Looking for options

[DaGimp 0]

Need some Ideas, since i cant ask for the support of my fellow skydiving community here on the forums since someone else screwed that up, i need other options. My mother has just been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, Im wondering if anyone knows of any charities that i can go to looking to assitance with her medical bills. Anyone who knows someone whos gone thru this, orginizations and what not. I dont need to really know how sorry you are and all that, i need options. She is about to lose her house due to the bills already piling up. any advise would be great.

"Professor of Pimpology"~~~Bolas

[shermanator 3]

I don't know where you would go, but I'm sure there is something out there. check with some of the local churches, they are good at knowing those places. My brother was in a situation where he couldn't pay rent, and found an organization for the dissables, they helped hhim with rent, groceries, and even Christmas gifts.

CLICK HERE! new blog posted 9/21/08
CSA #720

[NWFlyer 2]

There is probably a social services department at the hospital where she's being treated; they may be able to help put her in touch with the right folks.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[Pokerstar 0]

Dude, so sorry. The above posters have good ideas, I would also check with the National Breast Cancer Foundation http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/ and th Cancer Legal Line http://cancerlegalline.org/ they have some good resources too.

Sending good thoughts to you and your Mom.

Fortunately, I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug, uh, regimen to keep my mind, you know, uh, limber.
--- The Dude ---

[jrmrangers 0]

definately check with the hospital , my mother in law recently battled cancer (she doing great now) but at the end her bills were insurmountable. we went to the hospital to try and work something out and since she was a widow with very little income the hospital was able to get rid of 95% of the bill through government and private charities. if it wasnt for this my mother in law would have lost everything. best of luck and a speedy recovery

Wait , I pull what first?

[d_squared431 0]

Each city has a something set up for this type of situation. For example in Carson City, Nv there is a place call the Adams house that if the person qualifies for their services they will pay utilities, get them wigs, clothing, prosthesis, counseling, help with medications, home health, get them started with hospice, etc.

What I would do is call the local hospital and ask for there outreach programs or someone who can help you with this. I am sure they have a few numbers in the right direction.

You can also get medicare/medicaid to help based on your mothers age and financial situation.

TPM Sister#130ONTIG#1
I love vodka.I love vodka cause it rhymes with Tuaca~LisaH
You having a clean thought is like billyvance having a clean post.iluvtofly

[dzdiva 7]

Try the American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen foundation. There a links to companies who give grants to help those who need it.

"It's not just a daydream if you choose to make it your life..."

[kbordson 8]

Try here:

http://www.aacr.org/home/survivors--advocates/information-about-support-groups,-clinical-trials,-financial-help-and-fundraising/how-to-find-financial-aid-and-advice.aspx


[copy and pasted]

How to Find Financial Aid and Advice

A diagnosis of cancer is never easy, but it can be even more stressful when you’re struggling to pay for costly treatments and medications. For some patients, the financial burden is apparent at diagnosis, while for others, it builds up over the course of years of treatment. If you’re not sure where to turn for financial help, read on: There are government, nonprofit and private resources available—and people who can help you sort through the options.

Patients are often embarrassed to discuss financial issues, but they need to reach out. “People [need] to speak up before cancer becomes a tremendous financial crisis,” says Jane Levy, the director of Patient Assistance Programs for CancerCare, a national patient advocacy and support organization.

One place to start is with government programs. Medicaid provides health insurance for low-income individuals and families who meet its requirements. Since Medicaid laws vary from state to state, you’ll want to visit the Medicaid website to learn how the program operates in your state, says Levy. Patients with cancer may also qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Not all cancer patients are considered disabled, but those with advanced cancer are sometimes considered disabled by Social Security’s definition.

Another place to turn is your local hospital, where you may find programs that are available for uninsured and underinsured patients. The federal government’s Hill-Burton program provides funds to hospitals for free or low-cost services for low-income families. Most hospitals have financial counselors or a business office that may be able to help patients understand financial options, says Levy. It’s also a good idea to visit a hospital social worker, who could help you determine what assistance programs your hospital offers. Your hospital social worker can also help you understand your options and find other resources in your community.

Not all individuals qualify for government or low-income assistance, but there are many nonprofit and private organizations that provide financial aid and advice to patients facing cancer. CancerCare, for example, offers patients a number of support services, including financial assistance, says Levy. It provides small grants for medically related services, such as treatment and medication, and also works with organizations such as the Avon Foundation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure to offer generous grants for women with breast cancer. In addition to these grants, CancerCare social workers can help patients find assistance beyond CancerCare, including resources from state agencies and state-run treatment funds.

The Patient Advocate Foundation is another national organization that helps cancer patients deal with the financial difficulties of their illnesses. “We assist patients with chronic, debilitating or life-threatening illnesses….with [gaining] access to care,” says Cynthia Hucks, the executive vice president of patient service programs at the Patient Advocate Foundation. Among its support activities, the foundation runs the Co-Pay Relief Program, which assists insured patients with breast, lung and prostate cancer cover the costs of their prescription co-pays. Beyond its co-pay program, the Patient Advocate Foundation matches patients with case managers who can help patients explore other resources and insurance issues, such as denied claims, says Donna McQuistian Sternberg, the former executive vice president of patient services at the Patient Advocate Foundation. The organization also maintains a network of lawyers, the National Legal Resource Network, which can help patients who feel they have wrongly been denied coverage.

For help covering the cost of prescription drugs, patients can also contact the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. Made up of pharmaceutical companies, health care providers and advocacy groups, the partnership helps patients without prescription coverage obtain low-cost and free medicine.

Aside from medical and prescription coverage, many cancer patients face other financial needs during cancer treatment. Several national organizations can assist you with practical support, such as transportation, cost-of-living expenses and wigs. For instance, the American Cancer Society (ACS) operates local offices throughout the nation that patients can contact to explore various types of assistance. The United Way, like the ACS, also has locations in communities throughout the United States that can help patients find local services. Because it is has an international scope, the United Way is also a good resource for people living outside the United States.

In addition to organizations like the ACS and the United Way, which help people who are affected by any type of cancer, there are national groups that assist people with specific types of cancer, such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or who fall into particular patient populations. One place to find these organizations is on our website’s list of support and advocacy groups.

Many local programs can also help you with non-medical expenses such as rent and child care. In many cases, cancer patients may be more likely to find non-medical assistance through these local organizations than national ones, says Donna Duncan, the executive director of the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation in Philadelphia. The Linda Creed foundation, for example, maintains an emergency assistance fund that provides non-medical financial aid for qualified women in the Philadelphia region who are undergoing breast cancer treatment. In Oklahoma, patients with brain tumors can find financial help through the Oklahoma Brain Tumor Foundation. A good way to find resources that are available in your state is by searching the Patient Advocate Foundation’s State by State Financial Resource Guide.

Cancer can be a very expensive illness, and it’s important to find out what resources are available to you. If you’re concerned about the cost of your treatment, contacting an organization or a social worker for advice can help keep your financial concerns from becoming a financial crisis.

– Alanna Kennedy


Organizations and programs mentioned in this article:
American Cancer Society
Avon Foundation
CancerCare
Hill-Burton program
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation
Medicaid
Oklahoma Brain Tumor Foundation
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Patient Advocate Foundation
Social Security
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
United Way

Additional organizations to contact about financial aid or advice include:
CancerAndCareers.Org
The Center for Patient Partnerships
Corporate Angel Network
Health Resources and Services Administration
Lymphoma Research Foundation
Sarcoma Alliance

For more information on groups that might provide financial assistance, see the list of support and advocacy groups on the Survivors and Advocates website.


If you find an old or broken link, please let us know by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

March 11, 2008

[DaGimp 0]

thanks everyone, all great advise, ill look into it all

"Professor of Pimpology"~~~Bolas

[skybytch 259]

City of Hope - the charity that JFTC supported. They treat everyone regardless of ability to pay.

[VanillaSkyGirl 6]

Hello Jake,
I'm not sure how up-to-date these are, but it's worth giving them a shot.

The following is a huge list of Breast Cancer information & financial assistance programs:

http://bb67.wikispaces.com/

Here's a list of resources for financial assistance:

https://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/factsheet/FactSheetSearch8_3.aspx

Cancerlife line 1-800-255-5505

Help paying for living expenses:

http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/paying/living_expenses.jsp

...and as Lisa suggested, contact the City of Hope:

http://www.cityofhope.org/Pages/default.aspx

New Patient Services: 800-826-HOPE (4673)

I hope some of them work out for you and your mother, Jake.

*HUG*