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Financial Assistance and Other Resources for People With Cancer
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 nonprofit 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.
Listed below are Government agencies, organizations, and programs that are designed to provide assistance for cancer patients and their families. However, resources provided by individual organizations vary, and it is important to check with a specific group to determine if financial aid is currently available. Organizations that provide publications in Spanish or have Spanish-speaking staff have been identified. This fact sheet is divided into four sections: Cancer Treatment, Practical Needs, Other Resources, and International Resources.
CANCER TREATMENT
Telephone: 1–877–267–2323
Web site:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) offers information and financial aid to patients in significant financial need who have leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, or multiple myeloma. The LLS’s “Patient Financial Aid” Web page provides more information about the types of service available, application forms, and eligibility requirements at
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page?item_id=4603 on the Internet.
Telephone: 1–800–955–4572
1–877–557–2672 (Copay Assistance Program)
Web site:
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org The National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) offers financial assistance through its Marrow Foundation® Patient Assistance Program (the fund-raising partner of the NMDP). The Patient Assistance Program helps patients pay for searching the NMDP Registry and/or for some post-transplant costs. Applications for Patient Assistance Program funds must be submitted by an NMDP transplant center. Eligible patients may ask their transplant center coordinator to apply for one or both programs (search assistance and/or transplant support assistance).
Telephone: 1–888–999–6743 (Office of Patient Advocacy)
Web site:
http://www.marrow.org NeedyMeds is a Web-based information resource for people who need assistance paying for health care. NeedyMeds has information on patient assistance programs that provide free or low-cost medicine to people who are uninsured or underinsured. NeedyMeds does not supply medications or financial assistance but helps people find programs that provide these services. This resource also offers information on other assistance programs, such as discount drug cards, disease-based assistance (programs that help with costs associated with specific diseases), and free or low-cost clinics.
Web site:
http://www.needymeds.org/ The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) provides education, legal counseling, and referrals to cancer patients and survivors concerning managed care, insurance, financial issues, job discrimination, and debt crisis matters. The PAF also conducts outreach to African American and Hispanic/Latino American populations.
Telephone: 1–800–532–5274
Web site:
http://www.patientadvocate.org PRACTICAL NEEDS
In addition to cancer treatments, many cancer patients need assistance paying for transportation to and from medical appointments and basic living expenses such as food and housing. Listed below are organizations dedicated to helping cancer patients and their families during and after the patient’s treatment.
Eldercare Locator is a referral service provided by the U.S. Administration on Aging, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Eldercare Locator information specialists will link callers with state and area agencies on aging for information and referral to local agencies that provide a wide array of senior services. This service is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern time.
Telephone: 1–800–677–1116
Web site:
http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Home.aspx Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is administered by the SSA and supplements Social Security payments for aged, blind, and disabled people with little or no income. It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. Information on eligibility, coverage, and how to file a claim is available from the SSA. The Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool is available at
http://connections.govbenefits.gov/ssa_en.portal on the Internet.
Web site:
http://www.ssa.gov/ssi/ For more help, contact: