Sarcoma cancer is a rare form of cancer that can affect any part of the body. Unfortunately, because it is rare, many people do not know about it and are unaware of the support groups available to them as well as financial assistance for sarcoma cancer patients.
Sarcomas are a class of relatively rare tumors that derive from bone, muscle, cartilage, fat, and similar tissues. Approximately 10,000 patients in the United States develop sarcoma annually. About 25 percent of these involve the bones, while the remainder arise outside the bones and are referred to as “soft tissue sarcomas.”
There are more than 50 kinds of soft tissue sarcomas. They can start in different types of cells, grow at different rates, and have different outlooks. Most physicians, even cancer specialists, have little experience managing these conditions.
You may feel overwhelmed and stressed about treatment costs if you have a cancer diagnosis. Don’t let the cost of cancer care keep you from getting the care you need. The good news is that financial support and assistance programs can pay for your medical expenses.
This blog post will discuss some of these programs and how to apply for them.
What Sarcoma Cancer Patients Can Expect Financially
Sarcoma cancer can present several financial challenges for patients and their families. Cancer treatment costs can be high, and many patients cannot work during treatment.
As a result, patients may need to rely on government assistance or private charities to help cover their living expenses. In addition, Sarcoma cancer can often lead to long-term disability, which can further add to the financial burden.
However, many patient assistance programs are available to patients and their family members. Many Sarcoma cancer foundations offer financial support services, and patients may also be eligible for government benefits. With proper planning and support, Sarcoma cancer patients can minimize the financial impact of their disease.
Financial Assistance For Sarcoma 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 responsible for high out-of-pocket costs if you undergo cancer treatments.
Your life insurance policy could be an asset you were unaware you had. It allows policyholders to sell their coverage for a lump-sum cash payment, also known as a viatical settlement. These funds are tax-free with no strings attached, so you can use them however you choose.
You can pay for your medical expenses and living costs, pay off debts or go on that dream vacation you’ve always wanted to take.
Individuals may receive up to 70% of their life insurance policy with a viatical settlement in as little as two weeks!
Viatical settlements are for life insurance policyholders who have a life-threatening illness. Here’s how it works:
- Individuals with life insurance policies can enter contracts with third-party purchasers to sell their life insurance policies.
- They will receive a lump-sum payment that is more than the cash value of the life insurance policy but less than the death benefit.
- The life settlement company assumes the monthly premium payments and receives the death benefit when the insured passes.
American Life Fund assists thousands of patients who want to sell their life insurance policies to relieve the financial strain of treatments and allow you to devote more time to the things that matter. American Life Fund can provide a quick cash offer for your life insurance policy through our simple application process.
Financial Assistance For Sarcoma Patients Type #2: Sarcoma Cancer-Specific Financial Grants & General Cancer Financial Assistance
Treating cancer is expensive. Many organizations offer types of financial help. We hope the list below helps ease your financial burden. Various cost-cutting options are accessible to those with cancer, including financial assistance, also known as Sarcoma cancer-specific financial grants.
The greatest place to look for financial awards you may be eligible for is online and through your local nonprofit organizations. Some grants are open to applicants with all cancer types, while others are specific to certain types of cancer. Here are a few financial assistance links:
While undergoing treatment, the American Cancer Society has some programs to pay for travel costs, medication expenses, housing, etc. You can reach the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.
The National Cancer Institute has a program that provides a limited amount of money for some expenses related to cancer treatment, such as transportation and child care. To learn more about this program, visit the NCI website for more resources.
CANCER CARE
Some grants and a list of organizations provide financial assistance for patients.
CANCER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE COALITION’S DATABASE
This database lists local organizations that provide specific financial and practical assistance for patients and their loved ones.
CANCER RECOVERY FOUNDATION
It has a Women’s Cancer Fund that provides limited financial assistance (up to $250/year) to women in active cancer treatment. This assistance helps cover the cost of rent and utilities, including phone bills.
CANCER TRIALS
Learn about the different costs related to a clinical trial, who is expected to pay for which costs and tips for working with insurance companies.
COVERAGE FOR ALL
Coverage for All aims to simplify public and private health insurance eligibility information to help more people access coverage. They aim to centralize the distribution of information and eligibility requirements, encouraging more people to enroll and lowering the uninsured ranks.
DEBT.ORG
Debt.org lists local organizations that provide financial support for cancer treatment, medical bills, housing, and transportation assistance.
FAMILY REACH
Provides a COVID-19 emergency relief fund for patients and a fast-track financial assistance program.
FISCAL TIGER
Affording and Paying for Healthcare Guide. This guide covers various topics, from medical bill basics to medical debt and resources for veterans.
GENENTECH PATIENT FOUNDATION
The Genentech Patient Foundation gives free Genentech medicine to people who don’t have insurance coverage or who have financial concerns.
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
The National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service provides free information about cancer treatment and resources. You can also call their hotline at 1-800-422-467.
Here are some Sarcoma cancer-specific resources:
NORTHWEST SARCOMA FOUNDATION
The Northwest Sarcoma Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to providing education and support to patients and families living with sarcoma. They strive to provide timely and accurate information regarding research and treatment options and offer overall support by creating local networks throughout the Northwest.
The Foundation is pleased to offer HELP$, a need-based financial aid program for adult sarcoma patients undergoing treatment. Its service area includes the five-state region of Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho.
SARCOMA PATIENT ASSISTANCE
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on easing the financial burden of sarcoma patients at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Financial Assistance For Sarcoma Cancer Patients Type #3: Sarcoma Specific
Cancer-Financial Assistance from Hospitals and Clinics
According to the nonprofit organization Sarcoma Alliance, in the United States, several locations have physicians and teams dedicated to advancing the treatment of GIST and other sarcomas.
Patients with sarcoma should consider getting a second opinion at one of these cancer research centers.
Arizona
California
Univ of California Davis Sarcoma Program
Cedars Sinai Sarcoma Page (Los Angeles, CA)
UCLA’s Sarcoma Program (Los Angeles, CA)
Sarcoma Oncology Center, Santa Monica
Stanford University Cancer Center, Palo Alto
Colorado
University of Colorado Cancer Center – Anschutz (Aurora, Colorado)
Florida
Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville, FL)
Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
University of Florida Cancer Center
University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Georgia
Georgia Cancer Emory Winship Cancer Institute (Atlanta)
Illinois
Robert E. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University in Chicago
Iowa
The University of Iowa, Holden Cancer Center (Iowa City, Iowa)
Kansas
University of Kansas Cancer Center
Maryland
Massachusetts
Dana Farber Cancer Institute (Boston, Massachusetts)
Michigan
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
Minnesota
University of Minnesota Cancer Center (Minneapolis, MN)
Missouri
Siteman Cancer Center/Barnes Jewish Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis
New Jersey
Hackensack University Medical Center (Hackensack, NJ)
New York
Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City
North Carolina
Ohio
The Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center Sarcoma Page (Cleveland, Ohio)
Ohio State University The James Cancer Inst
Oregon
Oregon’s Health Sciences, Portland
Federal and State Programs
If you are eligible for health coverage from your employer but cannot afford premiums, some states have premium assistance programs to help pay for coverage for insured patients.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Financial Assistance For Sarcoma Cancer Patients Type #4: Fundraising
Fundraising is one of the quickest and simplest methods to complement financial assistance for people living with sarcoma cancer. Fundraising may be an efficient tool for financial help if utilized correctly. Here are just two options:
- Medical crowdfunding on websites like gofundme.com is a way to solicit donations from friends, family, and strangers to help cover the costs of medical treatment. It can be used to pay for everything from cancer treatment to surgeries.
- A personal fundraiser is another way to raise funds worth considering– from which you’ll keep all the profits. Check out MedGift Advocacy Services for a whole list of fundraising ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions about Financial Assistance for Sarcoma Cancer Patients:
What benefits are Sarcoma cancer patients entitled to?
Soft Tissue Sarcomas can sometimes qualify for disability benefits even in their early stages. When these forms of cancer have spread or metastasized, they meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) medical eligibility requirements for disability benefits. The same is true for soft tissue sarcoma that returns following initial treatment.
Disability Benefits Programs
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is the benefit program with which most people are familiar, but the SSA also administers the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. You may be eligible for either or both of these programs with soft tissue sarcoma.
SSDI requires you to have a work history and accumulated work credits. On the other hand, SSI has no work history requirements but strict income and financial resource limitations.
Compassionate Allowances
Recurrent or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma qualifies for rapid review under the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program. Rather than waiting the months it usually takes an application to go through the review; CAL applicants have a decision on their claims in just a few weeks.
Financial Assistance for Sarcoma cancer patients is available in many forms from the federal and state government, private organizations, and support groups. Explore your options to ensure you get the best possible cancer treatment and medical costs. There are also options for fundraising to supplement financial assistance. If you would like to learn more about accessing money through your existing life insurance policy, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at American Life Fund today.
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