The list of things cancer patients have to manage can seem endless: doctor’s appointments, childcare, transportation, insurance challenges, and more. Loved ones may offer assistance for some of the workload and hospital programs can also help with some of the stress. One area where patients may struggle looking for assistance is cancer financial help.
Finances can be among the most stressful aspect of a cancer diagnosis. From treatment bills to co-pays to medication costs, the costs can quickly add up, and cancer financial help isn’t always something patients can seek from family, friends, or healthcare providers.
There are a few steps patients can take to make cancer financial help a reality:
- Make budgeting a priority: When a cancer diagnosis happens, financial obligations may change dramatically. It’s important to reassess one’s monthly income and expenses. Write out all money that comes in and goes out—estimating treatment or medication costs to the best of your ability—to see where some costs can be cut back or where extra financial support is needed.
- Seek cancer financial help in the form of loans: Initiatives like Life Credit’s Living Benefits Loan program allows patients in need to draw on their own life insurance policies for quick and easy loans. Patients can be connected with cash in just a few days, and once the loan is repaid, they resume control over their insurance policy and can continue to reap its benefits.
- Connect with your healthcare provider’s financial consultant: Many hospitals and cancer care centers offer patients a financial consultant to help walk them through their care costs. Consultants can connect patients with funding programs, show them strategies for budgeting and serve as advocates to assist in their communication with insurance carriers.
Managing cancer costs can be a challenging task but with patience and perseverance, cancer financial help is attainable.