The following foundations and organizations provide financial assistance for patients with cancer. Some programs offer assistance to all patients, and some target patients with specific types of cancer.
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Accessia Health
800-366-7741Accessia Health is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing health insurance premium assistance, pharmacy copayment assistance, and copayment waiver assistance for patients with chronic illnesses, including several types of cancer.
American Cancer Society
800-227-2345The American Cancer Society has programs and services to help patients with cancer and their loved ones understand cancer, manage their lives through treatment and recovery, and identify resources for patients who need financial assistance.
The Assistance Fund
855-845-3663The Assistance Fund (TAF) is an independent charitable patient assistance foundation that helps patients and families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs by providing financial assistance for their copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and other health-related expenses. TAF currently has many funds—each of which covers medications that treat a specific cancer, depending on funds available.
CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation
866-552-6729The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation, established in 2007, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people to pay for their copayments for chemotherapy and targeted treatment drugs. This critical assistance helps ensure patient access to care and adherence to prescribed treatments.
Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition
The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition is a group of national organizations that provide financial help to patients with cancer. The coalition provides a searchable database of financial programs available to patients in need.
Good Days
877-968-7233Good Days provides financial assistance to underinsured patients who are diagnosed with chronic or life-altering diseases (including cancer) so that they get access to the medications they need.
Headstrong Foundation
610-544-6425 x301Patients who are experiencing financial hardship and are undergoing treatment for blood cancer at the time of application are eligible to receive a grant to help offset living expenses and travel-related expenses related to treatment.
HealthWell Foundation
800-675-8416This independent, nonprofit organization provides financial assistance to patients needing help paying for their co-insurance, copay, and premium payments. Funds availability varies by month. This foundation provides financial aid to patients with different types of cancer, including acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mantle cell lymphoma, and myelodysplastic syndromes. This foundation also provides financial assistance to patients who have Medicare Access and 1 of several types of cancer, including breast cancer, gastric cancer, mantle cell lymphoma, multiple myeloma, melanoma, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and small cell lung cancer.
LIVESTRONG Foundation
855-220-7777The LIVESTRONG Foundation provides practical, financial, and support services to anyone affected by cancer, including patients and their caregivers. In addition to connecting people directly with the services they need, the LIVESTRONG Foundation offers support for patients with regard to managing medical costs and difficulties related to insurance.
Medicine Assistance Tool
571-350-8643Medicine Assistance Tool is a search engine designed to help patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers identify financial resources available through various biopharmaceutical industry programs. The database, which is administered by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, includes programs to help patients who need financial support to pay for their medications.
National Children’s Cancer Society
314-241-1600The National Children’s Cancer Society seeks to improve the quality of life for children with cancer, their families, and survivors by providing financial assistance, advocacy, support services, and education.
National Foundation for Transplants
800-489-3863The National Foundation for Transplants provides fundraising assistance for patients who need organ and/or tissue transplants, including bone marrow and stem cell transplants.
National Organization for Rare Disorders
800-999-6673This organization offers financial assistance programs that provide medication, financial assistance with insurance premiums and copays, diagnostic testing assistance, and travel assistance for clinical trials or consultation with disease specialists.
NeedyMeds
800-503-6897NeedyMeds, a national nonprofit organization, is an information resource on available patient assistance programs that help individuals who cannot afford medications or other healthcare costs.
Patient Access Network Foundation
866-316-7263This foundation provides advocacy and financial assistance for patients with cancer, and for cancer-related medication side effects. This foundation provides financial support for out-of-pocket costs associated with a wide range of medications to treat many types of cancer.
Patient Advocate Foundation
800-532-5274The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF), a national nonprofit organization, provides financial aid to individuals with chronic and life-threatening illnesses, including cancer. Professional case managers who are employed by PAF identify and reduce barriers to accessing care; there is no charge for these services. PAF also provides small grants to eligible patients.
Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief
866-512-3861The Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief program provides direct financial support to financially and medically eligible patients, including Medicare Part D beneficiaries. These benefits may include out-of-pocket costs associated with healthcare insurance copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
RxAssist
RxAssist, through their Patient Assistance Program Center, provides a comprehensive database of patient assistance programs offered by drug companies, and other resources to manage patients’ medication costs.
RxHope
RxHope is a web-based patient assistance resource that helps patients obtain free or low-cost prescription medications. RxHope has program descriptions and downloadable applications for prescription drug assistance programs for specific medications.
Rx Outreach
888-796-1234Rx Outreach is a nonprofit pharmacy that provides access to affordable medications. Rx Outreach offers more than 600 medications through its mail-order pharmacy to all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
The Samfund
617-938-3484The Samfund provides direct financial assistance to young adult survivors of cancer. The biannual Samfund Grants Program offers financial support to cancer survivors aged 21 to 39 who meet specific eligibility criteria. This fund also offers free financial education webinars on prescription assistance, financial health, employment after cancer treatment, and health and disability insurance.
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BenefitsCheckUp
National Council on Aging800-794-6559BenefitsCheckUp helps individuals aged over 55 years find support programs that may cover some of their prescription drug costs and other healthcare expenses.
Extra Help (Medicare)
Social Security Administration800-772-1213Extra Help is a Social Security program that provides financial assistance to eligible Medicare beneficiaries with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs, such as monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription copays. Extra Help is estimated to be worth about $5100 annually. To be eligible for Extra Help, an individual must receive Medicare, have limited resources and income, and reside in 1 of the 50 states or in the District of Columbia.
Hill-Burton Free and Reduced-Cost Health Care
Health Resources & Services Administration800-638-0742800-492-0359 in MarylandAs mandated by the Hill-Burton Act, about 140 healthcare facilities nationwide provide free or reduced-cost care for patients who are unable to pay, and make their services available to all persons residing in the facility’s area. Patients are eligible to apply for Hill-Burton free care if their income is at or below the current Health & Human Services (HHS) Poverty Guidelines, and for reduced-cost care if their income is ≤2 times the HHS Poverty Guidelines.
National Cancer Institute: Organizations That Offer Support Services
800-422-6237The NIH maintains a database of government agencies and national organizations that provide financial assistance to patients with cancer and their families. In addition, it provides information about patient assistance programs.