Author: Sameera Rangwala, M.S., M.P.H

The financial challenges of childhood cancer can be overwhelming. The costs can add up quickly from initial diagnosis to ongoing treatment andfa recovery. Feeling lost and unsure of where to turn for help is a shared sentiment amongst families with a pediatric cancer diagnosis. But don’t worry, you’re not alone. There are many resources available to help families cope with the financial burden of pediatric cancer.

Here are some tips for getting financial support quickly (recommended in order):

1. Ask Your Pediatric Oncologists: They play a crucial role in helping families facing the financial challenges of childhood cancer get connected to available funding support options. Here are some specific ways oncologists can and should assist in this process:
   • Keeping Up with Funding Options: Oncologists stay in the know about the latest financial help programs and resources for pediatric cancer kids and their families. They can give you a full rundown of these options, including who can get them, how to apply, and who to contact.
   • Understanding Your Financial Situation: They will take a close look at your family’s financial situation to determine your specific needs and challenges. This means reviewing your insurance, income, out-of-pocket expenses, and any extra financial strain caused by the cancer diagnosis and treatment.
   • Tailored Funding Recommendations: Based on their assessment, oncologists recommend funding support options that fit your family’s unique circumstances. They consider your child’s diagnosis, treatment plan, financial situation, and where you live.
   • Navigating the Application Maze: Oncologists will help you navigate the application process for various financial assistance programs. They can provide guidance on filling out forms, gathering necessary paperwork, and meeting deadlines to ensure timely processing of applications.
   • Advocating for Your Family: They will advocate for you with insurance companies to make the most of your coverage and reduce financial burdens. They can help to negotiate lower deductibles and co-pays or even get coverage for treatments that aren’t initially covered.
   • Teamwork with Social Workers: Your medical team will work hand-in-hand with social workers to provide a comprehensive approach to financial assistance. They collaborate to identify resources, guide you through the application process, and advocate for your family’s rights and needs.
2. Partner With Your Social Worker: Not every cancer family is automatically assigned a social worker. Still, most cancer treatment centers have social workers who can support and assist patients and their families. If you are facing a cancer diagnosis, it is important to ask your oncologist or other healthcare provider if you would benefit from having a social worker on your care team. Here’s how they should contribute to easing the financial burden:
   • Financial Check-In: Social workers deeply dive into each family’s finances to understand their unique situation, including income, expenses, insurance coverage, and out-of-pocket costs related to the child’s cancer treatment. This analysis helps them tailor funding recommendations for the family’s specific needs and challenges.
   • Funding Resource Detectives: Social workers are like detectives, constantly searching for a wide range of funding resources available to families facing childhood cancer. They should be up-to-date on the latest government assistance programs, non-profit grants, patient assistance programs offered by drug companies, and community-based financial aid initiatives.
   • Personalized Funding Roadmap: Based on their assessment, social workers create personalized funding roadmaps for each family, outlining the most suitable funding options and providing tailored guidance on applying for each resource. These recommendations take into account factors that the oncologist has pointed out.
   • Step-by-Step Application Assistance: An excellent social worker will roll up their sleeves and help families navigate the complex forms, gather necessary documentation, meet deadlines, and ensure accuracy to maximize the chances of approval for various funding programs.
3. Government Assistance Programs: Medicaid is a joint effort between the federal and state governments to provide health insurance to low-income adults, families, and children. The rules for who can get Medicaid vary from state to state, but generally, you need to meet specific income and asset limits to qualify. For cancer patients, Medicaid can cover a wide range of medical expenses, including:
   • Visits to the doctor
   • Stays in the hospital
   • Surgery
   • Radiation therapy
   • Chemotherapy
   • Medicines
   • Lab tests
   • Durable medical equipment (DME)
4. Non-profit Organizations like Here To Serve! Non-profits have a vast network of resources and volunteers. They can connect families with additional resources in their community, such as food banks, housing assistance programs, and transportation services. They can also provide volunteers to help with practical needs, such as childcare and household tasks.

At Here To Serve, we provide comprehensive services to families with children battling cancer. These services include:

• Fundraising assistance: Helping families set up and manage fundraising sites to cover medical and living expenses, raising tens of thousands of dollars on average
• Home needs coordination: Setting up an online calendar that connects families with volunteers who can help with meals, transportation, and childcare.
• Resource referrals: Assisting families in navigating the maze of services available, such as financial assistance, emotional support, and medical care.
• Family Care Coordinators: Each family is assigned a dedicated care coordinator who provides personalized support and guidance.

Here To Serve also provides emotional support to families by keeping friends and loved ones informed about the child’s condition and by providing opportunities for families to connect with each other.

Along with Here To Serve’s incredible support, there are also several non-profits that have been recognized for their exceptional help to pediatric cancer families. These organizations include:

• Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) is a non-profit organization that raises money for childhood cancer research and provides emotional and financial support to families affected by cancer. ALSF has funded over 1,000 research projects and raised over $200 million for childhood cancer research. alexslemonade.org
• The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises money for childhood cancer research and provides grants to researchers around the world. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation has raised over $2 billion for childhood cancer research and is the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research.https://www.stbaldricks.org/
• CureSearch is a non-profit organization that funds innovative research for children’s cancers. CureSearch has funded over 1,000 research projects and has helped to develop many new treatments for children’s cancers. org
• The Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) is a non-profit organization that identifies and invests in leading-edge research that demonstrates the best hope for a cure for childhood cancer. PCRF has raised over $44 million dollars and funded over $34 million toward the ultimate goal of ending pediatric cancers. Pcrf-kids.org

Need Cancer Care Support?

At Here to Serve, we understand how overwhelming it can be for families when a child is diagnosed with cancer. Please remember that we are here to support you! If you are a family who has a child with a new cancer diagnosis or if you know of a family in this challenging situation, please don’t hesitate to contact Here to Serve. You can click on the ‘Get Help‘ button on our homepage to get started.

By Sameera Rangwala, M.S., M.P.H