Cancer is an expensive illness, and it is often a challenge to keep up with the additional costs you may experience after being diagnosed. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) publication Cancer and Your Finances(link is external) describes health insurance options and coverage, provides worksheets and checklists to help stay organized and understand costs, and includes tips, resources and more. You may also contact LLS to order a copy at 800-955-4572.
Assistance from Non-Profit Foundations
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Co-Pay Assistance Program for WM Patients in the US
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Co-Pay Assistance Program offers financial help toward treatment-related co-payments, premiums for private health insurance, and premiums and co-pay obligations for Medicare Part B, Medicare Plan D, Medicare Supplementary Health Insurance, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid Spend-down.
Assistance to WM patients is awarded for a 12-month coverage period, and the maximum award available may vary from year-to-year. To be eligible, a patient must meet the following requirements:
- Have a household income that is at or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines as adjusted by the Cost of Living Index (COLI). Example Federal Poverty Levels can be viewed here(link is external).
- Be a US citizen or permanent resident of the US or Puerto Rico and be medically and financially qualified.
- Have prescription insurance coverage.
- Have a WM diagnosis confirmed by a doctor.
You can find more information about the program, including a list of covered expenses, and how to apply here(link is external).
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Patient Travel Assistance Program
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Patient Travel Assistance Program is available to blood cancer patients in the US, with significant financial need, who may qualify to receive financial assistance for approved expenses that include: ground transportation (gas, tolls, car rental, taxi, bus, train, ambulance services, etc.), air travel, and lodging-related expenses, You can find more information about this program including eligibility requirements and how to apply here(link is external).
PAN Foundation WM Assistance Program
WM patients in the US may be eligible to receive financial assistance from the Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation to help with high prescription co-pays and deductibles for drugs used to treat WM. WM patients can qualify for PAN assistance which allows a maximum award over 12 months for prescription cancer treatment. The amount of the maximum award may vary from year-to-year.
In order for patients to qualify for co-payment assistance with Patient Access Network, they must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- The patient must have Medicare insurance.
- The patient’s medication must be listed on PAN’s list of covered medications.
- The patient must reside in and receive treatment in the United States (patient does not have to be a US citizen).
- The patient’s income must fall at or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Level. (Federal Poverty Levels can be viewed here(link is external).)
Details and information on how to apply can be found here(link is external).
HealthWell Foundation (https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/(link is external)) – The HealthWell Foundation focuses on helping patients with prescription drug copayments, deductibles and health insurance premiums. Like CancerCare, funds are divided into disease categories. An independent review panel decides how much funding each category should receive. “We look at the landscape within each disease area and try to spread as much out as possible to the patients in those spaces,” says Krista Zodet, president.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN – https://www.nccn.org/reimbursement_resource_room/#cancer(link is external)) – The National Comprehensive Cancer Network maintains a list of patient and caregiver resources in its Virtual Reimbursement Resource Room Guide. Visitors to the site can search by cancer type, drug name or reimbursement program to find corresponding resources. They also can download the entire guide or install a version on a smartphone or tablet. The service is offered at no charge, although access requires registration. Both iOS and Android devices are supported.
Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC – https://www.cancerfac.org(link is external)) – The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition offers a onestop method of searching for aid from its 14-member alliance. The site’s homepage allows searches by diagnosis, zip code and type of service needed. It also offers information on various cancer costs, as well as how to take control of finances and find help within local communities.
Needy Meds (http://www.needymeds.org/(link is external)) – More than 20 years ago, Richard Sagall, M.D., was practicing family medicine in Maine when he learned of several patient assistance programs his patients weren’t familiar with. During nights and weekends, he designed a website, needymeds.org, to get the word out. Today, the site offers information on assistance programs from more than 400 companies with programs offering more than 4,000 different drugs and formulations. Website visitors can obtain drug discount cards, coupons and rebates, as well as find local and national financial resources based on diagnosis.
Gooddays (https://www.mygooddays.org/(link is external)) – Good Days was founded in 2003 by a business executive who was stunned by the out-of-pocket costs for his Crohn’s disease medication and decided to help others who had to choose between the costs of everyday living and affording their medication. As with other agencies, the amount of money provided is not unlimited and depends on diagnosis. In addition to covering the price of medications, Good Days helps patients who must leave their hometowns for therapy. “When one of our patients needs to travel more than 100 miles for treatment, we act as a travel coordinator, ensuring their lodging is as close to the hospital as possible and that they get to their appointments on time,” says Clorinda Walley, executive director. “That’s especially important for older people who may be on a fixed income and have limited means of transportation.” An enrollment application is available on the Good Days website, but Walley recommends speaking with a patient navigator beforehand to determine eligibility, personal needs and whether funding exists. “If we don’t have the resources for their specific diagnosis, we try to identify who does, and we’ll help them connect,” says Walley. “I believe that as humans, we have a fundamental responsibility to take care of the people around us.”
Family Reach (http://familyreach.org(link is external)) – Family Reach employs a different model to disburse funding to patients with cancer: It relies on social workers at hospitals around the country to perform a kind of financial triage, identifying those most in need of services. “We differ in that we step in to pay major bills such as mortgage, rent and car payments,” says Carla Tardif, chief executive officer. “We don’t have a long application process. When these families need help, they’re in crisis. They don’t have time to go back and collect pay stubs and tax returns.”
Miracle Flights: (www.miracleflights.org)(link is external) Miracle Flights is a nonprofit organization that flies individuals and families to treatment, second opinions, follow-up visits and clinical trials within the United States. The service is available for adults and children, and is primarily rare disease focused, but not disease specific. To find out if you qualify, get help completing an application, have your questions answered, and learn more, go to their website or call 800-359-1711.
Lazarex Care Patient Assistance Program – Clinical Trial Navigation and transportation to and from clinical trials https://lazarex.org/helping-you/program-services-guide/ 925-820-4517 or [email protected]
Cancer Support Community/Airbnb (web link for program(link is external)) – Partnership between Airbnb and Cancer Support Community to provide free housing for cancer patients and caregivers, provided they meet certain geographic and income criteria. To obtain more details, click on the link. To apply for free housing, contact the CancerSupportHelpline at 877-793-0498, and you will be connected with someone who can help you start your application.
CancerCare– Pet Assistance & Wellness (PAW) Program (Funding Opens and Closes-contact CancerCare for updates): CancerCare‘s PAW Program helps people living with cancer in active treatment and their loved ones care for their cats or dogs during the emotional, physical and financial challenges of cancer treatment.
Assistance from Pharmaceutical Companies
The potential cost of novel oral medications such as IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib) is a growing concern to the WM community. The Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation provides assistance to uninsured US patients who lack the financial resources to pay for certain medicines, including IMBRUVICA®. To see if you qualify, call the Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation at 800-652-6227 or visit its website at www.jjpaf.org(link is external).
Patients with limited financial resources taking medications marketed by other pharmaceutical companies are encouraged to contact the financial assistance programs of those respective pharmaceutical companies – in many cases, some form of help is available for those in need.
Pharmacyclics- IMBRUVICA By Your Side patient support program. To inquire about support, you may contact 1-888-968-7743 or https://www.imbruvica.com/imbruvica-by-your-side . Once you are enrolled, you’ll have your own dedicated IMBRUVICA® By Your Side Ambassador who can provide one-on-one support and treatment-related resources.
BeiGene– BRUKINSA myBeiGene patient support program-To meet your individual needs, myBeiGene pairs you with a dedicated Oncology Nurse Advocate who will personalize support for you and your caregivers.Call 1-833-234-4363 to talk with an Oncology Nurse Advocate or contact https://www.brukinsa.com/wm/mybeigene-patient-support
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals- CALQUENCE (acalabrutinib) Financial Assistance Support:
https://www.calquence.com/financial-support/commercially-insured.html
ThisIsLivingWithCancer (https://www.thisislivingwithcancer.com(link is external)) – Spearheaded by Pfizer, this resource goes beyond just providing support for prescription costs, and cover many aspects of support and financial assistance. This comprehensive support website is also available as a phone app (“Living With”) that is available for free to all patients with cancer.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA – https://www.pparx.org/(link is external)) – PPA is run by a drug company trade group called the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA. The PPA website (pparx.org/) can determine which patients are eligible to participate in any of more than 475 different assistance programs. (Yes, there really are nearly 500 separate programs, which is why it can be hard for unassisted patients to find the right ones.) Users start by typing in the name of each drug they want assistance in buying, and the site walks them through the process from there.
Teva Pharmaceuticals- CORE program –Can help financially with the medications BENDEKA® (bendamustine HCI) injection, TREANDA® (bendamustine HCI) for Injection, TRUXIMA® (rituximab-abbs) injection for intravenous use: https://www.tevacore.com/patient-assistance
- Please also see the Teva Cares Foundation page, https://www.tevacares.org/