Find Financial Assistance

Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC) – Helps patients and their loved ones connect with organizations that offer financial assistance
Cancer.net Financial Resources – Comprehensive overview for patients on managing the cost of cancer care and many helpful resources from the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
CancerCare – Financial Assistance for cancer patients Livestrong Financial & government assistance programs
National Cancer Institute (NCI) – Financial, insurance, and legal information along with information on government-sponsored programs and other national organizations that offer financial aid for cancer-related expenses, including treatment, co-pays, travel, lodging, etc.
Patient Resource Cancer Guide – Financial help for patients & families
Patient Advocate Foundation – Co-pay relief patient assistance program
Patient Access Network (PAN) – The PAN Foundation provides financial assistance to underinsured patients living with life-threatening, chronic and rare diseases.

Affordability Options – Resources to assist patients with their prescription drug costs and correlate options with primary insurance status.
Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy Patient Advocacy Navigator – Assists patients with funding to off-set high co-payments and provides access to pharmacists, nurses and oncology patient navigators on staff to answer questions about medications.
Low-Income Medicare Subsidy for Prescription Drugs (Eligible patients may be able to access brand-name drugs for less than $10 per month. CLICK HERE to read more
Needy Meds – a 501(c)3 non-profit information resource for assistance programs to help pay for medications and other expenses related to health care and provides free access to online databases for Patient assistance programs, disease-based assistance, free and low-cost clinics, government programs and other types of assistance programs. Also has resources for patient advocates.
Novartis Oncology Patient Assistance NOW – Provides programs that may help pay for medicines like Zometa® (zoledronic acid), and/or provide access to drugs still in clinical trial. See brochure for more information.
Janssen CarePath Savings Program may offer instant savings on your ZYTIGA® medication costs

Bargaining Down the Medical Bills – tips on negotiating costs in an excellent NY Times article:

Tips and suggestions from an Us TOO Inspire community member, Feb 2011:
1. Do not be intimidated to ask for a discount even if none was offered up front. Ask and then ask again if that is the best they can do. Ask for the billing manager.
2. Explain your total financial situation. Even if your bill with them is small if you are facing large total bills they sometimes have "catastrophic financial" discounts the billing manager can offer.
3. Knowledge is power. If you can find out or estimate what medicare/medicaid is reimbursing for the procedure that is a great starting point. Tell them you are paying out of your own pocket and so why should you pay more than a medicare patient would. I told them my starting point was the medicare reimbursement amount but that I was willing to pay 2x that to be "fair". they often jumped at that…even though it was still less than half the original bill.
4. Doctors are often happy to be paid anything at all and they prefer to be paid sooner than later. So if all else fails you can tell them that unless you can decrease the amount you will have to pay them $10 per month for the rest of your life. They often would prefer to get less and get it NOW than to get more and have to wait and chase the money down later.

Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC) – Provides free and confidential information and resources on cancer-related legal issues to cancer survivors, caregivers, employers, health care professionals, and others coping with cancer
Cancer Support Community – and their book Frankly Speaking About Cancer: Coping with the Cost of Care
Social Security and Disability Resource Center – Written by a former claims examiner, this information may be helpful for individuals who have the need to file for social security disability benefits.
Resources for Military Veterans – Veterans who have been exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides in the Vietnam or Korean wars are at a greater risk for the possibility of developing prostate cancer, and they are more likely to have an aggressive form of the disease. Content on this web page is offered as a resource to veterans. In addition to helpful links on prostate cancer testing, treatment, and management of side effects, resources include information on support groups, financial assistance, insurance information, and other services.
HelpWithPayingBills helps low income families with finding financial assistance programs. The directory lists assistance programs that help with utilities, energy, rent and medical bills.

Corporate Angel Network
Provides free nationwide air transportation to and from treatment centers for cancer
Mercy Medical Airlift National Patient Travel Center
Partners with Angel Flight to Cancer Patients to provide charitable (free) airline tickets for cancer patients and their escorts going to or from distant specialized evaluation, diagnosis or treatment facilities
American Cancer Society Hope Lodge
A free place to stay when you are having treatment. Several locations throughout the country.

Patient Support Hotline