Financial Help for Children with Leukemia

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells. In children, leukemia can be described as an unusually high number of white blood cells in the bone marrow. The increased number of white blood cells fills the bone marrow and outnumbers the red blood cells, and as a result the child will be unable to fight off infections.

There are many treatment options for leukemia. Treating leukemia can bring a significant financial burden, so examine different financial assistance options to help offset the costs.

National Assistance

• Explore several options for financial assistance offered for child leukemia patients.
  Check the resources of Children's Leukemia Research Association, Inc. This national organization offers financial help for medical expenses of leukemia patients, including drugs, x-ray therapy, and other medical costs not covered by insurance.

  Also check out the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The State Children's Health Insurance Program offers a federal-state partnership that gives low-cost or free health insurance coverage to uninsured infants, children and teens.

  The Patient Assistance Program assists patients with searching the National Marrow Donor Program Registry or with selected types of post-transplant expenses. Ask your child's transplant center coordinator to submit an application for Patient Assistance Program funds. The transplant center must be the one that applies for you.

  Check into financial assistance through the Hill-Burton program. Hill-Burton is a program through which hospitals get construction funds from the federal government. Hospitals that get those funds are required by law to give some services to people who cannot afford to pay for their hospital stay. Call the program at 1-800-638-0742 to get more information on applying. You can typically apply for the Hill-Burton program by submitting applications and letters of diagnosis from your child's doctor.

Local Assistance

• Check out financial assistance from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The organization offers patient aid. Contact your local Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to obtain an application.

  Explore the opportunities that the American Cancer Society has as well. Contact your local American Cancer Society branch to get financial assistance through it.

  Obtain general assistance from your local Department of Social Services. You can obtain medical financial assistance through them.

Fundraisers

• Explore the option of having fundraisers to help offset the costs of medical expenses. Fundraisers could include organizing a concert or bake sale where the proceeds will go toward treatment costs.

  Look into participating in a Relay for Life fundraiser. Relay for Life is a fundraiser where people in different communities around the nation are brought together to help raise money to help advance research to fight cancer.