Financial Resources
Travel AssistanceLodging Prescription Assistance: Non-Profit OrganizationsDrug Company Prescription Assistance ProgramsInsurancePatient Financial Aid Wish Organizations Scholarships
Travel Assistance
AA&MDSIF Patient Travel Fund800.747.2820
The patient travel fund, for low income families, provides up to $500 per family for travel expenses to clinical trials.
Air Care Alliance888.260.9707
Air Care Alliance links patients with numerous free flight programs.
Angel Flight America800.446.1231
Angel Flight America provides the patient and a support person a free flight.
The flight distance cannot be greater than 1000 miles.
Continental Airlines - CAREFORCE
281.360.5314
Amelia Reed and Bob Jack
Advanced notice is variable and based on the resources available.
Oxygen Available with 48hrs advanced notice and $100 fee.
1 time every six months
Mercy Medical
888.675.1405
Mercy Medical is a referral service that connects patients to free flights.
Miles for Kids in Need - American Airlines
817.963.8118
Marie Ising
The Miles for Kids in Need program uses donated frequent flyer miles to provide transportation for children from needy families who require medical treatment that is not available where they live. Oxygen is available on flights. Patients can use this program only once.
Miracle Flights for Kids
800-359-1711
Miracle Flights for Kids flies children who are struggling with serious cancers and debilitating diseases to specialized medical treatment centers across the United States.
National Patient Travel Center
800.296.1217
The National Patient Travel Center provides information about long-distance medical air transport through charities.
Southwest Airlines
214.904.4103
Tracy Martin
No oxygen
2-3 weeks advanced notice necessary
1 time per-year (Domestic Only)
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Lodging
Fisher House - Supporting Military Families
888.294.8560
There is at least one Fisher House at every major military and VA medical center. Cost for accommodations, per family, ranges from free to $10 per night.
National Association of Hospitality Housing
800.542.9730
NAHHH is a referral service for a 150 nonprofit organizations throughout the country that provide comfortable lodging for families, who are supporting their loved ones during medical treatment, far from home. Cost for accommodations, per family, range from free to $15 per night.
Ronald McDonald House
630.623.7048
RMH 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 that is not possible their stay is free.
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Prescription Assistance: Non-Profit Organizations
Chronic Disease Fund
877.968.7233
A private organization that provides financial assistance to cover the 20% co-pays associated with the costs of Revlimid and Vidaza for treating MDS patients.
Healthwell Foundation
800.675.8416
Charitable organization that helps MDS patients with out-of-pocket costs and drug costs.
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
800.955.4572
This society provides financial assistance to assist with private health insurance premiums, private insurance co-pay obligations, Medicare Part B, Medicare Plan D, Medicare Supplementary Health Insurance, and Medicare Advantage premium or co-pay obligations up to $1500 annually through their Co-pay Assistance Program.
National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD)
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.
Needy Meds
NeedyMeds is a 501(3)(c) non-profit with the mission of helping people who cannot afford medicine or healthcare costs. The information at NeedyMeds is available anonymously and free of charge.
Patient Access Network Foundation
866.316.7263
This Foundation offers patients help with certain anemia and MDS medications. Grants are based on financial need.
Pillbot
800.505.7279
Pillbot's database provides pricing comparisons for prescriptions and is updated daily.
RX Outreach - Volunteers in Health Care
877.844.8442
RX Outreach provides access to generic drugs for low-income individuals.
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Prescription Assistance Programs: Drug Companies
Amgen Safety Net Program
800.272.9376
Program includes Aranesp, Epogen and Neulasta/Neupogen
Berlex - Leukine Reimbursement
800.321.4669
Celgene - RevAssist & Patient Support Solutions
888.423.5436
For Revlimid & Thalidimide
MGI Pharma - Dacogen Reimbursement & Support Services
877.644.6270
Doctor's office needs to call for an application.
Novartis - Exjade/EPASS Reimbursement System
888.903.7277
Ortho Biotech - ProcritLine
800.553.3851
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
888.477.2669
This organization "offers a single point of access to more than 275 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 offered by pharmaceutical companies."
Pharmion - Vidaza Patient Assistance Program
866.742.7646
Together RX Access
800.444.4106
This free prescription drug card, based on financial need, is sponsored by several large pharmaceutical companies and provides discounts on over 250 medications.
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Insurance
Familes USA Program Locator
If you have questions about health insurance and/or if you are having trouble getting health insurance benefits that you need, a health insurance assistance program may be able to help you.
Foundation for Health Coverage Education
650.762.1928
The Foundation for Health Care Coverage Education (FHCE) helps people find healthcare coverage in their area.
Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute The Institute publishes "Consumer Guides for Getting and Keeping Health Insurance" for each state.
Insure Kids Now
877.543.7669
Insure Kids Now is a national campaign to link the nation's 10 million uninsured children--from birth to age 18--to free and low-cost health insurance. Many families simply don't know their children are eligible.
Medicaid - Prescription Drug Program
Medicaid will cover most prescription drugs.
Medicare – Prescription Drug Program
This section 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.
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Patient Financial Aid
Bone Marrow Foundation
800.365.1336
The BMF patient aid program provides coverage for many of the costs associated with bone marrow transplant. These grants are limited to specific institutions, please speak with your hospital social worker or contact BMF for more information.
Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA)
800.366.2682
COTA provides fundraising assistance for children and young adults needing bone marrow transplants. They also advocate for marrow, organ and tissue donation.
First Hand Foundation - Pediatric Charity
816.201.1569
First Hand is a philanthropic, nonprofit foundation established by the associates of Cerner Corporation. Through grants, First Hand helps the families of children with health problems address the financial aspects of their child's healthcare.
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
800.955.4572
This society "provides supplementary financial assistance to patients (myelodysplastic syndromes only) in significant financial need" up to $500 annually through their Patient Financial Aid Program.
Leukemia Research Foundation
888.558.5385
The Leukemia Research Foundation provides MDS patients and families who live within 100 miles of Chicago or in the state of Illinois with financial assistance if qualified. The program reimburses almost any treatment-related expense not covered by medical insurance.
The Marrow Foundation
202.638.6601
The Marrow Foundation….is committed to securing resources from the private sector to ensure that every patient who needs an unrelated marrow transplant has equal access to the procedure.
National Transplant Assistance Fund
800.642.8399
NTAF helps patients and their families organize, launch and sustain grassroots fundraising campaigns, providing fiscal accountability for the funds raised and weekly disbursements for life-saving and life-sustaining medical care.
Patient Advocate Foundation
800.532.5274
Patient Advocate Foundation seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their financial stability.
Social Security Disability Programs
800.772.1213
The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities.
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Wish Organizations
Association of Hole in the Wall Gang Camps203.562.1203
Paul Newman founded this non-profit year round camping association in 1988; all stays at Hole in the Wall Camps are free of charge for kids and families.
Camp Simcha877.242.4543
For kids who are facing cancer or other serious illness, located on the 125 acre Jack and Moishe Horn Campus in Glen Spey, NY.
Chef David's Kids954.565.8129
Chef David's Kids is a multi-wish organization providing toys for seriously or terminally ill children world-wide.
Children's Hopes and Dreams
706.482.2248
CHD 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
CWF provides enrichment programs to terminally ill children under 18 and their family, in order to bring joy to their lives.
Dream Factory
800.456.7556
The Dream Factory grants dreams to children diagnosed with critical or chronic illnesses who are 3 through 18 years of age.
Fairy Godmother Foundation
773.388.1160
FGF serves terminally ill adults and recognizes each wish as unique and tailors it to suit the individual and their family.
Family Village Library
This resource provides links to numerous wish granting organizations
Make a Wish Foundation
800.722.WISH
MWF makes wishes come true for terminally ill children.
Also please contact local charities and churches to make wishes come true.
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Scholarship Information
Blood Assurance Foundation
In 1999, the Foundation established a scholarship fund for high school students seeking to better themselves and aspiring to give back to the communities from which they came. The program offers a total of twelve (1) one-year scholarships in the amount of $1,500 each.
Scholarship America
Scholarship America was developed to help make postsecondary education possible for all students.
Federal Student Aid
As an office of the Department of Education, Federal Student Aid's 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.
Last Modified: July 2008
