If you or someone you love is facing or currently going through cancer treatments, you have a pretty good idea of just how expensive it can be. The bills can run up pretty quick, and patients often find themselves unable to afford the medications and treatments they need. It is a good idea to start looking for financial help as soon as possible after being diagnosed with cancer. When financing is in place, it is one less thing for the patients and their families to be worried about. They have enough to be concerned with, and they shouldn’t have to worry about not being able to afford treatments and medications, and still support their families.
Life Settlements
It can be difficult to come up with the money needed to pay for cancer treatments. But, there are options out there that you may have never heard of. For instance, patients can look into life settlement as financial assistance for cancer treatments. This may be necessary if insurance won’t cover all of the costs for treatments and lost income prevents people from being able to continue paying for treatments themselves.
Life settlements take place when patients sell their life insurance policies to third parties. It is not necessary to have a terminal diagnosis to get a life settlement. But, they are often chosen when the patient does not expect to live longer than six months. The money from the life settlement will cover a lot of costs when hospice care isn’t viable.
Finding other Financial Help
You can get a lot of helpful information from social workers and health care providers about where to get financial help. There are many organizations, both national and local, that help people who need financial help while they are being treated for cancer. It is best to contact the organizations directly, to get all of the information about the services they off, and to find out if a patient is eligible for these services. The following are organizations that will help cancer patients financially if they are eligible:
National Service Organizations
The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC) – This is a group of organizations that help cancer patients pay for treatments. You can use CFAC to search for many different resources.
CancerCare – This organization offers various limited financial assistance for cancer patients. Call 1-800-813-4673.
The HealthWellFoundation – This is an independent, non-profit organization that helps people whose insurance doesn’t cover all of their care. Call 1-800-675-8416.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – This organization offers limited financial assistance to those with blood cancer diagnosis, and are in great need of financial help. Call 1-800-955-4572.
The National Foundation for Transplants – This organization helps with fundraising for those who need bone marrow, stem cell, and other transplants. Call 1-800-489-3863.
The American Cancer Society – Get information about where to find services for patients. Call 1-800-227-2345.
Patients and their caregivers should also contact local service organizations, such as churches, the Lion’s Club, the Kiwanis, the Salvation Army, and others. They often will offer grants to cover expenses related to cancer treatments, and others will provide things like medications, travel, and accommodations. Most hospitals and clinics will have information about local organizations. It is also a good idea to contact the local Department of Social Services, as well as community-based groups. Don’t forget to check with cancer advocate groups and patient information groups for additional resources. Another option is to get others to help with fundraising. Many local businesses will often come together to donate items for silent auctions, musicians will donate their talent to entertain, community members will donate their time and talents, etc.
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