Paying for cancer care can be difficult whether or not you have health insurance. Fortunately, there is help available for direct cancer care costs, prescriptions, and transportation and household expenses.

Below are lists of links to organizations that can help you directly or that provide listings of resources to get you the help you need.

Discounted and free care

To learn about getting low-cost or free care, and to find out about eligibility requirements, visit these links:

• National Cancer Institute - NCI identifies government agencies, organizations, and programs that are designed to provide assistance for people with cancer and their families. Many of these resources are described below.
• American Cancer Society (insurance and financial assistance information)
• CancerCare
• Hill-Burton Free or Reduced-Cost Care - You are eligible to apply for this care if your income is at or below the current U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare
• Medicaid
• Medicare
• Social Security Administration
• Veterans Administration

State-specific financial assistance

Some financial assistance programs are specific to certain states. To learn what your state offers, view the:

• Patient Advocate Foundation’s National Financial Resources Guidebook for Patients: A State by State Directory
• American Cancer Society resource database, which enables you to find a variety of services by entering your zip code.

Assistance for non-medical expenses

To learn about financial assistance for transportation and places for families to stay during a relative’s cancer treatment, visit the links above (“State-specific financial assistance” ) as well as these below:

• Air Charity Network provides access for people in need seeking free air transportation to specialized health care facilities. 
• Corporate Angel Network arranges free air transportation for people with cancer traveling to treatment using the empty seats on corporate jets.
• National Patient Travel Center provides free or discounted air transportation.
• American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery program provides rides to and from treatment for people with cancer.
• Joe's House helps people with cancer and their families find lodging near treatment centers.
• Hope Lodges offer families a place to stay during a loved one’s cancer treatment.
• Eldercare Locator identifies community services for older adults.
• Ronald McDonald Houses provide a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children receiving in-hospital treatment.

Assistance for fertility preservation

The most common fertility preservation method is cryopreservation, which is ultra-low temperature storage of cells or groups of cells.  Men can use sperm banking, and options for women include embryo freezing, oocyte (egg) freezing, and ovarian tissue storage.  To assist with the costs associated with fertility preservation, financial assistance for cancer patients is available:

• LIVESTRONG’s Sharing Hope program works with fertility centers to provide financial assistance for patients whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility.  888-994-HOPE

What else can you do?

Additional items to consider include the following:

• Learn about how to get free or low-cost prescription medications.
• Many hospitals have case managers and social workers who can help you with financial issues and refer you to other services you may need. Ask your oncologist or oncology nurse to put you in touch with these people.
• Patient Advocate Foundation provides a state-by-state resource guide and information about insurance issues and co-pay relief.
• Take unpaid time off from work. The Family and Medical Leave Act enables a primary caretaker to take time off to care for a loved one with a guarantee that he or she can return to his or her job or a similar job.
• Deduct medical expenses from your taxes. While not every medical expense is tax-deductible, many of them are. Learn about what medical expenses can be deducted.
• Appeal an insurance claim that has been denied. If your insurance company denies a claim that you think should be covered, do not take no for an answer. The Kaiser Family Foundation and Patient Advocate Foundation offer advice on how to handle insurance coverage disputes.
• Negotiate with hospitals and other providers for lower prices. Many hospitals, physicians, and other providers will actually reduce the amount you owe or work out a payment plan if they are aware of your financial circumstances.

• Consider cashing in your life insurance policy to obtain funds for treatment. Learn about how to do this from the American Cancer Society and Patient Advocate Foundation.