I know a couple of women whose families have lost everything because of the enormous cost of treatment. Many of us don’t have access to health insurance and, once you’re diagnosed, premiums skyrocket. The following information comes from the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Financing Issues-Medical Assistance
NeedyMeds.com
Drug assistance program information.
http://www.needymeds.com/
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Drug assistance program information.
https://www.pparx.org/
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
Directory of pharmaceutical manufacturers’ assistance programs.
http://www.phrma.org/
Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization
Financial assistance for wigs, prostheses and mastectomy bras.
http://www.y-me.org/
CancerCare Linking A.R.M.S.(TM)
Financial assistance for some medications and medical supplies.
http://www.cancercare.org/
CancerCare
Financial assistance for diagnostic work-up, as well as information on drug assistance programs. See also Transportation Assistance.
http://www.cancercare.org/
Financing Issues-Transportation Assistance
American Cancer Society – Road to Recovery
Transportation assistance program.
http://www.cancer.org/
Mercy Medical Airlift
Air travel assistance for cancer patients.
http://www.mercymedical.org/
National Patient Air Travel HELPLINE
Air travel assistance for cancer patients.
http://www.patienttravel.org/
Lifeline Pilots
Air travel assistance for cancer patients.
http://www.airlifelinemidwest.org/index2.htm
Air Charity Network
Air travel assistance for cancer patients.
http://aircharitynetwork.org
Corporate Angel Network
Air travel assistance for cancer patients
http://www.corpangelnetwork.org/
CancerCare
Financial assistance for transportation to and from treatment and childcare when a parent is having tests or treatment. See also Financial Issues.
http://www.cancercare.org/
Hey, this is a great compilation! I know one woman who really needed help – well two actually – women who blogged about not having insurance and needing help with costs. Another woman, I guess she did have insurance and maxed it out having treatments but was able to fight the insurance company to get what she needed.
I feel so sorry for those women – or any woman having to pay such outrageous prices for treatments.
Thanks, this is great.
Peace today ggirlie.
~ RS ~
Comment by RubyShooZ — October 18, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
Thanks for letting me know! I feel sad for them, too. It’s a major failing of our country in not ensuring that every citizen have access to the health care they need.
Love to you, R.S.
Comment by ggirl — October 19, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
What a blessing that you posted all of this! Even with insurance, I know that a dear friend of mine has had to pay thousands out of pocket over this past year (and fight with the insurance company about several aspects of her treatment). It’s far worse for women who don’t have insurance at all. So it’s really great that you’re posting this here.
Comment by April_Optimist — October 20, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
My daughter is currently going through Chemo for breast cancer. She was diagnosed in June and started treatment in July. We have 12 more weeks of treatment, then surgery, then radiation. Her company (a large utility company) terminated her 2 weeks ago for “lack of performance”…duh! she has cancer. They had just given her a raise 2 months earlier but after her treatments started she had to take off too much time between the treatment and being sick. We have 7 more days until her insurance runs out and I’m hoping between the lists here and others I’ve found, we’ll get the help we need for her. This is a terrible thing to go through as it is and to see what the charges are for medical treatment is absolutely absurd, especially when some insurance companies are reporting $400 Billion in profit. The shunt they put in her arm cost $10,000. That is so ridiculous. By the way, I have a whole new respect for cancer patient survivors.
Comment by Nancy — October 21, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
Nancy,
I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter. Getting through chemo is hard enough without losing your job. Has she looked into the Family and Medical Leave Act? She should have been able to get some “free” time off (without using vacation or sick leave) if she worked there at least 1,250 hours in the past year.
Please check in again and let me know how she’s doing.
Comment by ggirl — October 22, 2007 @ 9:40 am
April Optimist,
Thank you for stopping by. I’ve heard so many terrible stories about people trying to survive cancer without insurance. And, as you note, even with insurance, it can be a huge financial struggle. Take care.
Comment by ggirl — October 22, 2007 @ 9:43 am
Patient Prescription Assistance Programs (PPA’s) or Patient Assistance Programs (PAP’s) are programs offered by major pharmaceutical companies which disburse prescription drugs in the United States. In essence, these programs offer free brand name drugs to people who do not have adequate healthcare coverage. Each PAP has its own set of policies and guidelines for the free prescription drugs, i.e. Merck and Pfizer each have separate distinct plans. Because each pharmaceutical company has different procedures for acceptance, it is extremely difficult for the average American citizen to complete the required paperwork with a high degree of accuracy. Because of the ‘paperwork hassle,’ many American citizens fail to qualify for the medication. That is where RxAid.us becomes involved. Rx Aid has a very knowledgeable staff that understands each pharmaceutical company’s guidelines and knows how to work with the patient, the doctor, and the pharmaceutical company. Rx Aid uses a sophisticated software program that helps ensure each Rx Aid client receives the medications required. Rx Aid is a service driven company. This service of helping American citizens obtain affordable prescription medication is ‘Priority One.’ http://RXaid.us
Comment by Can PAP or PPA help? — April 15, 2008 @ 9:11 am
I here the newcomer. Not absolutely I will understand with topic. Explain, please. http://kopitop.ru/map.html
Comment by goolloog — November 8, 2008 @ 6:33 am