According to the American Cancer Society’s forecasts, around 41,260 new cases of liver cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2022. The cost of care for liver cancer can be prohibitive, and many patients cannot afford the treatments they need.
Patients must endure the physical consequences of the disease and the financial strain of therapy. Even for those with insurance, the out-of-pocket medical costs can still be enough to break the bank. For liver cancer patients without insurance, the costs could amount to over $1 million.
Affording liver cancer treatment does not have to result in a bankruptcy sentence. Fortunately, some organizations can assist liver cancer patients in paying medical bills. Our team at American Life Fund works with liver cancer patients to assist them financially. We created this thorough list of financial assistance available for liver cancer patients.
Financial Assistance For Liver Cancer Patients Type #1: Your Life Insurance Policy Pays YOU (Through a Viatical Settlement)
Even with government programs like Medicare and Medicaid in the United States, you may still be left to cover significant out-of-pocket expenditures if you go through liver cancer treatment.
Did you know that a life insurance policy is treated as an asset? It allows policyholders to sell their insurance for a lump-sum cash payment, also known as a viatical settlement. The best part is these funds are tax-free and you can use them however you see fit!
You can pay for your medical expenses and the cost of living expenditures. With a viatical settlement, people may get up to 70% of their life insurance policy in as little as two weeks!
How it works:
- Viatical settlements are intended for life insurance policyholders with life-threatening illnesses.
- In return for a lump-sum payment (more than the cash value of the life insurance policy but less than the death benefit), individuals with life insurance policies can enter contracts with third-party purchasers to sell their life insurance policy.
- The life settlement company assumes the monthly premium payments and receives the death benefit when the insured passes.
American Life Fund can assist you if you’re thinking about selling your life insurance policy. The essential thing is to relieve the financial strain of liver cancer treatment, decrease stress, and allow you to devote more time to the things that matter.
American Life Fund will provide you with an immediate cash offer for your life insurance policy through our simple application process.
Financial Assistance For Liver Cancer Patients Type #2: Liver Cancer-Specific Financial Grants & General Cancer Financial Assistance
Various cost-cutting options are accessible to those with liver cancer, including financial assistance, also known as liver cancer-specific financial grants.
Some grants are open to applicants with all cancer types, while others are specific to liver cancer. The greatest place to look for financial awards you may be eligible for is online and through your local nonprofit organizations.
The best thing about cancer financial aid is money with no strings attached. Although it might take time to discover grants, the effort is typically worth it. Finding a charity with cash left over is difficult. But, when you do, the money is available to help you with your living and medical expenses.
Here are some general cancer financial assistance resources:
- Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC): This tool connects cancer patients with financial assistance resources based on geographic location and diagnosis.
- Triage Cancer and Needymeds: these organizations maintain a long-running list of financial assistance resources for cancer patients.
- CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation: this charity provides co-payment assistance for cancer patients with Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance plans.
- Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition: this website includes a searchable database of financial aid resources for cancer patients.
- Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation: this charity provides co-payment assistance for cancer patients with commercial health insurance.
- The Livestrong Foundation: this charity provides direct financial assistance to cancer patients for life-sustaining treatments and services.
Here are some liver and bile-duct cancer-specific resources:
- American Liver Foundation: a nonprofit organization that provides liver cancer-specific financial assistance through its Hope Fund.
- Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation: this charity provides direct financial assistance to patients with bile-duct cancer for life-sustaining treatments and services.
- The Hepatitis B Foundation’s Liver Cancer Connect is a specialized program of the organization that was established to give individuals and families the information and assistance they require when facing the problem of primary liver cancer. Check out their Liver Cancer Center Directory, listing dozens of academic and medical institutions working with liver cancer patients all across the United States!
- Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association: The goal of this charitable organization is to prevent, treat, and cure primary liver cancer, particularly Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
- The International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) is an international organization devoted exclusively to liver cancer research for experts from all related disciplines.
- American Transplant Foundation: This organization aids living donors in receiving financial compensation for missed salaries after the surgery and provides life-saving drugs.
- National Foundation for Transplants: NFT assists transplant patients and their families through fundraising, advocacy, promotion of organ and tissue donation, and the development of new treatment options.
Financial Assistance For Liver Cancer Patients Type #3: Prescription Assistance
In this earlier blog post, we introduced many options for cancer patients to get assistance with prescription medication costs as well as other costs, such as:
- Short-term housing near treatment centers
- Transportation
- Food
- Utilities
- Dental costs
- Caregiver expenses
- And more!
Financial Assistance For Liver Cancer Patients Type #4: Fundraising
Fundraising is one of the quickest and simplest methods to complement financial assistance for people living with liver cancer. Fundraising may be an efficient tool for raising funds if utilized correctly. Here are just two options:
- You may create a GoFundMe campaign and share your need/cause with others. The disadvantage, however, is that you only receive a fraction of the money raised.
- A personal fundraiser is another way to raise funds that is worth considering – and from which you’ll keep all of the profits. Check out MedGift Advocacy Services for a whole list of fundraising ideas!
Don’t be scared to seek a better quality of life. You are entitled to it, no matter how financially distressed you are. Visit American Life Fund today for more information about how we assist liver cancer patients financially!
Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Assistance For Liver Cancer Patients
Q: What benefits are liver cancer patients entitled to?
A: If you are an American citizen struggling with liver cancer, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits. The more aggressive cancer, the more likely you will qualify.
Q: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for People with Cancer
A: SSDI is a government-administered disability insurance program that may assist those who have worked and paid into Social Security in obtaining benefits. This benefit is only available to individuals who cannot work due to physical or mental illness. The SSDI application might be completed more quickly if you have cancer.
Q: Who is eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance?
- If you worked for a long time and had enough money taken out of your paychecks for Social Security (FICA).
- If you operate your own business and pay self-employment taxes.
- If you fulfill the Social Security Administration’s rigorous standards of disability to be eligible.
- Even if you have a low income or require financial assistance, you can still qualify for SSDI.
Q: Can You Get Financial Help if You Have Liver Cancer?
A: Yes, you can get financial help if you have liver cancer. You can get everything from help with prescriptions, lower utility bills, grants, viatical settlements, and more.
Q: How Can I Get Money For Liver Cancer Treatment?
A: Grants, crowdfunding, and disability benefits are other ways you can get money for liver 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 liver cancer treatment.
Q: Does Stage 4 Liver Cancer Qualify For Disability?
A: Stage 4 liver cancer patients typically will be approved for Social Security Disability benefits. Additionally, if you have stage 4 liver cancer, there is also a good chance you will qualify for a viatical settlement.
Q: What if I Don’t Have Insurance?
A: Visit HealthCare.gov if you don’t have health insurance. This is a database of health insurance alternatives provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for citizens to look for health coverage suitable to their unique life circumstances and neighborhood.
If you can’t pay for health insurance and are not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare, investigate charity care and sliding-scale solutions (where your income determines fees) at hospitals and clinics. Some hospitals are required by law to treat uninsured individuals. For more information, contact your local department of public health or social services or the business office of your chosen hospital.
Q: Does Medicare Cover Liver Cancer?
A: All Medicare plans cover medically necessary liver cancer treatments, including prescription medications, services, and supplies, specifically:
#1: Inpatient Coverage
Inpatient care, skilled nursing facility stays, hospice care, and required prescription medications are all covered under Medicare Part A if a person is diagnosed with liver cancer. Home health care services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, or skilled nursing care at home, are all covered. Medicare Part A may cover a portion of the costs of clinical research studies if the participant wishes to participate.
#2: Surgical Coverage
Part A coverage includes certain operations that are part of the usual treatment for liver cancer, including a partial hepatectomy or liver transplant.
#3: Liver Transplant
Medicare covers treatment for and related to a liver transplant as long as the operation is performed in a Medicare-approved hospital. After a person has met the deductible, all outpatient care, services, and therapy are subject to a 20% coinsurance.
#4: Outpatient Services
Medicare Part B covers a variety of outpatient treatments that are deemed medically necessary, such as doctor visits, durable medical equipment (wheelchairs or canes), nutrition counseling, radiation therapy in an outpatient clinic, and chemotherapy.
#5: Medicare prescription drug plans (PDPs) or Medicare Part D
These government-sponsored programs cover medicines such as pain relievers and antiemetics. Private insurance companies administer these plans. Depending on the need, a person who doesn’t require surgery might use a homeopathic balm or solution, available in different forms (both over-the-counter and prescription).
#6: Out-of-pocket Expenses
Many people will incur out-of-pocket expenses with Medicare insurance plans. They vary in amount depending on the policy type. The following are the costs associated with health insurance that you must be aware of to make informed decisions about your plan: monthly premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and co-payments.
