Does anyone know of any assistance for someone diagnosed with cancer but has no medical insurance? My friend was diagnosed today and has been refered to an oncologist in Lewisville. Any suggestions would help.
Has she tried JPS. The have a program called JPS Connection that is based on income qualification and family size but the limits are higher than the usual limits.
American Cancer Society. Also, contact the Texas State Health Assistance. They may have state-funded insurance. Prayers being sent out. We went through this scenario with my mom :(
the oncology clinic my husband works at(denton) has several indigent patients. it's apparently kind of an understanding in the county that they all(meaning the physicians) kind of rotate to care for the county residents as we have no "charity" hospital. if it's the lville office of my husband's group, they'll have a patient financial coordinator that will take care of all that, and if they qualify, there is even help with the chemo. please tell your friend not to stress. let me know if i can answer any other questions. and good luck to your friend!
Prayers to you. Definitely call the American Cancer Society, they should have a list of resources.
Is your friend uninsured with means or is she poor? Does she have a home? equity? or not much of anything? If its the latter she is in luck, there is a "program" indeed. Its called county hospital and they do excellent care there for people who have no money and or no insurance. People might be quick to assume that Dr's at county hospital are sub par but the opposite is true. Dr.s at county see the sickest of the sick, so they are in fact some of the most skilled Dr.s in the country. She should find herself in good hands.
There are state run programs. However, income plays a part as to who is
eligible. She will not be denied care if she does not have insurance. Prayers go out to your friends. Physicians office should be able to help answer questions.
My mothers friend went through this. She had to choose a hospital where she could apply for free care (some hospitals will do so many hours or dollars of free care to under-privilidged). However, for some of the doctors she just had to come up with the money, which is where friends and her church community assisted her.
I'm so sorry to hear this - it's scairy enough, then to think you may not get the care you need b/c of insurance. It's backwards, for sure. I'd have her start making phone calls to doctors and hospitals and be honest about her situation before she visits them. Maybe this is a way you can help her out.
Tell him/her to apply for state aid. I'm sure there are programs in his/her state that will cover treatment.
I'm sorry.
Have your friend talk to the social worker at her doctor's office. That would probably be a good place to start.
While it is unlikely she would be approved for private insurance after diagnosis, there is a state high risk pool in Texas that is available for individuals who cannot get coverage elsewhere. The premiums are somehwere in the neighborhood of 150% of standard rates but recently subsidies became available. Here is a link to investigate whether this would help her: http://txhealthpool.com/ Good luck.
My mom was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and is now uninsured. She goes to Parkland Hospital for treatment and she applied for financial assistance there. I don't know if there is a name for it and I know you have to apply and be accepted for the financial help but your friend should look into that if her Dr.'s office doesn't have any resources for financial assistance. There's also a lot of supports groups for different types of cancer and she may want to check their webpages or ask for resources through a specific website. Good luck and blesssings for your friend!
The American Cancer Society has great resources. They have tools I'd never heard of give them a call.
