Financial assistance
PAF — Merkel Cell Carcinoma Financial Aid Fund
A one-time grant for qualifying treatment transportation, lodging and nutritional expenses.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Merkel cell carcinoma; active treatment, treatment in the past six months or treatment planned within 60 days, plus household income and diagnosis verification.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Apply through PAF’s financial-aid portal or call the financial-aid line.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Program note
- Listed among open funds on September 9, 2026; funds can be exhausted. Eligibility is specific to Merkel cell carcinoma.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Funding and eligibility vary; confirm directly.
Financial assistance
PAF — Oklahoma prostate cancer transportation fund
A one-time transportation grant for eligible Oklahoma residents with prostate cancer.
- Where
- Oklahoma
- Who / cost
- Oklahoma residence, current treatment or maintenance therapy, income requirements and diagnosis verification.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Apply through PAF’s financial-aid portal or call its financial-aid line.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Program note
- Listed among open funds on September 9, 2026; confirm current funding before applying.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Funding and eligibility vary; confirm directly.
Financial
Patient Advocate Foundation — case management
Individual help resolving barriers to healthcare access, including coverage and related practical problems.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Confirm program eligibility and availability directly.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Call to discuss your situation and current service eligibility. Have the relevant denial, bill or access problem available.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Financial assistance
Pink Aid — Pink Purse
Help with critical nonmedical household expenses during breast cancer treatment; approved payments go to vendors.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Financial need and qualifying active treatment are required. Long-term hormonal therapy alone does not qualify.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Ask a hospital social worker, nurse navigator or eligible nonprofit representative to submit. Check the national or regional application route.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Program note
- Patients should work through a referring professional. Requirements and available funding differ by program.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Funding and eligibility vary; confirm directly.
Financial assistance
Pink Fund — breast cancer household bills
Nonmedical financial assistance during active breast cancer treatment.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Patient or spouse/partner must have been working at diagnosis and have lost working income. U.S. residence, work, taxes and treatment requirements apply.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Complete the online prequalification through the official FAQ. Application support is by email through that page; phone applications are not supported.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Program note
- Not emergency assistance. Active treatment and reduced working income must continue during funding.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Funding and eligibility vary; confirm directly.
Insurance
SHIP — local Medicare counselling
Connect with local one-to-one Medicare insurance counselling and assistance.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Medicare-related counselling; not a grant or insurance sales service.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Use the state locator or call for help finding your SHIP. Ask about coverage, enrollment or appeal questions.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Financial
Social Security disability applications
Official starting point for disability benefit applications; SSA determines eligibility.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- A cancer diagnosis alone does not guarantee benefits. SSDI and SSI have different nonmedical requirements.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Start online or call to discuss the appropriate application. Prepare your work history, treatment contacts and requested medical information.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Financial
Triage Cancer — legal and financial navigation
Free one-to-one information on insurance, employment, disability and related financial issues. It does not provide cash assistance or legal representation.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Confirm program eligibility and availability directly.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Use the navigation intake form. Without internet access, call and choose option 5. The program requires a reachable U.S. telephone number.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Employment
U.S. Department of Labor — family and medical leave
Official guidance on unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying employees of covered employers.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Employee and employer eligibility rules apply. FMLA is not wage replacement.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Read the employee guidance and discuss the notice and certification process with your employer. Call the Wage and Hour Division for questions.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Navigation
ZERO — ZERO360 and patient support
Case management for insurance, costs and support; peer and caregiver resources.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Free navigation; financial programs have separate rules.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Use the official contact above to ask which service fits your needs and how to get started.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Program note
- General email is not a direct case-management inbox.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗ Source 2 ↗
Financial guidance
Colorectal Cancer Alliance — financial navigation
Helps locate assistance programs and community resources.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Navigation remains available; partner eligibility varies.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Use the official contact above to ask which service fits your needs and how to get started.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Program note
- ENDED: Blue Hope Financial Assistance Award ended February 23, 2026. List this as navigation, not an open cash grant.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
The Blue Hope cash award ended February 23, 2026. This listing provides navigation to other assistance.
Practical help
Skin Cancer Foundation — Robins Nest
Routes people with skin cancer to financial, emotional and practical resources.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Resource referrals; not a universal grant.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Use the official contact above to ask which service fits your needs and how to get started.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Program note
- Listed on official source; response and intake not tested.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
