We at American Life Fund work with colon cancer patients to help them financially, which is why we put together this comprehensive list of financial assistance for colon cancer patients.
Over 100,000 new cases of colon cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. annually, making it the third most common cancer amongst both men and women (excluding skin cancer).
While it is no surprise that treating cancer isn’t cheap, the CDC has reported that the costs associated with treating colon cancer are the second highest of ALL cancer costs. Rising treatment costs for colon cancer mean more financial stress and anxiety for patients already struggling to afford care.
On the surface, these statistics may seem grim, but they don’t have to be. You don’t have to compromise your financial security to afford treatment for colon cancer.
Here are 6 of the best resources to get financial assistance for colon cancer patients.
Financial Assistance For Colon Cancer Patients Type #1: Your Life Insurance Policy Pays YOU (Through a Viatical Settlement)
Anyone struggling with a severe medical condition knows that health insurance doesn’t cover all costs. In the United States, you may still face significant out-of-pocket expenses even with government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
However, most people don’t know that a life insurance policy is considered an asset that you own, meaning insurance policyholders can sell their life insurance for a lump-sum cash payment, also known as a viatical settlement.
With a viatical settlement, the funds are tax-free and non-regulated, meaning YOU decide how they are spent.
Not only can you pay towards your medical expenses, but also towards the cost of living expenses or even a luxurious vacation with your loved ones. As the settlement holder, the freedom and the choice are uniquely yours!
In some cases, individuals can receive 70% of their life insurance policy in as little as two weeks with a viatical settlement!
How it works: Unlike life settlements, viatical settlements are designed for life insurance policyholders with life-threatening illnesses, reduced life expectancies, or chronic health issues.
Colon cancer patients with life insurance policies can enter agreements with third-party buyers to sell their life insurance policy in return for a lump-sum payment (more than the cash value of the life insurance policy but less than the death benefit).
The life settlement company takes over by paying the monthly insurance policy premiums and receives the death benefit after the seller’s passing.
If you’re considering selling your life insurance policy, American Life Fund is here to help. For us, the most important thing is alleviating the financial burden associated with colon cancer care, reducing stress, and enabling you to spend more time on the things that matter.
Through our hassle-free application process, American Life Fund will help you get an immediate cash offer for your health insurance policy.
Financial Assistance For Colon Cancer Patients Type #2: Colon Cancer-Specific Financial Grants
There is a multitude of organizations that offer financial assistance to colon cancer patients. This type of financial assistance is also known as a colon cancer-specific financial grant.
While some grants are generalized and open to applicants with all cancer types, others are specific to colon cancer. The best place to search for financial grants you may qualify for is online and through your local nonprofit organizations.
When looking online, try searching for “colon cancer financial grants”, as well as the more general but still applicable “cancer financial grants”. The best part about cancer financial grants is that they are free money, and don’t come with strings attached.
Although it can be time-consuming to locate grants, the time invested can pay for itself. When it comes to financial grants, the most challenging part is locating an organization that still has funding available. Don’t be discouraged–remember, persistence is key and resources for colon cancer financial assitance are out there.
The following organizational funds offer financial assistance in the form of grants to colon cancer patients in need:
- Meredith’s Miracles Colon Cancer Foundation Fund
- PAN Foundation Colorectal Cancer Fund (this fund is currently not accepting applicants, but keep an eye out for re-opening dates)
- Healthwell Foundation Colorectal Carcinoma Co-Pay Assistance Fund (available to Medicare patients only; this fund is currently not accepting applicants, but keep an eye out for re-opening dates)
- Cancer Lifeline Patient Financial Assistance Fund
- National Cancer Assistance Foundation Fund (patients in the following states are not eligible: AR, IA, MI, OR)
Also check out these great resources:
- Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition and Fund Finder (these are both great resource tools that connect cancer patients with financial assistance resources, based on diagnosis)
- Triage Cancer and Needymeds (these organizations maintain a long running list of financial assistance resources for cancer patients)
Financial Assistance For Colon Cancer Patients Type #3: Utility Assistance
When juggling finances to pay for cancer care, every little bit helps.
Utility assistance is payment provided to help cover the cost of utilities within a home, including payment for home energy costs, rent, bills, and any necessary energy repairs.
Utility assistance helps colorectal cancer patients by taking some of the financial burden off of your shoulders, and allowing you the ability to focus more on investing in your cancer treatment.
Programs such as the LIHEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program) offer utility assistance to low-income households, as well as to those experiencing crises. The contact information for this resource differs from state to state, so be sure to check the website.
Additionally, Family Reach and Stomp the Monster provide emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, and home repairs, and Cleaning for a Reason offers 2 free home cleanings to colon cancer patients.
You can also call “211” to locate additional local utility assistance programs for colorectal cancer patients in need.
Financial Assistance For Colon Cancer Patients Type #4: Prescription Assistance
With the cost of cancer medications rising, many patients feel concerned about how to afford cancer treatment.
Thankfully, programs like PPA (Partnerships for Prescription Assistance) and Rx Outreach can help by providing free money to colorectal cancer patients, in the form of free or reduced cost prescriptions.
Their easy to use online websites provide a list of multiple prescription assistance programs that you may qualify for as a colorectal cancer patient.
Another resource offering financial assistance for colorectal cancer patients is Needy Meds. Needy Meds offers a free Drug Discount Card, which provides savings of up to 80% on prescription medications.
If a medication is not covered by your health insurance, or if your insurance has a high deductible, fear not–you can use your Drug Discount Card to help pay for prescriptions.
Also, the Medicine Assistance Tool can help colon cancer patients to locate additional resources for prescription assistance.
Financial Assistance For Colon Cancer Patients Type #5: Gift Certificates, Gas Cards, And More
When dealing with colon cancer, the last thing you should have to worry about is the price of gas; however, as trips to treatment centers increase, so does the cost of transportation. Gas can be EXPENSIVE (especially if you live somewhere like California)– so why pay for it if you don’t have to?
Tenaciously Teal is a great organization that helps colorectal cancer patients by providing gift cards for both gas and groceries. Additionally, NeedyMeds and Mercy Medical Angels offer financial assistance for medical transportation and necessary travel expenses.
Through their Blue Hope Financial Assistance Fund, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance provides checks of $200 to eligible patients facing colorectal cancer. These funds can be used to cover cancer related costs associated with daily living, transportation, food, or even utilities.
Oh, and if you like freebies (because who doesn’t?), Phil’s Friends and Radiant Hope are two organizations that offer financial assistance in the form of a care package, which contains self-care freebies for those battling colorectal cancer.
Financial Assistance For Colon Cancer Patients Type #6: Fundraising
One of the quickest, easiest ways to supplement financial assistance for colon cancer patients is fundraising. With a little upfront investment of your time and a good social network, fundraising can be an effective tool for harnessing financial funds.
Online fundraising platforms such as GoFundMe, allow you to post your need/cause and share that need/cause with others. However, the downside is that you only receive a portion of the funds raised.
A second method of fundraising worth considering–and from which you’ll get to keep all profits– is known as a personal fundraiser. With this type– you, your friends, and your family raise funds by offering something to the community, such as a bake sale or car wash, for example. Feel free to check out MedGift Advocacy Services for a whole list of fundraising ideas.
Don’t be afraid to seek a higher quality of life. You deserve it, no matter what your financial situation is. To learn more about how we help colorectal cancer patients financially, contact us at American Life Fund today!
What Colon Cancer Patients Can Expect Financially
A colorectal cancer diagnosis is never easy, especially when that diagnosis turns into a financial burden. Financial assistance for colon cancer patients is very likely considering the costs.
In order to try to avoid financial distress, it is important to understand the colorectal cancer related costs.
When battling with colorectal cancer, some of your largest expenses are likely to come from the following: doctor visits, treatment, medication, and transportation/travel.
Doctor Visit Costs: If you’re insured, you’ll likely only have to pay a copay per visit to your doctor; the copay is usually a small fraction of the total overall cost for the visit. If you’re uninsured, you’ll pay more.
Treatment Costs: The treatment approach for colorectal cancer varies widely and depends on which stage of development the cancer has progressed to. For mild, localized cases, cancerous polyp removal or minor surgery is most common. However, in order to treat more progressed colorectal cancer, a partial Colectomy or full Ostomy procedure may be necessary; lymph node removal is also a possibility. For these reasons, the extent of your treatment will have a direct impact on the financial costs incurred–in other words, the more treatment needed, the more it is likely to cost you.
Medication Costs: While being treated for colorectal cancer, there are certain medications you’ll need to take. Also, if you’re actively undergoing chemotherapy, that’s another crucial cost you’ll need to consider when opting for financial assistance for cancer treatment.
Transportation/Travel Costs: If you’re being treated for colon cancer at a facility that is not near your home, you’ll be met with the added financial stress of paying for gas and/or the costs of public transportation to get to and from your appointments.
Sound like a lot? The good news is, help is always available–and you deserve it, no matter what your financial situation is. To learn more about how we help colon cancer patients financially, contact us at American Life Fund today!
Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Assistance For Colon Cancer Patients
What Benefits Are Colorectal Cancer Patients Entitled to?
If you are an American citizen struggling with colorectal cancer, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits. The more aggressive the cancer, the more qualified you are likely to be. There are some options when it comes to colorectal cancer financial assitance.
Can You Get Financial Help if You Have Colon Cancer?
Yes, you can get financial help if you have colon cancer. You can get everything from help with prescriptions, lower utility bills, colon cancer foundation grants, viatical settlements and much, much more.
How Can I Get Money For Colon Cancer Treatment?
Grants, crowdfunding, and disability benefits are some other ways you can get money for colorectal cancer treatment. Additionally, viatical or life settlements (where you sell your life insurance policy for a lump sum of cash), can be a great option to get money for colon cancer treatment.
Does Stage 4 Colon Cancer Qualify For Disability?
Stage 4 colon cancer patients typically will be approved for Social Security Disability benefits. If you have stage 4 colorectal cancer, there is also a good chance you will qualify for a viatical settlement.
Further Reading
>> What Is A Viatical Settlement
>> Diagnosed With Cancer: What To Do Next
>> Vatical Settlement Calculator
>> 30+ Organizations That Help Cancer Patients Financially
>> Financial Help & Free Money For Cancer Patients
>> Paying For Cancer Treatment: Resources, Budgeting & Costs
>> End Of Life Planning: Everything You Should Do (with checklists)
>> Is Stage 4 Cancer Terminal?
>> Alternative Cancer Treatments: What The Research Says
>> Best Holistic & Alternative Cancer Treatment Centres
>> Can You Sell Your Life Insurance Policy?
Financial Assistance Other Cancer Types:
>> Financial Assistance For Bile Duct Cancer Patients
>> Financial Assistance For Multiple Myeloma Patients
>> Financial Assistance For Pancreatic Cancer Patients
>> Financial Assistance For Prostate Cancer Patients
>> Financial Assistance For Esophageal Cancer Patients
>> Financial Assistance For Lung Cancer Patients
