You may feel overwhelmed and frightened if you develop thyroid cancer. You probably have many questions about treatment and how you will afford it. The good news is that many financial assistance programs are available to help you pay for your care. This blog post will discuss the different types of financial assistance for thyroid cancer available and how to apply for them.
The First Type is Medical Insurance.
If you have access to health insurance, you should check with your current health care team or other health care providers to see what coverage they offer for thyroid cancer treatment. Many companies will cover at least a portion of the cost of your treatment based on your household income. If you do not have health insurance, there are other options available.
The Second Type of Financial Assistance is Government Assistance.
The United States government offers programs to help people with medical conditions pay for their treatment. These programs include Medicaid, Medicare, and the Social Security Administration’s Disability program.
The Third Type of Assistance is Through Private Organizations.
Many private organizations help patients with thyroid cancer. These organizations include the American Thyroid Association, the Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, and the National Foundation for Cancer Research. You can contact the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, or the Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association to learn more about these organizations.
Financial Assistance Thyroid Cancer Patients Type #1: Your Life Insurance Policy Pays YOU (through a Viatical Settlement)
Even if you have private insurance or are using government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, you may still have to pay for some cancer care costs. The good news is that you may already have an asset available. Life insurance is an asset you can liquidate since policyholders can sell their policy for a lump-sum cash payment. This process is known as a “viatical settlement.” The funds from a viatical settlement are tax-free, allowing you to spend them as you choose.
A viatical settlement might qualify a head or neck cancer patient to get up to 70% of their life insurance policy in two weeks!
Here’s how it works:
- If you have a life insurance policy and have been diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer, you can sell your life insurance policy through a viatical settlement.
- You can sell your policy to a third party, such as a viatical settlement company. In return, you receive a lump sum cash payment for your policy.
- The company becomes the new owner of the policy and assumes all premium payments. When the insured dies, the viatical settlement company receives the death benefit.
Upon completing our simple application form, American Life Fund will assist you with getting an immediate cash offer for your life insurance policy. Even if you have private insurance or are using government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, you may still have to pay for some of the costs of thyroid cancer treatment.
Financial Assistance For Thyroid Patients Type # 2: Medicaid or Medicare:
If you are a U.S. citizen diagnosed with thyroid cancer, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the government programs Medicaid or Medicare.
Medicaid is a state-run program that provides health insurance for low-income individuals and families. Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance for people over 65 and some disabled individuals.
Please get in touch with your local Medicaid office or the Social Security Administration to see if you qualify for Medicaid or Medicare.
Financial Assistance For Thyroid Patients Type # 3: Prescription Assistance:
If you cannot pay for your thyroid cancer care, you may be eligible for assistance through a patient assistance program. Many pharmaceutical companies offer patient assistance programs to help people who cannot afford their medications.
To see if you qualify for a patient assistance program, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the pharmaceutical company that makes your medication or the below sources:
- RxHope helps people in need obtain critical medications they would normally have trouble affording. Patient Assistance Programs (PAP) are designed to support low-income U.S. residents with free or low-cost prescriptions. The programs usually cover brand-name drugs only and are administered individually by the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture the drugs.
- Rx Outreach is a fully-licensed mail-order pharmacy committed to making prescription drug use safer and more affordable. The program offers prescription medicines to uninsured and underinsured individuals and families and those with limited prescription drug coverage.
- Simple Fill provides prescription advocate programs for over 1500 drugs. All you need to do is apply online or by phone at 1(877)386-0206. You’ll then get a call from one of their patient advocates, who will ask you some important questions about the medications you take, your income and financial situation, and your insurance coverage, if any.
Medication & Financial Assistance Resources
- CancerCare 866-55-COPAY
- Good Days 877-968-7233
- Healthwell Foundation 800-675-8416
- National Organization for Rare Disorders 800-999-6673
- Needy Meds 800-503-6897
- Patient Access Network Foundation 866-316-7263
- Patient Services Inc. 800-366-7741
- The Assistance Fund 855-845-3663
Financial Assistance For Thyroid Cancer Type #4: Thyroid Cancer Resources & General Cancer Financial Support Resources
American Thyroid Association (ATA) is the leading education, support, and research organization for thyroid cancer.
Thyroid Cancer Alliance (TCA) is the only national non-profit organization devoted to education, support, and research for thyroid cancer.
Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association (ThyCa) is a national non-profit 501(c)(03) organization for thyroid cancer survivors, family members, and health care professionals.
Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC) is an alliance of national organizations that provide patient financial assistance to help cover the cost of cancer care.
National Cancer Institute (NCI) provides a list of available cancer financial support resources on its website. This list includes organizations that may assist with transportation, lodging, and other expenses related to cancer treatment. To view the list of resources, please visit the NCI website.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) also provides a list of national and community resources that may offer financial assistance for cancer patients. To view the list of resources, please visit the ACS website.
CancerCare provides free, professional support services for people affected by cancer. Services include counseling, support groups, education, and financial assistance. To learn more about and access CancerCare’s services, please visit their website or call their helpline at 800-227-2345.
Financial Assistance For Thyroid Patients Type #5: Clinical Trials
Another option for medical assistance is to participate in a clinical trial. Clinical trials are research studies that test new treatments or drugs. Many clinical trials offer free or reduced-cost treatment to participants. Please visit the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to learn more about clinical trials.
Financial Assistance For Thyroid Patients Type #6: Grants
Another source to access financial assistance for thyroid cancer patients is grants. Grants are funds that organizations give to help people pay for their care.
Many different types of grants are available, and you may be eligible for more than one. To learn more about grants and how to apply for them, please visit the following websites:
Assistance For Thyroid Patients Type #7: Fundraising
Crowdfunding has been a great way to raise money and awareness for many different causes. There are lots of sites where you can go online if your project needs some assistance, such as:
- GoFundMe is a crowdfunding platform that allows people to raise money for different personal causes, such as medical expenses, travel costs, and home repairs.
- MedGift advocacy services are a great way to get your campaign off the ground and running. They offer fundraising ideas for any cause, including medical causes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Assistance For Thyroid Cancer Patients
Q: How do I Get Disability For Thyroid Cancer?
A: There is no specific disability for thyroid cancer, but you may be eligible for benefits if your cancer has caused you to become disabled. To learn more about disability benefits, please visit the website of the Social Security Administration.
Q: I Have Insurance, But my Treatments Are Not Covered. What Can I do?
A: If you have insurance, but your treatments are not covered, you may be eligible for assistance through a program called the Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief Program. To learn more about this program, please visit their website or call them at 800- copay (26779).
In Conclusion
The information provided has helped outline some of the many options for financial assistance with thyroid cancer. We know how difficult it can be when your diagnosis hits, and we want to ensure that your treatment gets funded as much as possible.
Speak to your healthcare provider about what might be the best option for you, and don’t forget to look into these wonderful organizations that can help.
If you have any questions or want more information on how you can sell your existing life insurance policy for cash, get in touch with us at American Life Fund today!
