Studies indicate people affected by cancer—including cancer patients, cancer survivors, and caregivers—endure financial challenges. In the process, a psychological response to the financial burden, with diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, can involve financial stress, distress, or worry. Thankfully, there is hope.
Extensive Help for Cancer Financial Assistance
Many cancer patients and caregivers need help for costs and exploring financial support can be confusing. Fortunately, there are financial assistance directories listing various resources. Some include health insurance, co-pays, treatments, medications, screening, lodging, travel, transportation, counseling, support groups, rent, funds, home care, childcare, education, and many other types of support. Extensive information is available at National Cancer Institute’s Financial Support Services that provide lists of resources on those topics.
Another place to explore is the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition by CancerCare with a wide range of information and resources. Other help from CancerCare includes CancerCare Sources of Financial Assistance providing limited financial assistance for cancer-related costs and co-pays, and professional oncology social workers helping to find additional resources. Some include Financial Assistance Program regarding treatment-related costs, such as transportation, home care, and childcare as well as CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation that supports people with cancer afford co-payments for chemotherapy and targeted treatment drugs, and Helping Hand Online Financial Resource Database that lists local and national resources to help with financial and practical needs in a searchable database.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) also provides assistance, including Help Paying for Prescription Drugs with various types of information and guidance, as well as Finding and Paying for Treatment, Understanding Health Insurance and Understanding Financial and Legal Matters. In addition, ACS offers Road to Recovery program that provides transportation to and from treatment for people with cancer who do not have a ride or are unable to drive themselves.
A remarkable organization is the Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) that provides direct case management services and financial assistance to patients and caregivers. Through that process, and others, PAF helps people navigate the health care system, works with health care providers, payers, and employers to assure that patients have access to affordable care, financial, and co-pay assistance, and teaches self-advocacy to patients and caregivers.
Regarding another resource, the American Society of Clinical Oncology Financial Assistance explains some types of support related to cancer financial assistance.
Co-Pay Financial Assistance Resources
Due to high-level financial costs not covered by health insurance, help is available to cover some or perhaps all of the prices with co-pays. Of note, pharmaceutical and biotech companies also provide some financial assistance. Some are listed in Cancer Financial Assistance, and you can find other companies directly by researching them about financial assistance.
Assistance Fund provides high medical out of pocket financial assistance copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and health-related expenses.
CancerCare Co-Payment Assistant Foundation offers payments for chemotherapy and targeted treatment drugs.
Good Days gives costly insurance co-pays, financial help, emotional support, and guidance for cancer patients and caregivers.
HealthWell Foundation assists medical treatments for the underinsured.
National Organization for Rare Disorders covers medication, financial assistance with insurance premium and co-pays, diagnostic testing insurance, and travel assistance for clinical trials or consultation with disease specialists.
Patients Access Network (PAN) Foundation helps with medications and treatment for out of pocket costs.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers prescription drug coverage for free or nearly free.
Patient Services Incorporated addresses subsidizing the cost of health insurance premiums, pharmacy and treatment copayment assistance, Medicare Part D co-insurance, and travel assistance for transportation reimbursement.
Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief provides co-pays and many other forms of help to cancer patients.
RxAssist Patient Assistance Program Center gives free medications who cannot afford the costs and a database for patient assistance programs.
Some of this information is encouraging, and additional sources are available for cancer financial assistance here. During the exploration, it’s essential to research to find resources and possible help. Dealing with money factors can be more overwhelming without the skills to navigate options. Consider acquiring help from a cancer coach to address cancer financial support in the journey.
