We frequently field inquiries about financial assistance for direct medical costs (co-pays, deductibles), related non-medical costs (transportation, gas, child care) or daily living expenses (rent, utilities). Note that MBCN does not give direct aid, and, as an all-volunteer operation, lacks the resources to provide one-on-one advice.
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Call 211
www.211.org or call 211 information
Many communities have a 211 information and referral service funded by The United Way. Find help with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling and more. Available in English and Spanish
American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org / 800-227-2345
Based on your location, assistance is offered to reimburse expenses related to cancer treatment.
Cancer Care
www.CancerCare.org / 800-813-HOPE / M-F 8am – 8pm EST
Non-profit organization founded in 1944 offering counseling, support groups, education and financial aid. Avon Cares Program offers limited aid for homecare, childcare and transportation. Linking Arms Program provides limited funds for oral chemo, pain, and anti-nausea medications through Komen funding. Cancer Care provides information on other aid programs. They do not offer funds for basic living expenses. Eligibility is based on assets – defined as savings, CDs, checking, 401K. From the Home page, go to Financial Help > Financial Assistance > pdf application available online to be mailed in.
Cancer Care Co-Payment Assistance Foundation
www.cancercopay.org / 866-552-6729 / M-Th 9am – 7pm; F 9am – 5pm EST
Non-profit foundation affiliated with cancercare.org that specializes in copay assistance since April 2008. They offer full or partial assistance with your copay. You must be insured (private or Medicare) with income less than 4 times the poverty level with consideration for high cost of living areas. You can apply online or on the phone.
CancerFinancial Assistance Coalition
www.cancerfac.org
A group of 14 organizations who provide a searchable database of resources available to you based on your diagnosis and zip code. Enter both and get a list of organizations that can potentially help you, incluing those local to your state or area.
Cancer Fund of America
www.cfoa.org / 800-578-5284
A physician must certify your diagnosis and financial need for assistance with costs
of medical supplies and products.
Genevieve’s Helping Hand
www.genshelpinghands.org/ 516-500-3702
Offers small financial grants to be used by young breast cancer patients (under age 40) to extend their recuperation period after cancer related surgeries and procedures.
Government Benefits Screening
www.GovBenefits.gov
An online tool which informs citizens of benefits they may be eligible for, including information on how to apply for assistance. On the home page, click the Start Benefit Finder button to take a quick questionnaire which will provide you with potential benefits. You do not need to provide your name or any other personal identifying information. There is also a Search box on the home page if you prefer to target a specific program or benefit. This site does not restrict search results very well so you may get more assistance programs than you are eligible for and/or interested in, so some careful analysis of the results may be necessary.
The Health Well Foundation
www.healthwellfoundation.org / 800-675-8416 / M-F 9am – 5pm EST
A non-profit organization that reduces financial barriers to care for underinsured patients with chronic or life-threatening diseases. They provide financial assistance to eligible individuals to cover coinsurance, copayments, health care premiums and deductibles for certain medications and therapies. To see if you qualify and if there is funding available click on the Get Assistance Now button on the home page or call for help with the application process. If no current funding is open for breast cancer, check back throughout the year as more funding may become available.
Help Now Fund
www.thebreastcancercharities.org/help-now-fund
Provides emergency financial assistance to help people in active treatment with their rent and utilities. No phone number available to call. The website provides an email to direct questions to if necessary.
Medicaid Benefits by State (Kaiser Family Foundation)
http://kff.org/statedata/
Medicaid benefits database–look up available benefits by state.
National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov / 800-4-CANCER (226237) / M-F 8am-8pm EST
Government cancer research agency created in 1937; mission expanded in 1971 to include cancer information dissemination, including financial, insurance and legal information. All information is available directly on the website, by speaking with someone on the telephone, using email or having a ‘Live Help Online Chat’ session with an NCI cancer specialist. For easy access to any of these options, start on the Home page and click on ’We Can Answer Your Questions’ near the bottom left of the page.
National Council on the Aging (55 yrs and older)
www.BenefitsCheckUp.org / 202-479-1200
Non-profit organization formed in the 1950’s to serve and advocate for older Americans. This comprehensive web-based service screens for benefits programs for seniors with limited income and resources. Their services include finding comprehensive benefits, prescription drug assistance, and medicare prescription drug assistance. You need to click on one of the three links and answer the questions to receive an on-screen list of recommendations for benefit assistance.
Needy Meds
www.needymeds.com / HELPLINE: 800-503-6897 M-F 9am-5pm EST
Non-profit organization founded in 1997. They provide information on medicine and health care assistance programs. They do not provide direct aid. They offer information on Patient Assistance Programs run by pharmaceutical companies and show a listing of free clinics and other government assistance programs. On the Home Page click on ‘Getting Started’ -> ‘Welcome New Users’ and answer the appropriate questions for your needs.
Patient Access Network Foundation
www.panfoundation.org / 866-316-7263 M-F 8am-5pm EST
For those eligible, financial assistance is offered for co-pays, deductibles and medications.
Patient Advocate Foundation on CoPay Relief
www.copays.org / 866-512-3861 / M-F 8:30am – 5pm EST
Non-profit organization providing assistance with copays for prescription drugs based on financial eligibility and monthly disease fund availability. You must be insured (private or Medicare). Eligibility is on a case-by-case basis. You can complete the application online from the Home page (click on Start The Application Process) or by calling a counselor at the toll free number.
Patient Advocate Foundation
www.patientadvocate.org/report.php / 800-532-5274
They solve insurance and healthcare accesss problems. The National Financial Resource Guidebook for Patients is a state-by-state directory of information for patients seeking financial relief for a broad range of needs.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
www.pparx.org / 888-477-2669 / M-F 8am – 9pm EST
This organization, sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies, is a single point of contact for drug assistance programs. They recommend programs and you can download the application, or have it sent to you by mail. This service is for those who are uninsured for prescriptions. Income eligibility limits vary by drug and program.
The Pink Fund
http://www.thepinkfund.org/ 877-234-PINK (7465)
Short term financial aid during treatment.
RX Outreach
www.rxoutreach.com / 800-769-3880
For those who financially qualify, they offer a 90-day supply of prescription medications for $20 – $40, regardless of the number of pills in the prescription.
Social Security Disability (SSDI)
http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/index.htm 1-800-772-1213
Stage IV cancer automatically qualifies you for disability and expedited processing of your application under the compassionate allowances program–a diagnosis that is terminal. See http://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/. You have to have a work history and cannot currently be earning more than $1000 month. There are also benefits for your dependents and you become eligible for Medicare after a 2 year waiting period from the date of your eligibility. To apply click here.
