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Holding Hands

Aid

Cancer care can come with overwhelming financial challenges — but help exists. Whether you're navigating insurance paperwork, looking for government aid, or exploring tax relief, this section offers trusted information and tools to lighten the load.

🧾 SECTION 1: Tax Benefits for Cancer Patients

Tax Benefits

📌 Medical Expense Deductions

Patients may deduct qualified, unreimbursed medical expenses from their taxes if those expenses exceed 7.5% of their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).

AGI = Your total income minus specific deductions (e.g., student loan interest, retirement contributions).

Examples of Deductible Expenses:

  • Cancer treatments (chemotherapy, radiation, surgery)

  • Prescription medications

  • Medical equipment (oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, prosthetics)

  • Travel for care (mileage, flights, hotels, meals while traveling)

  • Home modifications (ramps, grab bars, stair lifts)

  • Alternative therapies (if prescribed by a licensed provider)

🔎 Note: Save all receipts and request itemized statements from providers.

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📌 Disability-Related Tax Credits

✅ Disabled Access Credit (DAC)

  • A credit available to small businesses that incur expenses for making facilities accessible to persons with disabilities.

✅ Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)

  • Available to employers who hire individuals from certain groups facing significant barriers to employment, including disabled persons.

✅ Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

  • A refundable tax credit for low- to moderate-income workers, especially those with reduced working capacity due to illness.

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📌 State-Specific Tax Relief

Some states offer:

  • Extra medical expense deductions

  • Property tax exemptions for disabled homeowners

  • Sales tax exemptions on mobility or medical devices

🔗 Check your State Department of Revenue website for eligibility.

🏛️ SECTION 2: Government Grants & Public Programs

 
Grants

📌 Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

SSDI = Federal program for individuals who’ve worked and paid Social Security taxes but can no longer work due to disability.

  • Compassionate Allowances (CAL): Fast-track approval for certain severe conditions, including many late-stage cancers.

  • Back Pay: You may receive payments retroactively from the date your disability began.

  • Apply online at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.

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📌 Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI = A need-based program for people with limited income and assets.

  • Offers monthly cash assistance

  • Automatically qualifies recipients for Medicaid in most states

  • No work history required

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📌 Medicare (Under Age 65 for Disabled Patients)

Medicare is federal health insurance primarily for seniors, but disabled patients under 65 may qualify after 24 months of SSDI eligibility.

Medicare Parts:

  • Part A: Hospital stays, hospice, skilled nursing

  • Part B: Doctor visits, outpatient care

  • Part D: Prescription drug coverage

  • Medigap: Optional private insurance to cover what Medicare doesn't

Special Enrollment Periods: You may qualify without penalties if your coverage status changes due to disability.

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📌 State Programs

🏥 Medicaid

  • Joint federal and state program for low-income individuals

  • Medicaid Expansion (in many states) covers more people

  • May include Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)

💊 State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs)

  • Help cover prescription costs for low-income residents

  • Eligibility and benefits vary by state

🔌 Utility Assistance Programs

  • LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): Helps pay utility bills

  • Medical Baseline Programs: Reduced rates for medically necessary devices (oxygen, ventilators)

Nonprofit Orgs

💙 SECTION 3: Nonprofit Organizations & National Grants

 

🏛️ Major Cancer Organizations

🩺 American Cancer Society (ACS)

  • Road to Recovery: Free rides to treatment

  • Hope Lodge: Free lodging during out-of-town treatment

  • Extended Stay Program: Discounted hotel stays

  • Call 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org

🧠 CancerCare

  • Offers grants for transportation, home care, childcare

  • Counseling, educational workshops, and emotional support

  • cancercare.org

🛡️ Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF)

  • Co-Pay Relief Program (CPR): Pays copays for patients who qualify

  • Case Management: Help with appeals, insurance, and billing

  • patientadvocate.org

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💰 Specialized Financial Aid Programs

HealthWell Foundation
Good Days (Formerly Chronic Disease Fund)
PAN Foundation (Patient Access Network)

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📍 Regional & Community Support

🤝 United Way

  • Connects individuals with:

    • Emergency grants

    • Food and housing support

    • Local services

  • Call 2-1-1 or visit 211.org

⛪ Faith-Based & Local Nonprofits

  • May offer:

    • Financial help for utilities

    • Meal delivery

    • Transportation assistance

🏥 Hospital Social Work Departments

  • Provide:

    • Charity care applications

    • Financial counseling

    • Navigation to outside aid

Insurance

💳 SECTION 4: Insurance & Billing Support

 

📌 Understanding Your Insurance

  • Review your policy every year

  • Understand:

    • Deductibles (amount you pay before insurance kicks in)

    • Out-of-pocket max

    • Co-pays and coinsurance

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📌 Pre-Authorization

  • Get pre-approval for treatments and medications

  • Denied? Use your insurer’s appeal process immediately

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📋 Billing Best Practices

  • Request Itemized Bills: Check for duplicates, errors, unnecessary charges

  • Compare Bills to Explanation of Benefits (EOBs): EOBs show what your insurance paid

  • Negotiate Payment Plans: Many hospitals offer interest-free payments or discounts for hardship

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🛠️ Claim Denial Support

  • Document everything: Dates, calls, letters

  • Appeal in writing: First internally, then via state insurance commissioners

  • Use advocates: Hospital financial navigators, PAF, or legal clinics

⚖️ SECTION 5: Legal Help & Advocacy

 
Legal Help

🏛️ Free Legal Assistance

  • Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC) – Help with:

  • National Cancer Legal Services Network (NCLSN) – Refers patients to free legal experts
    nclsn.org

  • LawHelp.org – Local directories of pro bono legal aid for:

    • Bankruptcy

    • Housing

    • Estate planning

    • Employment issues

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📜 Specialized Legal Support

  • Filing SSDI/SSI

  • Estate planning (wills, power of attorney, advance directives)

  • Employment discrimination

  • Medical product liability

  • Appeals and debt negotiation

Action Plan

🧭 SECTION 6: What to Do Next – Action Plan

 

✅ Immediate Actions

  • Apply for SSDI/SSI if you’re unable to work

  • Request a hospital financial counselor

  • Research prescription assistance programs

  • Organize medical records and financial paperwork

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🔁 Ongoing

  • Keep a folder for medical expenses (receipts, bills)

  • Review insurance EOBs monthly

  • Check in with financial aid programs

  • Update information with Medicaid/SSI if income changes

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🚨 Emergency Help

  • Dial 2-1-1 for local utility, food, and housing support

  • Hospital charity care: Ask your billing department

  • Emergency grants: Offered by CancerCare, Good Days, and others

❓ Section 7: Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

🧾 Tax & Financial Deductions

Q1: Can I deduct the cost of cancer treatment on my taxes?
A: Yes. You can deduct qualified medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). This includes treatment costs, prescription drugs, travel, and even home modifications recommended by your doctor.

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Q2: What documentation do I need to claim tax deductions?
A: Save receipts, doctor’s letters, insurance statements, and itemized medical bills. The IRS may ask for proof, so keeping organized records is essential.

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🏛️ Government Assistance Programs

Q3: What is SSDI, and how do I qualify?
A: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is for people who’ve worked and paid into Social Security but can’t work due to a medical condition. Many late-stage cancers qualify for fast-track approval under the Compassionate Allowances program.

 

Q4: What’s the difference between SSDI and SSI?
A:

  • SSDI is based on your work history.

  • SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is need-based and helps people with very low income or few assets. You don’t need a work history to qualify.

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Q5: Can I get Medicare before age 65 if I’m on SSDI?
A: Yes. If you’ve been approved for SSDI, you become eligible for Medicare after a 24-month waiting period. Some cancer patients qualify for immediate coverage depending on the condition.

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💙 Grants & Nonprofit Help

Q6: Are there grants that help pay for cancer treatment?
A: Yes. Nonprofits like CancerCare, HealthWell Foundation, Good Days, and PAN Foundation offer grants for co-pays, medications, travel, and living expenses. Most require proof of income and diagnosis.

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Q7: Where can I find free transportation or lodging during treatment?
A: The American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery offers free rides. Their Hope Lodge program offers free lodging in select cities for out-of-town patients. Mercy Medical Angels also provides travel support for long distances.

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💳 Insurance & Billing

Q8: My insurance denied my treatment—what can I do?
A: You can appeal the denial. Start with your insurer’s internal appeal process, then file an external appeal if needed. Organizations like the Patient Advocate Foundation can help you file and manage these appeals.

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Q9: What’s a pre-authorization, and why is it important?
A: Pre-authorization is approval from your insurance before getting certain procedures, treatments, or medications. Without it, your insurer may refuse to pay. Always confirm this step with your care team.

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Q10: Can I get help negotiating or reducing my hospital bill?
A: Yes. Many hospitals offer charity care, sliding scale discounts, or payment plans. Ask for a financial counselor or social worker at your hospital for help.

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⚖️ Legal Aid & Rights

Q11: Who can help me with disability paperwork or legal issues?
A: Legal nonprofits like the Cancer Legal Resource Center and the National Cancer Legal Services Network provide free legal help for SSDI applications, estate planning, job discrimination, and more.

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Q12: Can I be fired from my job because of cancer?
A: No. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), cancer patients have workplace protections. A legal advocate can help if you face discrimination or retaliation.

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🧭 Practical & Local Help

Q13: How do I find help with rent, food, or utilities?
A: Dial 2-1-1 to connect with local nonprofits, food banks, rental assistance, and utility relief programs. Also ask your hospital’s social worker for regional resources.

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Q14: Where can I find affordable medications?
A: Try:

  • Rx Outreach

  • NeedyMeds

  • Pharmaceutical assistance programs (contact the drug company directly)

  • PAN or HealthWell Foundations (for insured but financially burdened)

Supporting Those in Need

 

© 2025 by Oncora.

 

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