Top Financial Help and Resources for Cancer Patients
Cancer has unfortunately touched the lives of almost everyone today. American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that there will be more than two million new cancer cases in the US in 2025 alone. Whether you or a loved one has been affected by the disease, any kind of cancer diagnosis can create a huge strain both physically and psychologically.
For many, the financial cost of cancer care can be just as challenging as the diagnosis. With that in mind, we’re here to provide you with resources about financial help for cancer patients.
Here’s a brief overview of the common physical, financial, and emotional effects that cancer can have, and a guide to finding help for cancer patients and their family members who are in need of financial support.
The true cost of cancer
- A report from Duke Cancer Institute found that on average patients are spending 11% of a household’s income on the cost of cancer treatment.
- Patients often sacrifice basic needs like food and utilities to afford cancer treatment, leading to increased anxiety and depression.
- Nonprofit AARP found that the average cost of treatment is $150,000 for a person battling cancer.
Prepare for out-of-pocket costs
As a patient you not only have to consider the direct medical costs of their cancer treatment and how this may rise if they are underinsured, but you also have account for the general living expenses and costs around your care, such as travel, food, lodging, and any other daily expenditures.
If you, a loved one or a caregiver are being treated for cancer or receiving cancer-related care, it is important to consider what costs you may need to plan for and any financial resources you can draw on.
Caitlin Donovan, Sr. Director of Outreach & Public Affairs at the Patient Advocate Foundation, offers a few ways you can prepare:
Stay in your health insurance network
The health insurance system in the United States is complicated but also highly specific. For instance, it may seem simple to choose an in-network hospital for your cancer treatment, but if some doctors in that hospital are out of network or your tests are to a lab out of network, these deductibles will increase your healthcare charges.
“The biggest costs are out of network costs, so newly diagnosed patients should try to stay in-network as much as possible,” Donovan says. “Think about staying in-network and how far you have to go to do that and how much will it cost to get there. Transportation is the number one issue that patients call us about. The average amount patients need in rural areas for transport is $22 each way to go to chemo treatment.
“If you need surgery, there could be a lot of unexpected costs,” Donovan says. “Make sure that everyone is in-network, including the anesthesiologist; check on all of them individually. You have to make multiple phone calls. It’s amazing how often people don’t know if they are in-network. You need to ask.”
Consider childcare costs and other expenses
There may be a chance that your childcare costs will increase if you’re not feeling well or you’re recovering from surgery. If you have the flexibility, see if you can find a friend, community member, or relative willing and able to help out for free as soon as possible.
Also, consider any other non-medical expenses that may come up while you or a loved one is receiving active treatment. For instance, if you’re having headaches or surgery has left you in pain or discomfort, you may want to invest in some soft or loose clothing to make your healing process more comfortable. If you’re experiencing hair loss you may want to invest in a wig, headscarfs or hats.
Take into account lost wages from time off work
Consider how much time you will have to take off work for any cancer treatment, and speak to your HR department about how much you need to work to keep your health insurance coverage active or how to keep meeting your insurance premiums. Learn how to protect yourself in your workplace—have conversations and ask clarifying questions about your benefits beyond health insurance with your HR department, including short- or long-term disability.
To provide an idea of what you could expect, a study by the Department of Health Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University found that women treated for breast cancer missed an average of 44.5 days of work, and men diagnosed with prostate cancer missed an average of 27 days. Overall, oncology patients are likely to miss 22 more days of work per year than employees who aren’t battling cancer.
Pay attention to cancer drug costs and rules
It’s important to be aware that numerous rules affiliated with cancer medicines can result in large bills that patients must cover. For example, some health insurance plans require patients to receive drugs mailed from a specialty pharmacy. The patient is then responsible for bringing the drug to the care facility to receive their cancer treatment. If the patient does not bring their own medicine and the care facility has to provide it, the financial burden will be theirs to bear, and the cost could be astronomical.
It’s best to double-check with your insurance provider to know exactly what legal steps you should take to ensure you don’t get stuck with a big medical bill after treatment.
Financial assistance for cancer patients: It pays to ask
Even with private health insurance, government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and nonprofit grants, help for cancer patients to pay bills is still very much needed. If you’re having trouble voicing your financial concerns to your insurance provider or health care professional, here are some easy ways to bring up the subject as you develop your treatment plan:
- “I’m worried about how much cancer treatment will cost. What cancer care financial assistance is available to me?”
- “I know this may be expensive. Where can I go to get an idea of the total costs of treatment?”
- “Will my health insurance pay for this treatment? How much of the total cost will it cover?”
- “I’m concerned about the cost of this treatment. Are there other treatment options you would recommend that are less expensive?”
If you have questions about cancer financial assistance programs or state benefits for cancer patients, speak with your doctor or hospital social worker—the hospital business office should have helpful information and additional relief resources.
Don’t be afraid to ask—you deserve education regarding all the financial assistance options available to you to cover the cost of cancer care and if there are any assistance funds you can access. You can also seek help from other organizations like the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC) that help cancer patients in financial need in your area.
Government financial assistance for cancer patients
Many national and state programs provide free financial help for cancer patients. Some agencies, like the Department of Social Services, even provide food and housing assistance for cancer patients. Note that many government assistance programs only service low-income households, and each grant program has unique eligibility requirements, but it’s important to understand any state benefits available for cancer patients.
Financial assistance from pharmaceutical companies
PhRMA’s medical assistance tool has a list of pharmaceutical programs providing financial help for cancer patients. Note that your doctor may be able to prescribe medications that qualify for these programs. Services often differ under pharmaceutical assistance plans, but some may include:
- Financial help with insurance reimbursement
- Referrals to copay-relief programs
- Help with the prescription assistance application process
- Discounted or free medication for those who qualify
Financial help from nonprofits for cancer patients
With the cost of cancer climbing, several nonprofit organizations now help cancer patients experiencing financial challenges. Note that some groups may only provide financial aid for patients battling a specific type of cancer, and each organization has unique eligibility requirements. You can call or email any of the following for more information:
- CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation
- Chronic Disease Fund
- Healthwell Foundation
- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Co-Pay Assistance Program
- Needymeds
Fundraising can help provide financial aid for cancer patients
When you’re fighting cancer it helps to have a robust support system and advocacy network from friends and family. If your friends and family are looking for ways they can support you, consider crowdfunding. There are many excellent organizations that can help financially by providing an easy way to start an online fundraiser, whether you are a cancer patient in active treatment, on the road to recovery or a cancer survivor dealing with ongoing medical costs or home care.
A fundraiser is a great way to ask your community to donate to help you in your fight to get healthy. It creates a space for friends and family to stay connected and leave words of encouragement, and it’s a great way to provide help for cancer patients to pay their medical bills. Your fundraiser will also be a space to post text, photos, videos, or even blog updates to let loved ones know how your treatment is going. Share the fundraise on Instagram, Tiktok, and other social media to spread the word.
In the US, starting or managing your fundraiser on GoFundMe is free. However, there is one small transaction fee per donation that covers all your fundraising needs. Everything else goes directly to your cause because that’s what matters most. Not sure where to start in organizing your fundraiser? Look at these fundraisers for inspiration: #RichardsArmy Against Lymphoma , Cancer Sucks: Fitz Fights Melanoma , and Help Dave fight a brain tumor .
Cancer fundraising resources
Get cancer care financial assistance when you need it most
Numerous organizations help cancer patients financially and emotionally. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when it comes to healthcare. Every day, people battling cancer and their loved ones raise funds for treatment on GoFundMe. We’ve made it easy to start a fundraiser so you can get the financial resources for cancer patients your loved one needs, and we’ll be here to support you every step of the way.