How To Obtain Treatment for Cancer Without Health Insurance

To obtain treatment for cancer without health insurance, consider the following. As you review the available resources, please keep in mind:

• The general resources mentioned in How To Obtain Regular Medical Care Without Health Insurance. 
• "Medical Tourism" - going to another state or even outside the United States to an area with high quality medical care with low costs.
• How To Raise Money When You Need It

Cancer Centers

• All federally funded hospitals must provide a certain amount of free or low cost care because of the Hill-Burton Act. For information, including questions to ask, click here.
• In addition, there may be funds available from private donations to pay for care. Ask the finance department of the hospitals in your local or nearby areas.
• A number of organizations provide financial support for the costs of direct medical care and related expenses. For example, some organizations offer money to families who cannot pay their bills. Some organizations provide free transportation to and from treatment. Others offer "lending libraries" of wigs, hospital beds, wheelchairs and related products. The type and amount of financial assistance available varies from community to community. Many of these services are not advertised, but are available for the asking. Your oncologist or social worker can help provide local information. Resources to contact for financial assistance include:
  • American Cancer Society, Tel.: 800.227.2345 www.cancer.org . Your local unit can provide information about financial resources in your community.
  • Cancer Care, Inc, 275 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001 Tel.: 800.813.4673 www.cancercare.org . Cancer care inc. provides financial assistance, relevant education and support to low-income, uninsured and underserved men and women throughout the country in need of diagnostic and/or related services (transportation, childcare, and social support) for a variety of cancers. Details and eligibility vary for each program. For example, Avon Cares Program, Novartis Program for Men with cancer; Hirshberg Fund.
  • Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, Tel: 800.366.2223.
  • Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, tel.: 800.955.4572, www.leukemia-lymphoma.org  provides information and financial aid to patients who have leukemia, non-hodgkins'lymphoms, hodgkin's disease or multiple myeloma.
  • The National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Services offers an extensive listing of financial assistance for cancer care. NCI's Cancer Information Services, Tel.: 800.422.6237 www.nci.nih.gov . See Fact sheet: Financial Assistance for Cancer care at www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/support/financial-assistance .
  • Oncolink, managed by the University of Pennsylvania, includes a special section, "Financial Issues for Patients" that provides information on reimbursement assistance programs. oncolink.upenn.edu .
  • The Patient Advocate Foundation provides education and legal counseling about managed care, insurance, and financial issues for cancer patients. Patient Advocate Foundation, 780 Pilot House Drive, Suite 100-C, Newport News, VA 23606, Tel.: 800.532.5274 www.patientadvocate.org .

Non-profit Organizations  

• A number of organizations provide financial support for the costs of direct medical care and related expenses. For example, some organizations offer money to families who cannot pay their bills. Some organizations provide free transportation to and from treatment. Others offer "lending libraries" of wigs, hospital beds, wheelchairs and related products.
• The type and amount of financial assistance available varies from community to community. Many of these services are not advertised, but are available for the asking. Your oncologist or social worker can help provide local information.
• Resources to contact for financial assistance include:
  • American Cancer Society, Tel.: 800.227.2345 www.cancer.org . Your local unit can provide information about financial resources in your community.
  • Cancer Care, Inc, 275 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001 Tel.: 800.813.4673 www.cancercare.org . Cancer care inc. provides financial assistance, relevant education and support to low-income, uninsured and underserved men and women throughout the country in need of diagnostic and/or related services (transportation, childcare, and social support) for a variety of cancers. Details and eligibility vary for each program. For example, Avon Cares Program, Novartis Program for Men with cancer; Hirshberg Fund.
  • Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, Tel: 800.366.2223.
  • Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, tel.: 800.955.4572, www.leukemia-lymphoma.org  provides information and financial aid to patients who have leukemia, non-hodgkins'lymphoms, hodgkin's disease or multiple myeloma.
  • The National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Services offers an extensive listing of financial assistance for cancer care. NCI's Cancer Information Services, Tel.: 800.422.6237 www.nci.nih.gov . See Fact sheet: Financial Assistance for Cancer care at www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/support/financial-assistance .
  • Oncolink, managed by the University of Pennsylvania, includes a special section, "Financial Issues for Patients" that provides information on reimbursement assistance programs. oncolink.upenn.edu .
  • The Patient Advocate Foundation provides education and legal counseling about managed care, insurance, and financial issues for cancer patients. Patient Advocate Foundation, 780 Pilot House Drive, Suite 100-C, Newport News, VA 23606, Tel.: 800.532.5274 www.patientadvocate.org .

Federally-funded health centers (also known as HRSA Health Centers)  

• There are hundreds of Federally funded health centers around the country that provide medical care regardless of your ability to pay. They are often run by the government's Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Such centers are often referred to as HRSA Health Centers.
• If you have no health insurance, you pay what you can afford, based on your income.
• To locate a Federally Funded Health Center, go to: http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov

Clinical Trials

• You may get free care if your health condition is being studied somewhere by joining a clinical trial that studies new drugs and treatments or new uses of existing drugs and treatments. 
• The doctors in charge of clinical trials are usually top in their field. 
• Generally basic treatment is free. There may still be extra costs you have to incur.  

NOTE:

• Keep in mind that the cost of health care is negotiable. See:
  • How to Negotiate A Doctor's Bill
  • How To Negotiate A Hospital Bill
  • Profiessionals Who Negotiate Medical Debt
  • How To Negotiate For A Lower Health Care Bill
• If you have an emergency, all hospitals which receive funding from the federal government have to treat emergencies without regard to ability to pay. For more information about emergency rooms.
• For information about obtaining cancer screening without health insurance, click here.

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