Patient Assistance
As though the stress of dealing with cancer weren’t enough, mesothelioma patients and their families are often shocked by the cost of their medical care. Sometimes they struggle with paying their medical bills or in some cases, with insurance companies not approving for payment the treatments that their doctors recommend. Here are some resources to turn to for help:
Medicaid
This state-administered national health insurance program is for people who need financial assistance for medical expenses, funded at both the federal and state levels. Eligibility varies by state and by group. If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you are covered as Mandatory Eligibility Group.
Medicare
This federal health insurance program is for eligible individuals age 65 and older, people with permanent kidney failure, and disabled people under the age of 65. Medicare Part A pays for hospital care, home health care, hospice care, and care in nursing facilities. Medicare Part B covers medically necessary services, such as physicians’ services, diagnostic tests, durable home medical equipment, ambulance transportation, and screening exams for some forms of cancer. 1-800-MEDICARE.
State Health Insurance Program (SHIP)
This national program offers free one-on-one counseling and assistance to Medicare patients and their families. The Medicare Web site offers a list of toll-free and local phone numbers for SHIP counselors in all 50 states.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA)
This is a national partnership that includes pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, patient advocacy groups, and community groups. The PPA helps qualifying patients without insurance coverage to get free or reduced-cost medications. 1-888-4PPA-NOW
Find a Health Center
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) offers a free search tool to help you locate a federally-funded health center. These health centers treat all patients, even patients without health insurance, on a sliding scale based on income.
Hill-Burton Free and Reduced Cost Health Care
Congress passed a law in 1946 that provided funding to hospitals, nursing homes, and other health facilities in return for providing services to residents in their service area, regardless of their ability to pay. If your income is at or below the current HHS Poverty Guidelines, you are eligible to apply for free health care at one of these facilities; you may be eligible to apply for reduced-cost health care if your income is as much as two times the guidelines.
Veterans Administration (VA)
This program provides eligible veterans with medical treatment for injuries and other medical conditions related to their military service, as well as limited medical benefits to their families. The VA has a cancer program that provides for cancer prevention, detection, and treatment services. 1-877-222-VETS
Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF)
This national organization helps patients who are struggling with financial issues, particularly those whose health care providers or insurance companies deny needed care or benefits. 1-800-532-5274
National Cancer Information Center
This national organization also helps patients with financial problems, and keeps a database of local and national resources that can assist with the costs of medical care and living expenses. 1-800-227-2345