Financial barriers are the #1 cause of patients not receiving the health care needed to fight their diagnosis.
Can you imagine hearing the dreaded words “You have cancer” and then finding out you cannot afford your treatment? This is the reality for more prostate cancer patients now than ever before.
The demand for ZERO’s support services has more than doubled over the last year, with the patient need for aid expected to increase again in 2023. It is critical, now more than ever, to make sure financial support to access lifesaving treatments is available to those who need it most.
To address the growing needs of patients and families with diagnoses on the rise, ZERO is establishing the Jamie Bearse Patient Emergency Fund. In celebration of ZERO President and CEO Jamie Bearse’s leadership and the significant progress he has led to support patients and families, this new fund will provide prostate cancer patients in desperate need with critical, life-saving support.
Your support of the Jamie Bearse Patient Emergency fund will be dedicated to:
- Providing personalized assistance in managing the practical and personal challenges of prostate cancer. These services include financial aid, insurance navigation, emotional support, benefit enrollment, and more.
- Bridging the gap between racial and health disparities in prostate cancer. Where you live, the color of your skin, or the size of your paycheck shouldn’t determine whether you get quality care in a cancer crisis.
ZERO connects patients and their families with case managers to provide comprehensive patient support in managing the practical and personal challenges of prostate cancer. This program, ZERO360, includes services like financial aid, insurance navigation, emotional support, screening and enrollment, and more.
Your Support in Action
Carl Larsen had spent hours on the phone trying to get his insurance coverage sorted out. Collection agencies were sending him notices. He felt frustrated, stressed, and even defeated. He was getting nowhere and finally he reached out on social media with a passionate plea for patients everywhere: It shouldn’t be so hard, there has to be a better way. Luckily for Carl, ZERO was listening. Jamie Bearse saw Carl’s Facebook post and told him about ZERO360, a free program specifically for prostate cancer patients who are facing financial obstacles to getting their care.
ZERO360 helped me every step of the way with compassion and determination. It was such a relief to have someone in my corner, it was light at the end of the tunnel. Because of your support, I got back to being me and focusing on the things I loved like spending time with my grandkids and training for my next marathon.
My prostate cancer diagnosis was terrifying. Just as scary was the decision between life-saving treatments and financial stability. Thanks to donors like you, I didn't have to choose.
In the midst of financial distress, my ZERO360 case manager was very understanding and she helped us secure financial aid, alleviating some of the stress of my diagnosis.
Your support today will also help to bridge the gap between racial and health disparities in prostate cancer among Black men. Did you know that predominantly Black zip codes are 67% more likely to have a shortage of primary care physicians? This is why ZERO’s patient support programs are so critical in providing access to healthcare to the communities and patients that need it most.
Each day spent with prostate cancer is a fight. I’m grateful to you for helping make sure a case manager is available to assist me every step of the way.
No patient should choose between financial ruin and lifesaving treatments and support. When you support the Jamie Bearse Patient Emergency Fund, you help ensure patients in need are not alone. Your gift connects patients with personalized assistance to access direct resources to help them throughout their prostate cancer journey.
Celebrating Jamie Bearse's Impact
With more than 20 years of service and ten years as President & CEO, Jamie Bearse has been a transformational leader and beloved champion for ZERO and the prostate cancer community. Over the course of his remarkable tenure, Bearse has raised awareness of the disease and has doubled the number of free, accessible PSA tests helping to save lives through early detection. He has established ZERO360, ZERO’s patient resource and disease navigation program, and built a vibrant and diverse chapter and Champions program, helping reach patients and families in local communities nationwide.
Bearse leaves a lasting legacy of helping elevate prostate cancer from a hushed conversation to a national dialogue, building and galvanizing a passionate and engaged community. He has been a staunch advocate for health equity during his tenure, and he has started ZERO’s renewed efforts toward achieving health equity for all patients while never faltering in his role as a consistent beacon of hope, comfort, and inspiration for patients, families, and all who have been impacted by the disease.