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No child will be denied treatment in a non-profit hospital if
a family is unable to pay. If insurance coverage cannot be arranged,
and if a child cannot be covered under Medicaid or another program, a
family may have to look at other options to meet some of the costs of
treatment. These options could include programs through the Salvation
Army; church related organizations, such as Lutheran Social Services,
Jewish Social Services, and Catholic charities; or the Lions Clubs. The
Patient Advocate Foundation may also be helpful. Here are some other
things you can try:
- Talk with hospital or clinic financial counselors or the
patient accounts office to see if you can arrange to pay bills over an
extended time period.
- Seek financial assistance from special funds or from
organizations like the National Children's Cancer Society (NCCS). The
NCCS provides direct assistance with medical care and other costs of a
child's cancer. Other organizations such as the American Cancer
Society, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or other groups may
be able to help with specific costs in some parts of the country or
help you find other sources of support. Some drug companies help with
drug costs for patients in financial need. And special medical center
and community funds often exist to help families with the cost of
medical care bills. The team social worker should have information on
these and other potential resources.
- Fundraising can be done to help with medical bills and
related expenses. Families often need help from relatives, friends,
church members, schools, or community groups to carry out successful
fundraising efforts. Parents should be involved in giving permission
for others to raise funds for their child. Caring for their ill child
and managing the needs of family and work usually takes all their time
and energy. In any fundraising effort, parents should consider their
child's and their own need for privacy.
- Often it is best to establish a simple trust fund into
which donations can be placed. A trustee is then named to approve
spending from the fund. This way parents can avoid even a hint of any
improper use of the fund. Parents may find it most helpful to check
with an accountant, attorney, or bank officer about setting up such a
trust. Ask whether money in a trust fund will affect eligibility for
public assistance programs.
- Explore the possibility of free treatment through the
Pediatric Branch of the National Cancer Institute or St. Jude's
Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Patients accepted
for treatment at these institutions must meet specific criteria. Ask
your child's oncologist for more information.
Back to Children Diagnosed with Cancer:
Financial and Insurance Issues
Last Medical Review: 04/01/2009
Last Revised: 04/01/2009
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