Financial Resources

Financial resources.

Financial resources for medicines, co-pays, coinsurance, housing and transportation.

There are resources available to help pay for oral anxiolytic medications if you have commercial or government insurance.

There are deductibles and co-pays or coinsurance associated with clinical visits for cancer patients.

Travel for treatment and consultations.

Help paying for oncolytic medications There are quite a few financial resources available for help, especially for paying for oncolytic medications.

Some of these resources are private resources. Nonprofit organizations or community based.

Let's take a few moments to review some of them.

Be aware that on the myeloma crowd site, there is a link with a list of resources for cancer or myeloma patients.

I would first start with your doctor's office. If they can investigate your insurance coverage for the chemotherapy medications, you can also check with your pharmacy to see if they can find options or additional resources for you.

We know that your insurance company will probably need documentation from your oncologist regarding the need for the medication before it will be approved. Generally, pre-certification will be taken care of through your oncologist office.

If you find that your medications are not covered under insurance, review these sources.

Most major drug companies have medication assistance programs, which will provide specific therapies at lower or no cost to qualified and or uninsured patients as part of their commitment to charitable efforts.

The type of assistance varies from one company to another, but most programs work similarly.

Information regarding the patient's medical status, income level and assets is needed. Most companies require that patients do not have a third party prescription coverage.

Companies may need to get verifying statements from the doctor, which shows the patient's need for the drug. Each company will have its own set of forms asking for the necessary information.

Again, check with their oncologist office. They may have information regarding some of these programs. The financial advocate, as well as the oncology nurse advocate, may have information as well.

Some of these assistance programs will help you determine what your insurance covers and may help you with a denial of claims.

If you have very expensive medications, some of these assistance programs offer payment limitations. This means that once you have reached a predetermined limit, the company will pay all other costs for the needed medication.

As your medications change, you will have to repeat the process. That is why it is very important to ask questions, if possible, regarding upcoming changes to your treatment and medications so that you can have time to do the necessary legwork required to get assistance approval so you can stay on your treatment plan.

Additionally, there are few medication assistance programs that retroactively reimburse cost for drugs that have already been dispensed to patients. This way, treatment is not delayed and patients are not charged for medications that may have been administered prior to approval.

Again, more information about medication assistance programs can be obtained from your doctors, pharmacist, nurse and social workers. As I see this daily, they would have the latest information.

You can also search the Internet for sites from various drug companies. Here are that may be helpful to use, such as needymeds.com. They help people locate assistance programs to help them afford their medications.

care.com as well as a medicineprogram.com and assistfund.org help patients with high cost medications.

Partnershipforprescriptionassistance.org helps qualifying patients who do not have prescription drug coverage obtain the medications they need.

There are many others. Please refer to the HealthTree Foundation for a link to other financial systems programs.

Finding additional financial support.

You can get information from national and local organizations that help people with cancer who are facing financial challenges. Try contacting these organizations directly to learn more about specific programs and services available to you.

Some of these are the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition, or CFAC. This is a group of national organizations that provide financial help to patients. CFAC provides a searchable database of financial resources,

cancer care provides limited assistance at cancercare.org. They provide copay, transportation, home care, and child care. It also provides a list of sources for financial assistance and a database of organizations that provide financial or practical help.

Visit cancercare.org/helpinghand cancercare.org/publications offer sources of financial assistance.

The Leukemia Lymphoma Society's Patient Financial Aid program is a great source. But keep in mind that all aid is on a first come, first serve basis. They often run out of money very quickly after enrollment begins for the year.

They provide limited financial resources to help reduce treatment related expenses for patients diagnosed with blood cancer, such as leukemia, lymphoma and or multiple myeloma. And who has significant need. It is not a one time program and you can resubmit request every year.

The National Foundation for Transplant provides fundraising assistance for patients needing transplants, including bone marrow and stem cell transplants. You can find them at transplants.org/patientapplication.

Many people are not aware that some well known local volunteer organizations in your city, such as Catholic Charities, Jewish Social Services, the Lions Club, Lutheran Social Services, the Salvation Army, United Way and others. They offer financial assistance.

Some of these organizations offer grants to help cover the costs of treatment and other expenses while others help with specific services or products such as travel or medications.

Again, your social worker or an online search will help you uncover a list of organizations. To the big charities you've heard of are the American Cancer Society and again, the United Way,

the Department of Social Services in your city may provide food, housing and other general assistance services. They may even offer direct financial assistance.

At times, Community based groups, including local churches, synagogues, mosques and lodges may also provide assistance for people with cancer, even if the patient is not a member of that particular organization or religion.

Some hospitals also have private funds available for patients in need.

There are currently 30 Hope Lodge locations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. You can find them at this link.

Joe's house is another organization that helps with housing assistance. They help cancer patients and their families find housing while traveling for medical treatment.

The following organizations help patients with travel assistance, Corporate Angels Network.

and Air Compassion for Veterans, which offers free air and ground transportation for ill injured and wounded veterans and their family for medical care. There are many others.

For more information, call Air Care Alliance at 888-260-9707 or reach them online at this link. They offer a central listing of free transportation services provided by volunteer pilots and charitable aviation groups.

For copay assistance, check out Good Days, the Patient Access Network Foundation, which assists patients with out-of-pocket costs associated with their treatment.

Patients Services Inc, which provides assistance with insurance premiums and co-payments for people with chronic illness.

For any assistance you can go to HealthTree.org