FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Overcoming cancer is a full-time job that requires not only physical and emotional energy but also financial support. In the face of rising healthcare costs, there are opportunities for the underinsured and the uninsured to improve the financial realities of a cancer diagnosis.
As you focus on your road to recovery, cancer financial assistance programs and networks are available to help you address the financial impact of your diagnosis. To help you find financial assistance for your needs, Personalized Hematology-Oncology has compiled the following list of cancer financial resources.
Local cancer financial assistance
The Caring Community Foundation, Inc.
The Caring Community Foundation has been serving cancer patients in the Triangle for over 25 years. This organization supports cancer patients in need by providing financial assistance with treatment costs, utilities, rent or more. To be approved, grants for patients must be issued through its Social Worker Network.
To learn more, visit the organization’s official website.
Pretty in Pink Foundation
The Pretty in Pink Foundation assists breast cancer patients in North Carolina with medical treatment, whether uninsured or underinsured. The organization is partnered with multiple branded sponsors to increase support for patients, and in 2024, the Pretty in Pink Foundation “served a total of 486 breast cancer patients.”
To apply for assistance, follow the application instructions on the non-profit’s website.
National cancer financial resources
Co-Pay Relief through Patient Advocate Foundation
Patient Advocate Foundation has a Co-Pay Relief Program that provides direct payments for out-of-pocket costs like prescriptions and treatments. This national nonprofit is 100% donor-funded, and the program provides cancer financial help to qualified applicants.
To apply or learn more:
- Website: https://www.patientadvocate.org/connect-with-services/copay-relief/
- Contact number: 1-866-512-3861
National Organization for Rare Diseases
Since 1987, the National Organization for Rare Diseases has helped patients with multiple assistance programs for different types of rare diseases. This assistance includes medication, testing, travel, specialist access, and help with paying premiums and co-pays.
Visit the organization’s official website to find out how NORD can help you.
Needy Meds
A specialized 501(c)(3) national nonprofit, Needy Meds helps patients with accessing affordable medication by connecting them with local and specialized programs. These healthcare programs can range from clinics, government programs, transportation services, and more.
Explore what you can save on healthcare with Needy Meds through the nonprofit’s official website.
Cancer funding help for children and families
Cancer in the Family Relief Fund
The Cancer in the Family Relief Fund helps children diagnosed with cancer to maintain a sense of normalcy while undergoing treatment. Along with financial assistance, Cancer in the Family Relief Fund provides funds for children with cancer to participate in various extracurriculars, ranging from sports to music lessons.
Due to high demand, there is a waitlist for different types of offered assistance. Visit the organization’s website to learn more.
Family Reach
Because cancer can be expensive, organizations like Family Reach help fill in the gaps. A national 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Family Reach offers financial planning and education resources along with grants to provide financial help for people with cancer.
Family Reach also consolidates a list of financial assistance programs, letting you search for local resources that best fit your needs.
Transportation financial assistance for cancer patients
Angel Wheels
Angel Wheels™ is a charity organization focused on helping cancer patients with needed transportation. Patients can apply for help with ground or flight transportation, and Angel Wheels provides assistance through gas cards, volunteer pilots, and plane, train, or bus tickets. In the past year, the organization provided over 53,000 trips for patients.
You can request assistance from Angel Wheels on the non-profit’s website.
CancerCare
CancerCare® is a national organization that provides free support services including financial assistance through its Financial Assistance Program and its Co-Payment Assistance Foundation.
If you are in need of assistance with transportation or childcare, the CancerCare Financial Assistance Program could help. The organization’s Co-Payment Assistance Foundation can help cover co-payments and provides same-day approval.
- Financial Assistance Program: 800-813-4673
- Co-Payment Assistance Foundation: 866-552-6729
Financial support for cancer patients with insurance
Good Days
While a lot of cancer resource organizations focus on assisting those who are uninsured, Good Days provides financial support for cancer patients with insurance coverage. To enroll for financial support, patients must meet certain criteria and there must be funds available for that specific diagnosis.
To learn if you meet the criteria, visit the organization’s application form.
HealthWell Foundation
Even with health insurance, treatment can be costly with copays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket expenses. Since 2004, the HealthWell Foundation has helped those in the U.S. with insurance navigate the cost of cancer treatment, ranging from co-pay assistance to helping cover transportation costs.
To qualify, patients must have private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare. Learn more about eligibility and enrollment steps on the HealthWell Foundation website or call (800) 675-8416.
The Assistance Fund
The Assistance Fund provides financial assistance for those seeking treatment for over 100 diseases including different types of cancers. As an organization, The Assistance Fund can help cover high medical out-of-pocket costs like copayments, coinsurance, deductibles and other health-related expenses.
Learn if your diagnosis makes you eligible for assistance with the organization’s eligibility tool.
Patient Access Network Foundation
A national 501(c)(3) organization, The PAN Foundation can provide assistance for over 80 different diagnoses including multiple forms of cancer. Patients have access to grant applications 24/7, and approved applicants can receive coverage for out-of-pocket costs, premium assistance, and transportation.
Search fund and waitlist availability at the PAN Foundation through the organization’s disease fund search.
Cancer financial support for specific diagnoses
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) provides resources and financial support for those affected by blood cancers. Assistance programs include scholarships, co-pay assistance, stipends, local grants, medical debt relief, and more.
If you are diagnosed with a type of blood cancer, visit www.lls.org to learn more about available funding resources.
The Paula Takacs Foundation for Sarcoma Research
Based in North Carolina, The Paula Takacs Foundation for Sarcoma Research helps fund sarcoma research and is partnered with Family Reach to provide a financial assistance program. Called the Sarcoma Fund, this program supports sarcoma patients in North Carolina with groceries, housing, and transportation costs.
Patients who have a sarcoma diagnosis can submit an application through the organization’s official website.
Cancer financial resources focused on fertility
Alliance for Fertility Preservation
Along with experts in reproduction, the Alliance for Fertility Preservation is made up of leaders in oncology to support cancer patients with reproduction and family planning. To help cover costs, the Alliance for Fertility Preservation is partnered with multiple financial assistance programs.
Through the organization’s website, you can learn more about available fertility preservation and post-treatment family building grants.
Team Maggie’s Dream
Team Maggie’s Dream helps cancer patients preserve fertility and has a financial grant available to help subsidize the costs. The grant can cover up to $2,500 with expenses such as egg retrieval or storage. Eligible patients must meet certain criteria related to insurance coverage, age, financial need and more.
Find out more about the application process and eligibility requirements at www.teammaggiesdream.org.
More cancer financial support resources
Along with this extensive list of resources, visit PatientResource.com and Need Help Paying for Bills for additional listings of financial resources that can help patients with cancer cover a range of needs.
Thank you to our inspiring patients and community organizations for assisting others in their recovery journey. Contact us if you are interested in learning more about cancer treatment and gene-targeting cancer therapy at our practice or if you know of any additional resources not listed here.
