When patients are told they have cancer, the last thing they should worry about is the financial burden of medical treatment. However, the treatment alone isn’t the only cost patients need to worry about, for those who need to travel, especially a great distance, often turn down receiving life-saving care. For millions to deny life-saving or life-extending treatments, simply because of cost should not be an option.
The good news is that there are hundreds of nonprofits and federal government grants that help ease financial obligations for cancer patients and their families. Patients in rural areas and/or low income households have one less thing to worry about. Below are nationally renowned organizations that help people with cancer overcome financial access and treatment barriers by assisting them with transportation, lodging, and overall cost for prescribed treatments.
Here are the top 5 programs that provide financial relief for those with cancer:
- PALS SkyHope offers free flights to cancer and other medical patients who need to travel to out-of-town or out-of-state treatment.
- NORD provides assistance programs to help cover the cost of medication and other financial needs.
- Hope Lodge gives cancer patients and their caregivers a supportive and comfortable place to stay for those who need to travel far from home to receive treatment.
- Road to Recovery is a program that helps with ground transportation to and from treatment for cancer patients who do not have a ride or are unable to drive.
- Travel to Hope helps cover lodging and transportation costs along with household bills if needed.
With rising oncology treatment prices, an increase in the number and complexity of treatments, patients deserve positive treatment outcomes and savings at every step.
If you or someone you know is in need of cancer financial assistance we encourage you to take advantage or share this list of programs that will help provide the best possible support for patients.