Facing esophageal cancer is incredibly challenging, emotionally and financially. Every year, approximately 17,290 people in the United States are diagnosed with this condition, and it leads to 15,850 deaths annually.
If you’re on this difficult journey, it’s important to know that there are ways to help manage the high costs of treatment. You have options like selling your life insurance policy for a cash payment, applying for specific grants to cover medical expenses, and getting assistance for everyday costs such as utility bills and prescriptions.
You can receive gift cards for gas and groceries, and raise funds through community events or online platforms like GoFundMe. These financial assistance options alleviate some of the financial stress. Let’s find ways to allow you to focus more on your well-being and less on financial worries.
Here are 6 of the best resources available to help you get financial support:
#1. Financial Assistance For Esophageal Cancer Patients: 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, even with government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, you may still face large out-of-pocket expenses.
However, what most people don’t know is that a life insurance policy is considered an asset that you own, meaning insurance policy holders 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 that health insurance can’t cover, 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 is uniquely yours!
In some cases, individuals can receive 70% of their life insurance policy in as little as 2 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.
Patients with life insurance policies enter agreements with third- party buyers to sell their policy in return for a lump-sum payment (more than the cash value of the policy).
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 have a life insurance policy of $150,000 or more, American Life Fund is here to help. We can swiftly help you reduce the financial burden associated with esophageal cancer care.
Through our hassle-free application process, American Life Fund will help you get an immediate cash offer for your insurance policy.
#2. Financial Assistance: Esophageal Cancer-Specific Financial Grants
There are some organizations that offer free money to patients. This type of financial assistance is known as an esophageal cancer-specific financial grant.
While some grants are generalized and open to applicants with all cancer types, others are specific to esophageal 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 “esophageal cancer financial grants”, as well as the more general but still applicable “cancer financial grants”. Most cancer financial grants are free money, and don’t come with strings attached.
Although it’s normally time-consuming to locate grants, the time invested pays for itself after. 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 are out there.
The following organizational funds offer financial assistance in the form of grants to patients in need:
- PAF Copay Relief Fund for Esophageal Cancer (available to patients with Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare only)
- HNC Living Assistance Fund
- American Cancer Society Fund
Also check out these great resources:
- Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (this is a tool that connects cancer patients with financial assistance resources, based on geographic location and diagnosis)
- Triage Cancer (this organization maintains a long running list of financial assistance resources for cancer patients)
#3. Financial Assistance: 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
- Necessary energy repairs
Utility assistance helps esophageal cancer patients by taking some of the financial burden off of your shoulders, and allowing you to focus more on investing in your 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 esophageal cancer patients.
You can also call “211” to locate additional local utility assistance programs for esophageal cancer patients in need.
#4. Financial Assistance: Prescription Assistance
With the cost of cancer medications rising, many patients feel concerned about how to afford treatment.
Thankfully, programs like PPA (Partnerships for Prescription Assistance) and Rx Outreach can help by providing free money to esophageal cancer patients, in the form of free or reduced cost prescriptions.
Their website has a list of multiple prescription assistance programs that you may qualify for as an esophageal cancer patient.
Another resource offering financial assistance for esophageal cancer patients is Needy Meds. Needy Meds gives a free Drug Discount Card, which includes savings of up to 80% on prescription medications.
If a medication isn’t covered by your insurance, or if your insurance has a high deductible, fear not–you can use your Drug Discount Card to pay for prescriptions.
Also, the Medicine Assistance Tool locates additional resources for prescription assistance.
#5. Financial Assistance: Gift Certificates, Gas Cards, And More
When dealing with esophageal 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 is 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 esophageal cancer patients by providing gift cards for both gas and groceries, respectively. The Cancer Card Xchange also has gift cards, so keep an eye out for their open application period.
Additionally, NeedyMeds and Mercy Medical Angels and Mercy Medical Angels offer financial assistance for medical transportation and necessary travel expenses.
If you like freebies (because who doesn’t?),Phil’s Friends and Radiant Hope are 2 organizations that give cancer care packages, which contain self-care freebies for those battling esophageal cancer.
#6. Financial Assistance: Fundraising
One of the quickest, easiest ways to supplement financial assistance for esophageal cancer patients is fundraising. With a little upfront investment of your time and a good social network, fundraising is 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.
What Patients Can Expect Financially
An esophageal cancer diagnosis is never easy, especially when that diagnosis turns into a financial burden.
In order to try to avoid financial distress, understanding the costs associated with treating esophageal cancer.
When battling with esophageal cancer, some of your largest expenses are likely to come from the following:
- Doctor visits
- Treatment
- Medication
- 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 primary method of treatment for patients with esophageal cancer is surgery to remove the cancerous tissue, and sometimes part of the esophagus and stomach. If the cancer has progressed further along, radiation and chemotherapy will also be necessary.
Medication Costs: While being treated for esophageal cancer, there are certain medications you’ll need to take. Also, if you’re actively undergoing chemotherapy, that’s another big cost you’ll need to consider when opting for financial help for treatment.
Transportation/Travel Costs: If you’re being treated for esophageal 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.
You deserve our assistance, no matter your financial situation. To learn more about how we assist patients financially, contact us at American Life Fund today!
Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Assistance For Esophageal Cancer Patients
What types of financial aid are available for people affected by esophageal cancer?
There are several types of financial aid available for esophageal cancer patients, including grants specifically for esophageal cancer, viatical settlements from life insurance policies, utility and prescription assistance, and gift cards for gas and groceries. You can also raise funds through community events or online platforms like GoFundMe.
How can I use my life insurance policy to receive financial assistance?
If you have a life insurance policy, you can sell it through a viatical settlements. This allows you to receive a lump-sum cash payment, which is tax-free and non-regulated, to cover medical expenses, living costs, or even a vacation!
Where can I find grants and other financial aid resources for my treatment plan?
There are several organizations offering financial grants for esophageal cancer patients. Look for grants online by searching for “esophageal cancer financial grants” and “cancer financial grants.” Nonprofit organizations and local resources are also good places to check. Some specific funds include the PAF Copay Relief Fund, HNC Living Assistance Fund, and the American Cancer Society Fund.
Can I get assistance with utility bills as part of my financial aid?
Yes, utility assistance is available as part of financial aid for esophageal cancer patients. Programs like the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offer help with home energy costs, rent, and necessary energy repairs.
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
>> The Best Alternative & Holistic Cancer Treatment Centers
>> Can You Sell Your Life Insurance Policy?
Financial Assistance Other Cancer & Illness 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 Colon Cancer Patients
>> Financial Assistance For Esophageal Cancer Patients
>> Financial Assistance For Lung Cancer Patients
