Recently Diagnosed or Relapsed? Stop Looking For a Miracle Cure, and Use Evidence-Based Therapies To Enhance Your Treatment and Prolong Your Remission
Multiple Myeloma an incurable disease, but I have spent the last 25 years in remission using a blend of conventional oncology and evidence-based nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle therapies from peer-reviewed studies that your oncologist probably hasn't told you about.
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Financial Assistance for Myeloma
Cancer care is expensive. Thankfully there is financial assistance for myeloma- one of the most expensive cancers there is. Expensive, ironically, because MM patients can pay for treatment, off and on, for years. Incurable but treatable as they say…
My suggestion for your first step is to read your health insurance plan book. I say this because I didn’t read mine and therefore had no idea what my insurance paid for, didn’t pay for, co-pays, etc.
I think your next step should be to read Costs of Managing Myeloma
How to Access Myeloma Financial Resources
Just understanding that MM treatment is a completely separate issue from MM costs which can be completely different from MM financial assistance is an important step forward in managing your MM.
As I mentioned above, I had no idea about these three separate challenges when I was diagnosed with MM.
Email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com to ask questions about your MM.
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
What financial assistance is available to those with multiple myeloma (MM)?
Financial assistance for multiple myeloma may come from various resources. Government agencies, payment programs, and charities may help with treatment costs, transportation, housing, and other expenses.
Examples of government resources include Medicare, Medicaid, and the Department of Veterans Affairs for eligible people. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) are two of a variety of charities that offer help.
Additionally, if a person qualifies for Social Security (SS) disability benefits, they may receive a monthly income to cover basic living expenses.
Keep reading to learn more about financial assistance for MM, including resources for treatment, transportation, housing, and other expenses…
Assistance may come from the following:
Private and government insurance options
If people have private health insurance, the first step involves calling their insurer and talking with a benefits coordinator. The discussion should include what costs it does and does not cover, and what copays and deductibles to expect.
Those without insurance can visit HealthCare.gov, a database of health insurance options the Department of Health and Human Services provides.
The followingTrusted Source insurance programs are available to certain individuals:
- Medicare, a federal government health insurance for adults age 65 and older
- Medicaid, a federal and state government health insurance for someone with a limited income
- Department of Veterans Affairs, a federal government program that helps with health expenses for veterans and active military, as well as their dependents and survivors
Payment plans
Individuals concerned about affording treatment can discuss their concerns with a doctor or hospital billing office. These resources can either provide informationTrusted Source about reduced rates and payment plans, or they can offer a referral to someone, such as a social worker on staff, who can.
Charities
The foundations and charities below may help.
- LLS: This organization helps with copays and certain other costs for people with blood cancers, such as MM. The phone number is (877) 557-2672.
- HealthWell Foundation: This group helps with premiums, deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket expenses. The phone number is (800) 675-8416.
- CancerCare: This organization offers limited financial assistance for cancer-related costs. The phone number is (800) 813‑HOPE (4673).
- Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition: This group has financial assistance programs for individuals with cancer.
Medication assistance programs
Aside from all of the above that offer financial assistance for treatment in general, some programs provide it for medications, specifically.
- NeedyMeds, which lists organizations that help pay for medications and supplies.
- Medicine Assistance Tool is a search tool that helps someone find drug manufacturers with programs offering at lower or no cost to individuals who meet their guidelines.
- GoodRx is a website that compares prices and offers coupons at more than 70,000 pharmacies
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