Financial Assistance

The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC) is a consortium of organizations that help patients manage financial challenges that can emerge as a result of a cancer diagnosis.

Free Grants to help Patients – a list of resource organizations that offer funding support to patients: https://cancercarenews.com/more-cancer-freebies/grants/

Grants are money and goods that do not have to be paid back and are provided by the agencies below to help ease the burden of a cancer diagnosis. Grants typically range from $200 to $5000. Please review each program’s link for specific eligibility, the application process, and deadlines.

CFAC Coalition Organizations that help patients:

Virtual Reimbursement Resource Room and App
Patient Guide — Read Cancer.net’s patient guide to financial help: https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/financial-considerations/financial-resources.
Paying for Cancer Treatments – Personal Loans, HSAs, and More — The Simple Dollar’s, “Guide to Paying for Cancer Treatment” is a resource that outlines how to afford some of the most common cancer treatments. Our guide discusses payment options, important questions to ask, and recommendations from experienced medical professionals.
Paying for Cancer Treatments – tips for managing costs
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/survivors/patients/paying-for-cancer-treatment.htm
Cancer Finances – A Toolkit for Navigating Finances After Cancer https://triagecancer.org/cancer-finances
Guide to Helping you Manage your Medical Bills
Triage Cancer and Co-Patient collaborate
https://triagecancer.org/cancer-medical-bills
Co-Pay Relief Program – Many voluntary organizations offer some financial relief to cancer patients who cannot afford insurance coverage, co-pays, deductibles, and other associated out-of-pocket costs if eligibility requirements are met.
Government Programs – Check into government programs to see if you qualify. State government programs may be able to assist with medical and living expenses if eligibility requirements are met.
Public and Nonprofit Hospitals – Contact a social worker at a local health department for more information.
Patient Assistant Programs – from pharmaceutical companies that have patient assistant programs for insurance reimbursement; referrals to co-pay relief programs; medication cost reduction offers if eligibility requirements are met.
Voluntary Organizations – Volunteer organizations may offer assistance with childcare, transportation, or home maintenance needs. Different organizations have different types and levels of assistance with eligibility & regulatory parameters.
Personal Financial Planning – Getting advice from a financial planner may be a valuable appointment. An accountant can help guide you on income taxes. Qualifications for tax credits can be evaluated to reduce your taxes, especially if you have significant out-of-pocket medical expenses, such as insurance deductibles. There are free and low-cost financial planning seminars as well, usually sponsored by investment management companies or even AARP.
Health Insurance – Your own health insurance benefit entitlements need to be carefully reviewed to best understand your policy’s coverage. Your insurance company case manager can offer more personalized assistance with answering questions.
Your Community — Local organizations or advocacy organizations can provide assistance.
TRIAGE CANCER – helpful information: Quick Guide to Getting & Paying for Prescription Drugs (Link)

Help is available
There are various prescription-assistance programs (PAPs), including those sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, state programs, and nonprofits. They offer free or low-cost medicines for the uninsured, under insured, and those who have trouble with high co-pays.
The benefits of such programs depend on numerous factors. Some patients may qualify for free medicines, while other programs may help reduce co-pays.[3]
Keep in mind that each PAP has its own rules, and all have income guidelines that can vary. Each pharmaceutical company selects the drugs that are in its program and specifies how long the patient can receive assistance.
Various organizations and medical societies offer a list of comprehensive PAPs, including: (click topics)

NeedyMeds
RxAssist
Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief
Another option to decrease medication prices is manufacturer copay cards, which help with out-of-pocket prices.
These cards usually cover the cost of drugs that lack a generic version. There are requirements on who can receive them, and there can also be limits on how much is saved per month or year.
Sometimes, Medicare patients max out their yearly coverage of medications and enter the “coverage gap.” By choosing a different plan at a higher premium, this gap can be covered.
On a related note, Medicare and Social Security offer a plan called Extra Help, which offers discounted prices on certain generic drugs (ie, $3.95) and brand-name drugs (ie, $9.85) for those who qualify.
What this means for you
Inflation rates are unhinged, and in a post-pandemic financial reality, your patients may be feeling the pinch. Paying for the prohibitive costs of prescription drugs may be a lower priority to them, but they need them. Fortunately, there are various programs that can help. Share information about these with your patients. Be polite, private, and persistent when asking them about their ability to pay for medications.

Sarcoma Patient funding support organizations:

Cynthia Holmes Foundation – https://curelms.webs.com/wecare – WECARE Grants for active LMS patients

Lazarex Cancer Foundation: https://lazarex.org/# – patient funding support for clinical trial participaton

Sarcoma Oma http://www.sarcoma-oma.org/ – Support for travel funding for sarcoma families

Sarcoma Alliance – https://sarcomaalliance.org/ Support for second opinion appointment expenses

Both organizations help patients defray costs for medical appointments. Please visit their respective websites for more information.

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