Financial help for patients & families

Below are the names and Web addresses of organizations that offer financial assistance to people affected by cancer, or that have links to organizations that may provide such help. Organizations are listed by the type of help they provide. Some organizations are listed under more than one heading. Your oncology social worker, hospital patient services representative, local cancer organization and local United Way can guide you to additional sources of financial assistance.

Basic Living Expenses

• Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation (for children at partner institutions) www.andreriveroflife.org , 310-276-7111
• Bone Marrow Foundation www.bonemarrow.org , 800-365-1336
• Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund (patients 18-40) www.bmcf.net , 661-310- 7940
• Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation www.candlelighters.org , 800-366-2223
• Children's Cancer Recovery Foundation www.childrencancerrecovery.org , 800-238- 6479
• Cleaning for a Reason (free house cleaning service) www.cleaningforareason.org , 877-337-3348
• Family Reach Foundation www.familyreach.org
• Free Gas USA, Inc www.freegasusa.org
• Friends of Man www.friendsofman.org , 303-798-2342
• I’m Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation (young adults) www.imtooyoungforthis.org
• Life Beyond Cancer Foundation www.lifebeyondcancer.org, 800-282-LBCF
• Mission4Maureen (brain cancer) www.mission4maureen.org
• National Association for the Terminally Ill http://terminallyill.org , 866-668-1724
• National Cancer Coalition www.nationalcancercoalition.org , 919-821-2182
• National Children’s Cancer Society www.nationalchildrenscancersociety.com , 314-241-1600
• Native American Cancer Research www.natamcancer.org
• Rise Above It (youth, young adults) www.raibenefit.org
• Zichron Shlome Refuah Fund www.zsrf.org , 718-GET-WELL

Child Care Expenses

• Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation (for children at partner institutions) www.andreriveroflife.org , 310-276-7111
• AVONCares Program www.cancercare.org , 800-813- HOPE
• Bone Marrow Foundation www.bonemarrow.org , 800-365-1336
• Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund (patients 18-40) www.bmcf.net , 661-310- 7940
• CancerCare www.cancercare.org , 800-813-HOPE
• Family Reach Foundation www.familyreach.org
• Friends of Man www.friendsofman.org , 303-798-2342
• I’m Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation (young adults) www.imtooyoungforthis.org
• Mission4Maureen (brain cancer) www.mission4maureen.org
• Native American Cancer Research www.natamcancer.org

Equipment Expenses

• American Cancer Society (local chapters) www.cancer.org , 800-ACS- 2345
• American Kidney Fund (dialysis patients) www.kidneyfund.org , 800 -638-8299
• Bone Marrow Foundation www.bonemarrow.org , 800-365-1336
• Breast Cancer Network of Strength www.networkofstrength.org
• CancerCare www.cancercare.org , 800-813-HOPE
• Cancer Fund of America www.cfoa.org , 865-938-5281
• Friends of Man www.friendsofman.org , 303-798-2342
• I’m Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation (young adults) www.imtooyoungforthis.org
• Look Good...Feel Better www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org , 800- 395-LOOK
• Lymphoma Research Foundation www.lymphoma.org , 800-500-9976
• Marilyn Westbrook Garment Fund (lymphadema) www.lymphnet.org/patients/westbrookFund.htm
• Native American Cancer Research www.natamcancer.org
• NeedyMeds (links to assistance programs) www.needymeds.org
• Rise Above It (youth, young adults) www.raibenefit.org

Government Expenses

• Administration on Aging www.aoa.gov , 202-619-0724
• Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/legislation/law106-354.htm
• Department of Veterans Affairs www.1.va.gov/health/index.asp
• GovBenefits.gov www.govbenefits.gov , 800-FED-INFO
• Hill-Burton Program www.hrsa.gov/hillburton , 800-638- 0742
• Legal Services Corporation www.lsc.gov , 202-295-1500
• Medicaid www.cms.gov/medicaid/consumer.asp , 877- 267-2323
• Medicare www.Medicare.gov , 800-MEDICARE
• Medicare Rights www.medicarerights.org , 800-333-4114
• Social Security and Disability Resource Center, www.ssdrc.com
• Social Security Administration (disability benefits – Compassionate Allowances Initiative speeds approval)  www.ssa.gov , 800-772-1213
• State Children’s Health Insurance Program www.insurekidsnow.gov , 877-KIDS-NOW
• State Health Insurance Assistance Program www.shiptalk.org

Grants, Scholarships, Awards, Camps

• American Cancer Society www.cancer.org, 800-ACS-2345
• Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation (for children at partner institutions) www.andreriveroflife.org, 310-276-7111
• Association of Hole in the Wall Camps www.holeinthewallcamps.org, 203-562-1203
• Bleed Purple www.bleedpurple.org, 877-787-7558
• Cameron Siemers Foundation for Hope (young adults) www.cameronsiemers.org
• Camp Quality USA www.campqualityusa.com
• Camp Sunshine www.campsunshine.org, 207-655-3800
• Cancer for College www.cancerforcollege.org, 760-599- 5096
• Cancer Recovery Foundation (camps) www.cancerrecovery.org, 800-238-6479
• Cancer Survivors’ Fund (young adults, children) www.cancersurvivorsfund.org, 281-437-7142
• Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation www.candlelighters.org, 800-366-2223
• Carolyn’s Compassionate Children (young adults) www.cccscholarships.org, 866-540-1392
• Casting for Recovery www.castingforrecovery.org, 888-553- 3500
• Chai Lifeline www.chailifeline.org
• Children’s Oncology Camping Association International www.cocai.org, 515-669-4580
• Dream Street Foundation www.dreamstreetfoundation.org, 323-951-1227
• Eagle Mount www.eaglemount.org, 406-586-1781
• FinAid (links to assistance programs) www.finaid.org/scholarships/cancer.phtml
• First Descents (outdoor adventure experiences) www.firstdescents.org, 970-845-8400
• I’m Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation (young adults) www.imtooyoungforthis.org
• Kids Camps.com www.kidscamps.com/special_needs/cancer_oncology.html
• MaryEllen Locher Foundation www.melfoundation.org
• Michael A. Hunter Memorial Scholarship Fund www.oc-cf.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx
• National Children’s Cancer Society www.nationalchildrenscancersociety.com, 314-241-1600 
• National Collegiate Cancer Foundation www.collegiatecancer.org
• Next Step www.nextstepnet.org
• Nicki Leach Foundation www.nickileach.org, 904-280-8916
• Patient Advocate Foundation www.patientadvocate.org, 800-532 -5274
• Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation www.pbtfus.org, 800-253-6530
• Planet Cancer www.planetcancer.org
• Ryan Mullaly Second Chance Fund ryans2dchancefund.org
• SAMFund (young adults ages 17-35) www.thesamfund.org, 866-439- 9365
• Special Love for Children with Cancer: www.speciallove.org, 888-930-2707
• SuperSibs www.supersibs.org, 866-444-SIBS
• Susan G. Komen for the Cure (search “college scholarships”) ww5.komen.org, 877-GO-KOMEN
• Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation www.gullikson.org
• Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults www.ulmanfund.org, 888-393-FUND
• Victory Junction www.victoryjunction.org, 877-VJG-CAMP
• Working Against Cancer www.workingagainstcancer.org/survivor_scholarship.html, 626-914-2914

Home Health Care Expenses

• Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation (for children at partner institutions) www.andreriveroflife.org, 310-276-7111
• AVONCares Program www.cancercare.org, 800-813- HOPE
• Bone Marrow Foundation www.bonemarrow.org, 800-365-1336
• Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund (patients 18-40) www.bmcf.net, 661-310- 7940
• CancerCare www.cancercare.org, 800-813-HOPE
• I’m Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation (young adults) www.imtooyoungforthis.org
• Native American Cancer Research www.natamcancer.org
• NeedyMeds (links to assistance programs) www.needymeds.org

Housing During Treatment Expenses

• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation www.alexslemonade.org, 866-333-1213
• American Cancer Society (Hope Lodges) www.cancer.org, 800-ACS- 2345
• Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation (for children at partner institutions) www.andreriveroflife.org, 310-276-7111
• Bone Marrow Foundation www.bonemarrow.org, 800-365-1336
• Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund (patients 18-40) www.bmcf.net, 661-310- 7940
• Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation www.candlelighters.org, 800-366-2223
• Fisher House (military families) www.fisherhouse.org, 888-294- 8560
• Hope Lodge http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/SupportProgramsServices/HopeLodge/index, 800-227-2345
• Hospitality Homes www.hosp.org, 888-595-4678
• I’m Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation (young adults) www.imtooyoungforthis.org

Special Services:
Joe's House is a nation-wide online lodging resource for patients, family members and caregivers that must travel for treatment. Joe's House website lists thousands of places to stay near cancer hospitals and treatments centers around the country. Patients, family members, caregivers, friends and/or social workers can search for different lodging options that offer a discount near their treatment center. "You focus on beating cancer, we'll find you a place to stay".

Visit the Joe's House website today at:

Mercy Medical Airlift. The oldest and largest charitable patient transportation organization in America.

The source for nationwide charitable airline tickets for financially-needy cancer patients. (Program operated in cooperation with the American Cancer Society.)

Highly discounted air ambulance and private aircraft transports also available.

The NPTC serves over 15,000 patients per year.

The Center provides appropriate referrals that can meet your specific transportation need through the National Charitable Patient Transportation System.

The NPTC has been in 24/7 operation since 1990. The Center is a charitably-supported 501 (c)(3) organization.