Coping with your cancer diagnosis may take time or be an ongoing process. In the meantime, bills still need to be paid – and if you need help, you’re not the alone. Your care team may have recommendations, but below, we’ve gathered a list of organizations and free services that may be able to help pay medical bills, contribute to home utility bills, cover travel expenses and provide gas cards, or provide healthy meals and home cleaning services. Some organizations also provide services for people with specific types of cancers, including breast cancer, leukemia and colon cancer.
Financial assistance for all cancer patients
These six resources are available to people with any type of cancer in the Twin Cities or across the United States:
American Cancer Society
In addition to education and support for everything from cancer risk management and prevention to treatment and survivorship, the ACS can help connect you to financial resources from themselves and other organizations.
Angel Foundation
This organization offers emergency grants and financial management assistance for adults with cancer in the Twin Cities metro area. They also provide programs and guiding resources for families affected by cancer.
Cancer Legal Care
Free, confidential legal care for Minnesotans with cancer. They can handle issues related to employment, disability, estate planning, finances and insurance. If more help is needed, they can also refer you to lawyers, organizations and other resources.
CancerCare
Limited financial assistance to help offset costs like childcare and transportation for eligible applicants with cancer diagnoses. This organization also offers counseling, support groups and educational resources. They also offer a list of assistance programs including government benefits for cancer patients, pharmaceutical patient assistance and nonprofit programs for co-pay relief.
Cancer Support Community
In addition to a number of community-focused support services, this organization also provides a resource list that can be filtered for financial assistance and other topics.
Cleaning for a Reason
Connects families and individuals with cancer with a qualified, local home cleaning service. Successful applicants receive two free cleanings over two months. Anyone in cancer treatment, surgical recovery or hospice is eligible.
Hope Lodge
With more than 30 locations across the U.S. (including a location in Minnesota), Hope Lodge provides a supportive community and free housing for cancer patients and caregivers.
Open Arms
Free, medically tailored meal delivery services for people with cancer and other serious illnesses in the Twin Cities metro area.
Patient Advocate Foundation
This organization offers a few different services:
- Legal assistance for issues with access to care, medical debt and job retention related to an illness.
- Co-pay relief for prescriptions and treatments for insured patients who meet certain criteria.
- Small grants for qualifying applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pinky Swear Foundation
For children 21 years and younger who have cancer and are living in Minnesota, the Pinky Swear Foundation offers several resources including rent and mortgage financial support, transportation payments and gas cards, and grocery cards.
Yellow Brick Place
Additional links to financial resources, as well as support and services for anyone dealing with cancer – including patients, families and caregivers.
Financial assistance for breast cancer and women’s cancers
Hope Chest
Supports women in treatment for breast cancer in Minnesota by contributing funds toward invoices such as rent, bills or car payments.
Pay It Forward Fund
This fund is available at 20 Minnesota hospitals for patients with breast, ovarian, uterine, endometrial or cervical cancer. The fund covers basic living expenses like mortgage, rent, utilities, car payments and qualifying medical bills.
The Pink Fund
The Pink Fund offers limited, short-term help for people in active treatment who have lost all or part of their income after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Financial assistance for colon cancers
Blue Hope Financial Assistance
The Colorectal Cancer Alliance offers referrals for low or no-cost screenings, and one-time grants of $200 to colon and rectal cancer patients for daily expenses. They also provide a variety of educational resources.
Financial assistance for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
The LLS offers a range of financial aid programs to help people with blood cancer. There’s a co-pay assistance program that can help with medical costs, and other programs that can help with nonmedical expenses.
Lymphoma Research Foundation
The LRF’s Patient Aid Grant offers limited financial aid for people with lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia who need help with treatment-related expenses.
Lung cancer financial assistance
A Breath of Hope
In addition to support groups and companionship, this organization offers free door-to-door transport to and from appointments for people with lung cancer in the Twin Cities metro area.
Financial assistance for cancer survivors
The Sam Fund
Support for basic living expenses for cancer survivors ages 21-39 who have completed treatment. There are spring and fall application windows that are roughly three weeks long.
Need additional help? Talk with the HealthPartners and Park Nicollet cancer care team about your options.