managing the expenses associated with the cost of cancer care.

For senior citizens

Benefits Check Up
BenefitsCheckUp is a free service of the National Council on Aging. The BenefitsCheckUp team monitors the benefits landscape for updates and changes to policies and programs. to match your unique needs to benefit programs and eligibility requirements using their comprehensive tool.

More financial assistance resources

Ambry Genetics Financial Assistance Program
Financial assistance program for the uninsured and under-insured, to promote equal access to genetic testing. Patients who participate in Medicare or Medicaid are excluded. Telephone number: (984) 900-5794

The American Childhood Cancer Organization maintains a list of organizations offering financial assistance.

Assurance Wireless offer a cell phone assistance program

Call 211: Many communities have a 211 information and referral service funded by the United Way. Call 211 or go to www.211.org for help with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling and more. Available in English and Spanish.

Cancer Care provides limited financial assistance for co-pays, transportation, home care, and child care. It also provides a list of sources for financial assistance and a database of organizations providing financial or practical help. Telephone number: (800) 813-4673

Cancer Family Relief Fund is a charitable organization that encourages and facilitates grants to children whose parent or guardian is struggling with a diagnosis of cancer. These grants support the children’s extracurricular activities so that they may feel some sense of normalcy as their parent focuses on treatment and recovery.

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.

Colorectal Cancer Alliance offers financial and psychosocial support. Telephone number: (877) 422-2030

The HealthWellFoundation is an independent, non-profit organization that helps patients with a chronic, life-altering disease afford their medications when health insurance is not enough. Telephone number: (800) 675-8416

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s has a patient financial aid program that provides limited financial assistance to help defray treatment-related expenses for patients diagnosed with a blood cancer, such as leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma, who have a significant financial need. Telephone number: (800) 955-4572

The National Foundation for Transplants provides fundraising assistance for patients needing transplants, including bone marrow and stem cell transplants. Telephone number: (800) 489-3863

Patient Access Network Foundation provides co-pay, deductible and medication financial assistance.

Patient Services, Inc. Telephone number: (800) 366-7741

Stomp the Monster can provide one-time financial assistance for financially eligible patients in active treatment. Financial assistance can be used for Transportation, lodging, utilities and food.