Financial Assistance

Financial Assistance

After being diagnosed with cancer, some patients may begin to have financial problems. There are many issues patients do not realize when they begin cancer treatments.

• Transportation
• Insurance co-pays and deductibles
• The possibility of time away from work = lack of income.

There may be some financial assistance out there for you.

If you find yourself struggling to pay your medical bills, contact the billing office. There is a phone number located on your bill that you can call to discuss payment plans or possibly even financial assistance. Many offices will try to work with you, but you need to call as soon as possible. If bills are sent to collections, it may be harder to work with the medical office to arrange assistance.

There are co-pay assistance programs that may be able to help with prescription or office co-pays. Some programs are based on diagnosis and available funding. The following organizations can help with co-pays.

• HealthWell Foundation, 800.675.8416
• National Organization for Rare Disorders, 800.999.6673 (voicemail only)
• Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief, 866.512.3861

If you are uninsured and cannot afford your prescription, there may be a program that can help get your medication for free from the pharmaceutical company. Applications are based on household income. To see if your medication has a Patient Assistance Program, check the following organizations.

• NeedyMeds   
• Partnership for Prescription Assistance, 888.477.2669

Some generic medications may be included in special programs available at local pharmacies. Local Kroger pharmacies are now offering $4 generic medicines; please check your local pharmacy to see if your medicine is included. Click here to see a generic medicine list that was provided by Kroger pharmacy in February 2008. Target and Wal-Mart also provide competitively priced generic medications.

There also are programs that can provide discount cards for medications if you do not have any prescription drug coverage. One such program is Together RX (800.444.4106).

With the increasing cost of every day items, some people are having difficulty paying electrical or utility bills. There are organizations that may be able to help with those bills, depending on the amount of the bill and household income. Contact your utility company to see if there are organizations in your community that may be able to assist with your bill.

If you need further assistance or have any questions about your finances, please feel free to contact your oncology social worker. The American Cancer Society may also be able to provide help by calling 800.ACS.2345. 

The Cancer Institute welcomes any questions or topics of interest. I can be reached by email at tagreen@utmck.edu or 865.305.6154.

Sincerely,
Teri Green
Social Worker
Cancer Institute
865.305.6154