Organization Tools, Resources Guides and Checklists
Cancer Insurance Checklist The Cancer Insurance Checklist is an online worksheet that you can use to track provider visits, services, and costs to compare insurance plans in the federally funded Marketplace.
Triage Cancer Guides and Checklist Triage Cancer provides quick guides and checklists that offer practical information about finances and financial toxicity, navigating health insurance, and employment and work. Also offer resources in Spanish.
Healthcare.gov Healthcare.gov is the website where you can research different insurance plans in your state to find the best fit for you and sign up during open enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period.
Medicaid Provides overview of Medicaid program and eligibility requirements.
Medicare Provides overview of Medicare, eligibility requirement, and application.
Social Security Disability Income Women with all stages of ovarian cancer may qualify for social security disability income. Visit this website to learn more and apply.
SSI and SSD: Disability Benefits Center A questionnaire that evaluates eligibility criteria for supplemental security income and social security disability.
Legal Resources
Americans with Disabilities Act Provides information and technical assistance for individuals with questions relating the Americans with Disabilities Act. The U.S. Department of Justice provides information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) through a toll-free ADA Information Line 800-514-0301.
Cancer Legal Resource Center: Disability Rights Legal Center A cancer diagnosis may carry with it a variety of legal issues, including insurance appeals, employment rights and leave time, access to health care and government benefits, and estate planning. The CLRC offers information on these issues, has links to critical topics, presentations and webinars, as well as a toll-free telephone assistance line: 866-THE-CLRC.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission This is a federal agency that enforces laws that prevent workplace discrimination based on, among other things, disability including cancer related illnesses. Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act information.
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Department of Labor Provides information on the Family and Medical Leave Act, a law that provides up to 12 weeks of job-protected, unpaid leave during any 12-month period to eligible, covered employees.
LiveStrong Cancer Navigation Center The LiveStrong Cancer Navigation Center can help with insurance denials and appeals, handling debt and financial management issues related to a cancer diagnosis and more.
National Women’s Law Center The National Women’s Law Center is dedicated to helping achieve policies that affect women throughout their lives and advocating for women who are being discriminated against.
Triage Cancer’s Legal Navigation Program A Legal & Financial Navigation Program that provides individuals diagnosed with cancer, caregivers, and health care professionals with free one-on-one help in the areas of health insurance, disability insurance, employment, finances, medical decision-making, estate planning, and more.
Community Organizations that Provide Financial Assistance
2-1-1 Services Provides assistance to find local resources including crisis, food, health and housing.
Actors Fund A safety net for those in the entertainment and performing arts industry providing programs and services for those disabled by illness, case management, referrals, support groups and funeral/burial assistance. The Actors Fund is administered in offices in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Allyson Whitney Foundation Provides “Life Interrupted grants” between $500-1500 for women undergoing treatment for rare cancer between the ages of 16-36.
CancerCare CancerCare provides a limited amount of financial support for transportation, home care and child care to women cancer patients who meet eligibility criteria.
FamilyReach Support and financial for adolescent young adult.
Healthwell Foundation Provides financial assistance towards medical treatments and other costs.
Hill-Burton Free and Reduced Cost Health Care Under the Hill-Burton law, about 170 health care facilities nationwide are obligated to provide free or reduced-cost care to those who cannot otherwise afford medical care.
Lazarex Cancer Foundation Provides a lifeline for cancer patients to assist with finding clinical trial options, and then if accepted into a trial, Lazarex reimburses the travel expenses for you and a loved one to get to your clinical trial treatments. The income qualification is 7x HHS Poverty Level.
Mommy and Me Cancer Foundation Financial aid for mother’s undergoing cancer treatment who have loss of income and at least 50% custody of child living in Orange or Los Angeles county.
Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation The PAN Foundation provides up to $3700 a year in co-payment assistance annually to ovarian cancer patients who are enrolled in Medicare and have incomes up to 500% of the federal poverty level. Patients must reside and receive treatment in the United States.
Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) Case workers from the Patient Advocate Foundation work one-on-one with patients, caregivers or providers resolve healthcare issues. The Foundation also offers co-payment assistance to women with ovarian cancer.
Patient Resource Extensive list of organizations that provide financial help to patients with cancer. Please note this is not specific to ovarian cancer but may have helpful resources to your need.
The Samfund The Samfund provides financial assistance and online support to young cancer survivors.
Lodging
Fisher House Operates a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. Homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, close to the medical center or hospital they serve, and have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Hero Miles program, using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of ill service members as well as the Hotels for Heroes program using donated hotel points to allow family members to stay at hotels.
Hope Lodge: American Cancer Society 30 Hope Lodge locations nationwide offering lodging for cancer patients as well as Extended Stay America (Hotel Keys of Hope) discount lodging.
Hotel Keys of Hope: Extended Stays America A partnership program between American Cancer Society and Extended Stays America to provide discounted hotel stay for patients needing access to treatment.
Joe’s House Links to lodging across the US for patients to stay during treatment.
Ronald McDonald House Housing for pediatric patients (under the age of 18 in most locations) and their families during treatment.
Transportation
Air Care Alliance Offers a list of all nonprofit volunteer flying groups, whether they are members of the Air Care Alliance or not, in the interests of providing all possible help to patients, communities and others with needs.
Angel Flight Program Each Angel Flight program (over 60 nationwide) is independently operated and regionally based. Angel Flight facilitates free air transportation to those in need of medical treatment far from home. Volunteer pilots use their own aircraft and pay for all expenses of each mission they fly. Some specific program links are above.
Corporate Angel Network Helps arranging free air transportation for cancer patients traveling to treatment using empty seats on corporate jets.
DAV Veterans Benefit Helps more than one million veterans every year connect with the health care, disability, employment, education, and financial benefits. Offers transportation assistance program.
Mercy Medical Angels Provides gas cards, train or bus transportation assistance to those traveling in excess of 50 miles to treatment but generally not exceeding 300 miles. Funds are limited.
Information and Support for Drug Co-Pay
NeedyMeds Needy Meds provides information about programs that help people facing problems paying for medications and health care, and assist patients in applying to such programs.
NiceRx NiceRx helps individuals access over 1,500 FDA-approved brand name medications.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance The Partnership for Prescription Assistance helps qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need for free or nearly free.
RxHope RxHope lists information about patients assistance programs that offer free or reduced-cost medication in the United States.
Cancer and Careers Cancer and Careers provides information on legal and financial issues that affect cancer patients. Information on understanding your rights, FMLA, career advice and support.
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Department of Labor Provides information on the Family and Medical Leave Act, a law that provides up to 12 weeks of job-protected, unpaid leave during any 12-month period to eligible, covered employees.
We Are Capable An advocacy organization working to remove the fear and stigma of living with chronic illness or disability from the hiring process.
Scholarships and School Resources
Finaid Offers lists of scholarships for patients, survivors, children of a cancer patient or survivor, people who lost a parent to cancer, and students pursuing careers in cancer treatment.
The Samfund The Samfund provides financial assistance, graduate school scholarships, and online support to young cancer survivors (between ages 21-39).
The National Collegiate Cancer Foundation The NCCF provides need-based financial support to young adults, ages 18-35, who have been diagnosed with cancer, as well as for bereaved children (parent died from cancer).
Support for College Students with Cancer Provides information on accommodations, scholarships and strategies to manage treatment related symptoms while in school.
Ulman Fund for Cancer Scholarship available for individual between age of patient, survivor, sibling or child receiving treatment between the ages of 15-39.