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Financial Help for Cancer Survivors

Cancer treatment not only often leads to many unpleasant side effects and mental anguish, but extensive treatment also costs a lot of money, even after insurance contributions. Fortunately, financially burdened cancer survivors have many government-run and non-profit organizations that will help to manage some of those costs. Since successful cancer treatment requires vigilance even when the cancer is in remission, these financial safety nets ensure that more economically disadvantaged cancer survivors remain cancer free.

  1. CancerCare Non-Profit Assistance

    • CancerCare is a non-profit organization that provides many avenues of help for cancer patients/survivors. Once your cancer goes into remission, you may continue to require pain medication, rehabilitation and follow-ups with your oncologist. CancerCare will match you with a social worker who will provide advice and help you tackle financial hardships. If you still require treatment and have high insurance co-pays, CancerCare's Co-Payment Assistance Foundation will assist with payments for many types of cancer, including breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer. Beyond CancerCare's own financial aid resources, CancerCare participates in CFAC (the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition). CFAC also includes assistance agencies and organizations such as the Health Well Foundation, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Patient Services Incorporated. In addition to financial assistance, CancerCare offers support groups, access to counselors and cancer education courses.

    Additional Financial Assistance

    • Another excellent non-profit organization that helps cancer patients and survivors is the Patient Advocate Foundation. As insurance contributions to cancer treatment have become increasingly confusing in recent years, the PAF and its team of case managers stand up for you to ensure that the insurance company does not try to cheat you. The PAF provides specialized outreach to Latino and African-American cancer sufferers. In addition, PAF has close relationships with specific financial assistance groups, like the Co-Pay Relief Program.

      Cancer patients and survivors with specific types of cancer have a few additional financial aid resources. Organizations such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the National Marrow Donor Program and the Colorectal CareLine offer both informational resources and financial help for leukemia/lymphoma, bone cancer and colorectal cancer, respectively. Each organization has its own set of aid restrictions, requirements and financial assistance applications.

      If you do not receive assistance during treatment, keep in touch with any organizations that have funds for your specific type of cancer. Because your follow-up treatment and examinations are vital to keep the cancer in remission, the financial burdens of cancer continue even after you "beat" the initial cancer.

    Government Assistance

    • The government has many avenues to directly and indirectly assist you with treatment-related payments. Through the Hill-Burton program, the government gives money to hospitals in exchange for the hospitals' assistance with financially strapped patients. Non-cancer-specific government-run programs such as Medicare (for elderly patients) and Medicaid also provide assistance for cancer treatment, medication and most additional cancer-related care. Cancer patients under the age of 18 and United States veteran cancer survivors are eligible for insurance through the State Children's Health Insurance Program and the Veterans Health Administration, respectively.

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