Co-Payment Assistance is Available for People Facing Prostate Cancer

January 5, 2011

The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation provides up to $5,000 per year in co-payment assistance to people facing prostate cancer.  Visit www.cancercarecopay.org to learn how to apply, and to see a list of covered medications.

Read about “game-changing” research in prostate cancer treatment in CancerCare’s new booklet, Your Guide to the Latest Cancer Research and Treatments.  You can order free copies of the booklet, along with publications such as Living with Metastatic Prostate Cancer and Caring for Your Bones When You Have Prostate Cancer.

Learn more about CancerCare’s free support services for people affected by prostate cancer.

Share

Leave a Comment » | Coping with Cancer, Financial Assistance, Men's Cancers | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak

CancerCare Extends Co-Payment Assistance to Gastric Cancer Patients

October 21, 2010

People undergoing treatment for gastric cancer who have health insurance can now receive up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance through the CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation. The foundation was established in 2007 to help cancer patients who have health insurance coverage but may be unable to afford the out-of-pocket costs of their insurance co-payments for treatment.

Visit www.cancercarecopay.org or call 1-866-55-COPAY (6729) to learn more about eligibility requirements, diagnoses and treatments covered, and how to apply for assistance. 

Learn more about CancerCare’s free, professional support services for anyone affected by gastric cancer.

Share

Leave a Comment » | Coping with Cancer, Financial Assistance | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak

Financial Help for Cancer Patients Lessens Out-of-Pocket Treatment Costs

September 14, 2010

Health care providers should open up the conversation with their patients about resources that can help ease the burden of costly insurance co-payments for their cancer treatments, advises CancerCare CEO Helen H. Miller in the latest issue of Oncology Nurse Advisor magazine.

Many patients may hesitate to discuss financial matters with their health care team, Miller notes, even though their ability to cover  medical costs is key to complying with their treatment. 

Miller advises oncology nurses and other health care providers to talk openly with their patients about financial resources that might benefit them. The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation, for example, provides qualified individuals with up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance for certain cancer diagnoses and treatments. The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC) is a searchable database that directs patients to other sources of financial assistance, locally and nationally.

Read the full article for more resources.

Share

Leave a Comment » | Financial Assistance | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak

SAMFund Offers Financial Grants for Young Adult Cancer Survivors; Apply by July 12

July 8, 2010

The SAMFund, a unique nonprofit organization that helps young adult cancer survivors transition into post-treatment life, is offering financial assistance to qualified applicants.  To date, more than 250 individuals across the country have received SAMFund grants and scholarships.

Recipients are awarded an average of $2,000 in grants and scholarships that help cover costs such as medical and living expenses, certain types of tuition, and family-building expenses.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, 17-35 years old, and have completed active treatment. The application deadline is Monday, July 12.

To apply for a 2010 SAMFund grant, visit www.thesamfund.org. 

CancerCare offers specialized, free services for young adult patients, caregivers, loved ones, and survivors including counseling, financial assistance, support groups, and publications.

Share

Leave a Comment » | Financial Assistance, Survivorship, Young Adults | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak

Medical Schools Teaching Future Doctors about Cost of Care

May 6, 2010

A recent article in The New York Times describes how medical schools are educating future doctors about the high costs of medical treatments and how health care is financed.

Doctors-in-training were traditionally shielded from the cost of the tests and treatment required for their patients.  Students were taught to order tests based on their evaluation of the condition, rather than factor in the high cost to the patient. 

Now, many residency programs are creating courses for students about health policy that include information about treatment costs and insurance. For example, Dr. Yasmin S. Meah, an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, directs a clinic that she describes as teaching future doctors how to “understand what is necessary and what is not. ” Students there are learning valuable lessons in how to practice medicine more cost-effectively for patients.

These are exciting developments because, as the financial impact of cancer treatment can be overwhelming, cost of care is a key issue for doctors and patients to discuss. Just as important is knowing about the resources that exist to provide patients with financial support.

The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC) is a group of organizations, which includes CancerCare, that offers financial help and resources. The coalition educates patients and providers about existing resources through a comprehensive online database.

The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation provides eligible individuals with up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance. 

Learn more about the financial support offered by CancerCare.

Share

Leave a Comment » | Financial Assistance | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak

USA Today Examines Rising Costs of Cancer Treatments

March 19, 2010

An article published in USA Today this past Wednesday mentions CancerCare in an examination of escalating costs of cancer treatment.

The costs of treatment and care for a person with cancer have skyrocketed in recent years, with overall spending in the U.S. now exceeding $90 billion.  It is impossible to provide an estimate of the “average” cost of cancer treatment, as hundreds of different diagnoses and their respective costs are too extreme to yield an accurate median.

The only certainty is, cancer is an extremely expensive illness to treat.  Charitable organizations such as CancerCare provide financial help to thousands of people per year but are not the total solution to the financial hardships people with cancer too often face.

We are optimistic that this weekend’s vote on health care reform will spark a change towards more comprehensive coverage, and help to ease the already-tremendous financial burden of a cancer diagnosis on individuals and families.

For more than 60 years, CancerCare has provided financial assistance to help with some types of costs, including transportation, homecare, childcare, and pain medication. Our social workers and case managers are knowledgeable about financial issues, and will work closely with you to get you the help you need.

The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation was created in 2007 to help people with health insurance who are struggling to cover their treatment co-payments.  Qualified individuals with certain diagnoses may receive up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance.

CancerCare is a member of the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC), a coalition of organizations that help cancer patients manage their financial challenges.  We encourage you to use the coalition’s resource directory to find financial resources in your community.

To learn more about managing the cost of cancer treatment, please visit the ASCO Cancer Foundation’s financial assistance section of their website.

Read the full USA Today article here.

Share

1 Comment | Coping with Cancer, Financial Assistance | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak

Co-Payment Assistance Available to Kidney and Colorectal Cancer Patients

March 4, 2010

March is both Kidney Cancer Awareness Month and National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. 

The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation provides up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance to eligible individuals facing renal cell carcinoma or colorectal cancer.

CancerCare has also responded to the needs of people facing kidney cancer by hosting Connect Education Workshops that offer information about research and treatment in kidney cancer and offering informative kidney cancer publications in our ever-expanding online reading room.

To learn about treatment updates for colorectal cancer, listen to our most recent Connect Education Workshop, Emerging Treatments for Colorectal Cancer: What’s New? Other Connect Education Workshops have explored colorectal cancer topics such as improved treatment options through clinical trials and updates on genetic testing for recurrence.

Additionally, this month’s Ask CancerCare column gives you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about coping with colorectal cancer.

For more resources on these cancers, visit the diagnoses pages on our website. 

Share

Leave a Comment » | Coping with Cancer, Financial Assistance, Learn More About Your Diagnosis, Mind-Body-Spirit, Support CancerCare | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak

New Study Reveals Higher Out-of-Pocket Costs Associated with Oral Cancer Drugs; Co-Pay Help Available

February 22, 2010

A new study of anti-cancer drug treatments reveals that out-of-pocket costs for oral drugs are higher than costs for drugs delivered intravenously.

While oral anti-cancer drugs are often more convenient for patients than intravenous drugs, they require many different procedures from doctors such as the management of side effects. However, because these services are not reimbursed by Medicare or other payers, out-of-pocket costs can be as much as 25-50% of the total cost. This can add up to thousands of dollars a year – and sometimes even thousands of dollars per month.

One place patients can turn to for help with chemotherapy and targeted treatment copayments is the CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation. The foundation provides financial help to patients in treatment for:

  • Breast cancer
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Glioblastoma
  • Non-small cell lung cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Renal cell cancer

Qualified individuals may receive up to $10,000 per year to assist with insurance co-payments. Visit the Foundation’s website to learn how to apply.

Share

Leave a Comment » | Financial Assistance | Permalink
Posted by Kyle Hornyak

New Survey Highlights Financial Impact on Cancer Patients, Caregivers

December 21, 2009

According to new survey results from the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW), more than half of cancer patients reported that the costs related to cancer negatively impact their ability to focus on their recovery. Experiencing financial strain can also affect how the patient makes treatment decisions.

Other key findings include:
68% reported financial hardship due to medical bills
46% had to cut back on living expenses to pay for their treatment
40% said that they depleted their savings
30% reported having to deal with bill collectors
66% of patients who faced major financial challenges report suffering from depression/anxiety

These findings reinforce the need for patients and their loved ones to seek guidance and support. While patients reported experiencing significant stress, only 1/3 sought out the help of a social worker. It’s important to know that there are professionals who are experienced in navigating care systems and who can provide supportive counseling.

To speak with an oncology social worker, contact us at 1-800-813-4673.

Share

Leave a Comment » | Caregiving, Financial Assistance | Permalink
Posted by jzahora

Pfizer Extends Free Meds Program for People Who’ve Lost Their Jobs

December 15, 2009

Pfizer Inc. announced last week that it will extend through 2010 its program providing free  prescription medications for people who have lost their jobs.

According to the Associated Press, the Pfizer program makes available more than 70 types of widely prescribed medications it manufactures, such as anti-pain drugs and anti-depressants. The program helps people who have lost jobs since Jan. 1, 2009 and have been taking the drug for three months or more.

Visit the Pfizer website for more information about the program and the medications offered. For more information about specific chemotherapy drugs available through Pfizer’s patient assistance program, call 866-706-2400.

Share

Leave a Comment » | Financial Assistance | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Jeanie M. Barnett

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »