Financial Resources

Medical Flight Programs

Air Care Alliance - umbrella organization (888) 260-9707 Links patients with numerous free flight programs.

Air Charity Network
(877) 621-7177
Offers free flights in the U.S. Volunteer pilots are available to fly patients in need to specialized health care facilities.

Angel Flight America - umbrella organization
(918) 749-8992
Provides the patient and a support person a free flight. Flight distance cannot be greater than 1,000 miles.

Continental Airlines - CAREFORCE
(281) 261-6626
Amelia Reed and Bob Jack
Provides flight assistance based on available resources. Oxygen is available with 48 hours advanced notice and a $100 fee. This service is available once every six months.

Mercy Medical
(888) 675-1405
Referral service that connects patients to free flights.

Miles for Kids in Need - American Airlines 
(817) 963-8118
Uses donated frequent flyer miles to provide flights for children who require medical treatment that is not available where they live. Oxygen is available on flights.

Miracle Flights for Kids
(800) 539-1711
Flies children who are struggling with serious cancers and debilitating diseases to specialized medical treatment centers across the U.S.

National Patient Travel Center
(800) 296-1217
Provides information about long-distance medical air transport through charities.

Lodging

National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses
(800) 542-9730
Referral service for 150 nonprofit organizations that provide comfortable lodging for families, who are supporting their loved ones during medical treatment. Cost for accommodations, per family, starts at $15 per night.

Ronald McDonald House
(630) 623-7048
Provides families with a "home-away-from-home" while their children receive medical treatment. Families are asked to make a $5 - $20 dollar donation per night, if possible.

Fisher House - Supporting Military Families
(888) 294-8560
Provides families with a place to stay at every major military and VA medical center.  Cost per family ranges from free to $10 per night. Speak with the hospital's social worker for additional options.

Medication Assistance

Children's Leukemia Foundation of Michigan
(248) 530-3000
Offers financial and emotional support for Michigan residents with blood and bone marrow disorders.
 
Chronic Disease Fund (CDF)
(877) 968-7233
Provides medication co-pay assistance for MDS patients with private insurance or Medicare Part-D plan. If CDF cannot help you, they will refer you to other resources for assistance.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
(800) 955-4572
Offers two programs to help patients pay for covered services. Patient Financial Aid program offers up to $150 per year to patients to help pay for approved drugs, blood and marrow transfusions, transportation costs to appointments, and x-ray therapy. Co-Pay Assistance Program can provide up to $5,000 to help patients, with insurance, pay out-of-pocket costs associated with treatment for MDS or another eligible disease. 

Medicaid Prescription Drug Program
Provides detailed information on Medicaid, including information on enrollment, new initiatives, and prescription drugs. Also includes information on reimbursement and financial assistance.

Medicare - Prescription Drug Program
Provides information on public and private programs that offer discounted or free medication, programs that provide help with other health care costs, and Medicare health plans that include prescription coverage.

National Association of Counties - Caremark
(877) 321-2652
Your county may be able to provide you with a discount card that allows you to buy medications at a reduced rate at participating pharmacies. Advance Rx's Web site provides a list of counties that offer the card, instructions on requesting a discount card, and resources to find pharmacies where it can be used.

Needymeds
A nonprofit organization with the mission of helping people who cannot afford medicine or healthcare costs. Information is available anonymously and free.

National Organization of Rare Diseases (NORD) - Medication Assistance Program
(203) 744-0100 or (800) 999-6673 (voicemail only)
NORD works with pharmaceutical companies to ensure that vital medications are available to those in need. They currently offer a program to assist with premiums and co-pays for PNH patients.

Patient Access Network Foundation
(866) 316-7263
Provides up to $7,500 per year to MDS patients, who have insurance, but cannot afford out-of-pocket costs. Check eligibility requirements. An application is on their Web site or contact a counselor at the toll-free number.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance
(888) 477-2669
Single point of access to more than 275 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 offered by pharmaceutical companies.

Pillbot - Pillbot Drug Index
(800) 505-7279
Database (updated daily) provides pricing comparisons for prescriptions.  It is not controlled by a pharmacy or drug company and does not require any personal information.

RX Assist - Volunteers in Health Care
(877) 844-8442
Maintains a database of resources for low-income patients to receive free or low-cost medications. National nonprofit organization.

Together RX Access
(800) 444-4106
Provides a free card for discounts on more than 300 brand-name drugs, and some generic drugs, at participating pharmacies. There are income and other requirements, and you must be a legal resident of the U.S.

Pharmaceutical Company Assistance

Alexion One Source Program  (then click on One Source)
(888) 765-4747
Assists patients who have been prescribed Solaris (eculizumab) by connecting them to alternate funding sources and by getting their insurance company to process claims. They also offer several other services.

Amgen - Reimbursement Connection Program
(800) 272-9376
Amgen makes the drugs Aranesp, Neulasta, Neupogen, Nplate and Epogen. The program offers patient assistance with a variety of programs. The Web site also includes guides to insurance verification, patient assistance and billing, and claims support.

Berlex - Leukine Reimbursement
(800) 321-4669 (Reimbursement Support Line)
Offers services including benefit verification, claims review and billing assistance. It can also offer access to treatment for uninsured patients who meet program criteria.

Celgene - Patient Support Coordinator
(800) 931-8691
Celgene's central point of contact for questions about their products, including Revlimid and Vidaza. Patients can ask questions about insurance reimbursement and underinsured patients may be able to receive free medication.

Eisai-Dacogen Reimbursement & Support Services
(877) 644-6270
Customer service representatives can provide information about assistance and support for all Eisai products, including Dacogen. Available from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. Monday-Friday.

Novartis - Exjade/EPASS Reimbursement System
(888) 903-7277
Provides access to Exjade through a special distribution system. Other financial/claims assistance may be available.

Ortho Biotech - ProcritLine
(800) 553-3851
Ortho Biotech makes the drugs Procrit and Leustatin. Offers patient assistance program and benefit verification program. Additional services available over the phone. Forms for patient assistance and benefit verification are available for download.

Insurance

Navigating the Insurance Maze
Review this section on our Web site.

Families USA Program Locator
Includes listings of health insurance assistance programs by state.  These programs handle many questions about Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance and may be able to refer you to low-cost or free health care (which may include prescription drug assistance).

Foundation for Health Coverage Education
(650) 762-1928
Exists to simplify health insurance eligibility information and help more people get coverage. Site includes eligibility information and links to applications for health coverage programs.

Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute
Publishes consumer guides for getting and keeping health insurance for every state.  Also includes summaries of the guides and glossaries of terms.

Insure Kids Now
(877) 543-7669
Government-run program provides uninsured children with health insurance. In most states, uninsured children under the age of 18 whose families earn up to $44,500 per year are eligible for free or low cost insurance.  Programs vary by state.

Patient Services, Inc.
(800) 366-7741
Offers help to patients with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. If you have access to insurance through COBRA, a state-run High Risk Pool, or a private insurance policy, PSI may be able to help you pay your premiums.  They also offer assistance covering out-of-pocket costs for medication, medical devices, transportation to treatment, and other expenses not covered by insurance.

Patient Financial Aid/Patient Advocacy

Bone Marrow Foundation (BMF)
(800) 365-1336
Patient aid program provides coverage for many costs associated with bone marrow transplant.  Grants are limited to specific institutions, so speak with hospital social worker or contact BMF for more information.

First Hand Foundation
(816) 201-1569
Nonprofit foundation established by Cerner Corporation. Assists families of children, with health problems, address financial aspects of their child's healthcare.

Leukemia Research Foundation
(888) 558-5385
Provides MDS patients who live within 100 miles of Chicago, or in the state of Illinois, with financial assistance, if qualified. Program reimburses almost any treatment-related expense not covered by medical insurance.

Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA)
(800) 366-2682
Provides fundraising assistance for children & young adults needing bone marrow transplants.  Also advocates for marrow, organ and tissue donation.

National Marrow Donor Program - Be the Match Foundation
(800) 627-7692 (General Information)
(888) 999-6743 (Office of Patient Advocacy)
Nonprofit organizations dedicated to creating an opportunity for all patients to receive bone marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant when needed.

National Transplant Assistance Fund
(800) 642-8399
Provides small grants, information and support for fundraising and patient awareness.

Patient Advocate Foundation
Equal Access to Health Care
(800) 532-5274
Offers personal assistance to patients with MDS.  Through a personal case manager, they may be able to help you deal with your insurance company, as well as health-related problems with your employer or creditors.

Social Security Disability Programs
(800) 772-1213
Largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. You can also speak with your hospital's social worker for additional information.

Scholarships

Crystal Green/Blood Assurance Memorial Scholarship Program
Established scholarship fund for high school students offers twelve one-year scholarships in the amount of $1,500 each.

Federal Student Aid
Office of Department of Education. Core mission is to ensure that all eligible individuals benefit from federal financial assistance ? grants, loans, and work-study programs ? for education beyond high school.

Patient Advocate Foundation - Scholarships
Provides support to patients seeking to initiate or complete a course for study that has been interrupted or delayed by a diagnosis of cancer or other life threatening disease.

Scholarship America
Developed to help make postsecondary education possible for all students. 

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students
www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/dsa/sds.htm
Provides scholarships to full-time students from disadvantaged backgrounds enrolled in health professions and nursing programs. Contact the student financial aid office at the school where you are, or intend to be, enrolled.

Wish Organizations for Children

Camp Simcha
(877) 242-4543
Provides free camp and travel to Camp Simcha.  Preference is given to children with hematological disorders.

Chef David's Kids
(954) 565-8129
Provides toys for seriously or terminally ill children world-wide.

Childrens Hope and Dreams
(706) 482-2248
Makes seriously ill children's dreams come true with everything from meeting a celebrity to trips to Disney World.

Children's Wish Foundation
(800) 323-WISH
Provides enrichment programs to terminally ill children and their families.

Dream Factory
(800) 456-7556
Grants dreams to children diagnosed with critical or chronic illnesses who are 3 through 18 years of age.

Family Village Library - umbrella site
Provides links to numerous wish granting organizations

Make a Wish Foundation
(800) 722-WISH
Makes wishes come true for terminally ill children.

Association of Hole in the Wall Camps
(203) 562-1203
Provides free camp stay at Hole in the Wall Camps. Paul Newman founded this nonprofit year-round camping association in 1988.