Cancer is a difficult thing to go through, physically, emotionally, and financially. If you’re living with a cancer diagnosis, you know the costs of treatment, transportation, housing and other out-of-pocket expenses can quickly mount. Many insurance companies will cover at least a portion of the costs associated with cancer treatment. However, if you don’t have insurance or if your insurance doesn’t cover the full cost of treatment, there are programs here in the USA that specialize in helping cancer patients financially. If you are struggling with the costs of care, here are many organizations that help cancer patients financially.
This is a big list! If you need help locating a program, let us know. We’ll help you find it. ❤️
Grants for Cancer Patients
Grant programs are usually provided by charities or non-profit organizations. However, private companies also offer grant programs for cancer patients in need, so we’ve done the research for you and included programs here and in our national directory of grants for cancer patients. We’ve included both state and federal assistance programs as well. These programs are typically need-based, so you will likely have to provide proof of income and assets. We hope these grant programs help you meet expenses during this difficult time.
Cancer Research & Life Foundation Grant Program (Provides grants to cancer patients in the USA to help with treatment-related out-of-pocket costs for things like airfare, housing, and healthcare expenses.)
Join the Flock Housing Grant Program (Provides financial relief to families in the USA impacted by cancer through gifted mortgage payment grants.)
Modest Needs Foundation (Short-term financial assistance to individuals and families. Grants range from $750 – $1250.)
1 Upon Cancer (Direct financial assistance grants for adults in the United States currently undergoing any type of cancer treatment and having trouble covering medical expenses.)
❤️ More free grant programs for cancer patients.
Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs for Cancer Patients
Pharmaceutical companies have assistance programs for cancer patients who need help paying for medications. The free prescription assistance programs we’ve included here offer no-cost options for both insured and uninsured patients needing financial assistance to get the medications they need. Some programs have eligibility requirements, such as income or USA residency restrictions, which will be clearly explained in the application. If you can’t afford to pay for your medication, don’t hesitate to reach out to the pharmaceutical companies below for help.
Novartis Patient Assistance (Free access to medicines for insured and uninsured cancer patients experiencing financial hardship.)
Taketa Helping Hand (Free medications for those who are not insured and meet financial eligibility guidelines.)
AbbVie Patient Assistance (Provides free medications to cancer patients with financial need who have limited or no health insurance coverage and live in the United States.)
Lilly Cares (The Lilly Cares Foundation Patient Assistance Program helps US cancer patients with demonstrated financial need receive oncology medications for free.)
❤️ More free pharmaceutical assistance programs for cancer patients.
CoPay Assistance Programs for Cancer Patients
Copay assistance programs can provide much-need financial help to underinsured patients who are struggling to pay for the out-of-pocket expenses for cancer treatment. These programs offer financial help with the copays, premiums and deductibles. Most are provided by nonprofit organizations. The eligibility requirements for these programs vary, but typically require that you have insurance and that you can meet certain income requirements. The programs below offer help to cancer patients nationwide.
GoodDays Copay Relief (Free financial help for insured cancer patients who cannot afford out-of-pocket expenses related to care.)
HealthWell Foundation (Assistance varies with the program includes prescription, copays, health insurance premiums, deductibles and coinsurance.)
The Assistance Fund (financial assistance to cancer patients in the USA who have uncovered care-related expenses and meet income guidelines.)
Patient Access Network (Help for insured cancer patients who have high out-of-pocket expenses. Program eligibility is based on financial need. Patients must live and be receiving care in the USA.)
❤️ More copay assistance programs for cancer patients.
Free Housing Programs for Cancer Patients
There are many housing programs available for cancer patients in the USA offered at the state and federal level as well as by private companies, charities, and other organizations. We maintain a national directory of free housing programs for cancer patients. Most require that you are traveling at least 30 miles away and can demonstrate financial need. If you are traveling for treatment, please reach out to these programs to get the free housing help you need to ensure care.
More Moments More Memories Grant (Covers housing expenses for cancer patients who must travel for clinical trial treatment. Also includes a per-day allowance for food during travel and treatment.)
Hospitality Homes (Free temporary housing for cancer patients who are receiving active treatment at least 50 miles away from home.)
Southwest Airlines Travel Grant (Free round-trip tickets to allow patients to travel for treatment at no cost.)
❤️ Visit our national directory for more free housing programs for cancer patients.
Cancer-Specific Financial Assistance
Breast Cancer Help
Healthwell Breast Cancer Fund (Financial assistance to pay for prescription drugs and biologics used in the treatment of breast cancer for patients in the USA who have Medicare Insurance.)
Remember Betty Grant Program (Grants for breast cancer patients to pay for housing (mortgage/rental), medical bills, transportation (car payment/repair), and general expenses while receiving treatment.)
The Pink Daisy Project (Short-term financial assistance for women in the USA who are under 45 who and within three months of breast cancer treatment or reconstruction due to breast cancer.)
PAF Breast Cancer Copay Relief (Financial assistance program to help cover the costs of copays, coinsurance & deductibles for breast cancer patients in active treatment in the USA.)
❤️ More free financial programs for breast cancer patients.
Lung Cancer Help
CancerCare Lung Cancer Copay Fund (Financial assistance for uncovered out-of-pocket copay, premium, and deductible expenses for small cell lung cancer patients in the USA.)
Healthwell Lung Cancer Fund (Financial assistance to pay for prescription drugs and biologics used in the treatment of NSCLC for patients in the USA who have Medicare Insurance. The maximum award is $6000.)
Genentech Prescription Assistance (Free prescription drug program for lung cancer patients without insurance and a household income less than $150,000 per year OR with insurance that doesn’t cover.)
Merck Prescription Assistance (No-cost prescription program for cancer patients in the USA who do not have insurance or the insurance does not cover the prescribed medication.)
❤️ More financial help for lung cancer patients.
Colon Cancer Help
Shine For Scott Financial Assistance (Financial assistance to patients under 50 in the USA who have been diagnosed with colon cancer. Eligibility is determined by financial need.)
Pfizer Prescription Assistance (Access to Pfizer oncology medications at no cost to patients who can otherwise not afford them. Must meet financial eligibility guidelines to qualify.)
Taiho Prescription Assistance (Financial assistance is available for both insured and uninsured patients living in the USA with demonstrated financial need.)
The Kimberly Grant (A generous $2000 grant program in loving memory of Kim Troisi-Paton who passed away from colon cancer in 2007 for colon cancer patients to help meet expenses during treatment.)
❤️ More financial assistance programs for colon cancer patients.
Lymphoma Help
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Copay Assistance Program (This Copay Assistance Program offers financial help with leukemia and lymphoma cancer treatment-related expenses up to $8000 per year.)
CLRA Patient Aid Grant Program (Money grant program available for both children and adults with blood cancers who live and receive treatment in the United States.)
HeadStrong Foundation Grant (Grant program for blood cancer patients in the USA in active treatment with demonstrated financial need and need help covering essential expenses.)
Susan Lang Pay-It-Forward Travel Grant (Money grant for blood cancer patients in the USA with financial need to pay for treatment-related travel and lodging expenses for the patient and one caregiver.)
❤️ For more financial help for lymphoma patients, visit this link.
More Financial Help for Cancer Patients
The financial burdens of cancer are immense. The costs of treatment, travel, copays, and medication all add up rather quickly and pile on an already stressful situation. Yes, insurance can help cover some of the costs of treatment, but it’s often limited and doesn’t cover the full cost of care. Private charities and non-profit organizations like the ones above provide financial help for patients with cancer by filling that gap through grants, copay relief, prescription assistance and more. If you need help locating a program, please get in touch with us. We are here for you.
❤️ For more, please check our national directory of free financial assistance programs for cancer patients.
