Donate
Home
About the LRG
Patient Support
LRG Research
LRG Library
Medical Professionals
The Life Raft Group - Ensuring that no one has to face GIST alone The Life Raft Group - Ensuring that no one has to face GIST alone
My name is Barbara. I am the mother of three children and the Nonna to six grandchildren.
My name is Barbara. I am the mother of three children and the Nonna to six grandchildren.
The Life Raft Group - Ensuring that no one has to face GIST alone
About GIST
Frequent Topics
Accessing Treatment
Coping with Cancer

Financial & Logistical Support

Pfizer Reimbursement Hotline (FirstRESOURCE) - Within the United States
1-877-744-5675

Patient Assistance helps eligible, low-income patients who don't have prescription drug coverage get Pfizer Oncology medications.

Reimbursement Information helps guide patients and physicians through the reimbursement process from insurers and Medicare.

Appeals Assistance is a resource for physicians who appeal denied claims for Pfizer Oncology medications.

http://www.pfizeroncology.com/resources/support.aspx


Sutent Access to Treatment - Outside the United States

The platform was designed and is administered by Axios International, specialists of chronic care systems in developing countries.

The goal is for institutions and their patients in developing countries to gain access to medical products.

http://www.accesstotreatment.org


Novartis Oncology Reimbursement Hotline
1-800-282-7630
Gleevec Hotline: 1-877-GLEEVEC (1-877-453-3832)

Patient Assistance Programs
If you are uninsured, your costs for therapy may be reimbursed from other sources. If no sources are found, you may still be qualified to receive drug assistance.

Insurance Verification
The program verifies patients' medical benefits, helps determine insurance coverage, and clarifies co-payment obligations.

Billing Assistance
Discuss any billing questions with reimbursement specialists. Also, if a claim of yours is denied due to billing errors or medical necessity issues, specialists can help you develop strategies for appeal.

Alternative funding searches
Program staff can search for possible assistance for patients with insufficient or no drug coverage and refer to other sources of funding that may help alleviate or reduce costs.

Gleevec Health Insurance Coverage & Reimbursement Information

Novartis Patient Assistance Program (PAP)
1-800-282-7630

Novartis is committed to providing access to our medications for those most in need through the Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation, Inc. (PAF). PAF provides assistance to patients experiencing financial hardship who have no third party insurance coverage for their medicines.

Patient Eligibility:

  • US residency
  • Meets financial eligibility requirements
  • No prescription drug coverage (public or private)
    • Exception process exists for patients who cannot afford their Medicare Part D cost share

Program Enrollment:
Patients must reapply/requalify annually

http://www.pap.novartis.com


Nexavar Reimbursement Hotline
(REACH-Resources for Expert Assistance and Care Helpline)
1-87-REACH-4-IT (1-877-322-4448)

NexConnect
1-866-NEXAVAR (1-866-639-2827)

The REACH Program was designed by Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to provide reimbursement information and support to assist patients receiving Nexavar.

http://www.nexavar.com/


Financial Assistance for Cancer Care

Financial Assistance may be available through independent charitable foundations. Please review list below:

Benefits Checkup finds programs for people ages 55 and over that may pay for some of their costs of prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other services.

www.benefitscheckup.org

The Chronic Disease Fund is one of the few charitable organizations to provide direct and immediate financial assistance to underinsured patients with chronic disease, cancers or life-altering conditions who cannot afford the co-payments for the expensive medications they need. Please call 1-877-968-7233 for more details.

http://www.cdfund.org/

Free Medicine Program helps patients obtain prescription drugs and medications free of charge.

http://www.freemedicineprogram.org/index.html

HealthWell Foundation is an independent, charitable organization that assists financially needy individuals in obtaining prescription medications. The Foundation provides financial assistance to eligible individuals to pay insurance premiums or copayments.

www.healthwellfoundation.org

Managed Rx Plans Inc. is a private pharmacy that accepts most insurance including prescription drug programs as full payment towards prescriptions. Patient must have insurance with a 70% or better co-pay. Shipping is free. Call 1-800-799-8765 for more details.

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has administered programs to assist uninsured or under-insured individuals in securing life-saving or life-sustaining medications.Call 1-800-999-6673 for more details.

http://www.rarediseases.org

NeedyMeds provides information on the programs many drug companies have that give away free prescription medications to people who have no insurance and qualify for their programs. Allows you to access the information on the drug by searching by drug or by manufacturer.

http://www.needymeds.com

Partnership for Prescription Assistance helps qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that's right for them.

http://www.pparx.org

Patient Services Incorporated is committed to assisting persons with chronic medical illnesses in accessing health insurance and pharmacy co-payment assistance.

http://www.uneedpsi.org/

Patient Access Network Foundation is dedicated to assisting patients who cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs associated with their treatment needs. With 20 disease-specific funds, PAN assists the underinsured in accessing health care treatments. Call 1-800-316-7263 for more details.

http://www.patientaccessnetwork.org

Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) is pleased to announce the expansion of co-payment assistance funding for patients with sarcomas. Additional information about the PAF Co-Pay Relief Program can be obtained by calling 866-512-3861 or visiting:

www.copays.org or www.patientadvocate.org


Travel Assistance for Medical Care

Air Care Alliance is a nationwide league of humanitarian flying organizations whose volunteer pilots are dedicated to community service. This site lists volunteers who perform public benefit flying for health care, patient transport, disaster relief, environmental support, and other missions of public service.   
For flights request call toll-free: 1-888-260-9707

http://www.aircareall.org

Air Charity Network, formerly Angel Flight America, provides access for people in need seeking free air transportation to specialized health care facilities or distant destinations due to family, community or national crisis. To request assistance call 1-877-621-7177

http://www.aircharitynetwork.org/

Angel Flight is a non-profit organization of pilots and other volunteers dedicated to serving the community by arranging free private air transportation for medical patients and their families who cannot afford to utilize normal, commercial transportation. For flights request call toll-free: 1-800-549-9980

http://www.angelflight.com

Angel Flight for Cancer Patients.  Free airline tickets (once a year) for cancer patients and escort going to/from distant specialized care.  Multiple free tickets for clinical trial cancer patients. 
To request call toll free:  800-296-1217

http://www.AngelFlightForCancerPatients.org

Continental Airlines offers free flights every six months.  Make your reservations at least six months in advance.  They use donated Sky Miles to cover the costs of these flights.  For further information, you can call Continental Care Force at 281-261-6626 c/o Bob Jack. 

Corporate Angel Network aims to ease the emotional stress, physical discomfort and financial burden of travel for adult and pediatric cancer patients by arranging free flights to recognized treatment centers, using the empty seats on corporate aircraft flying on routine business. The toll-free patient line is 866-328-1313.

http://www.corpangelnetwork.org/

Delta Airlines (Delta AirSky Wish) can be contacted by calling Christina Walker at 800-892-2757 ext. 285.

LifeLine Pilots is a private, non-profit organization that provides people in medical and financial distress with access to free air transportation on small (4-6 seat), private aircraft for health care and other compelling human needs. Call toll-free to speak to a Flight Coordinator: 1-800-822-7972.

http://www.lifelinepilots.org/ 

Mercy Medical Airlift ensures that no needy patient is denied access to distant specialized medical evaluation, diagnosis or treatment for lack of a means of long-distance medical air transportation. They ensure the provision of urgent transportation in situations of compelling human need and homeland security emergencies. For more information, call 1-888-675-1405

http://www.mercymedical.org/

Midwest Express Miracle Miles offers one free flight and additional ones are discounted. Contact Natalie Fuerst at 414-570-3644.

National Patient Air Transport Helpline provides information about all forms of charitable, long-distance medical air transportation and provides referrals to all appropriate sources of help available in the national charitable medical air transportation network. For more information, call 1-800-296-1217.

http://www.patienttravel.org/

Operation Liftoff provides air transportation for children with a life threatening illness for a treatment trip.

http://www.operationliftoff.com

Patient AirLift Services (PALS) is a 501c3 non-profit that arranges free air transportation for individuals needing medical diagnosis or treatment. The company's primary area of geographic coverage is the entire northeast U.S. and down the eastern seaboard.

www.palservices.org


Lodging Assistance for Medical Care

Hope House a facility where cancer patients traveling more than 40 miles to Boston for outpatient treatment can stay for free. At the Lodge, patients live with other people going through similar experiences and are supported by a caring staff and volunteers.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/subsite/hopelodge/MA_Boston/azc_index.asp

Joe's House is a housing resource for cancer patients and their families who must travel away from home for medical treatment. The site lists hundreds of cancer treatment centers and nearby lodging facilities.

http://www.joeshouse.org

National Association of Hospital Hospitality Homes Incorporated serves facilities that provide lodging and other supportive services to patients and their families when confronted with medical emergencies.

http://www.nahhh.org

Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.

http://www.rmhc.org


Health Insurance

A Patient's Guide to Health Insurance

Overview about health insurance and Medicare

Advice if you are in the Armed Forces

Doug Belvin provides some tips from this experience

Medicare HMOs Limiting Clinical Trial Participation
 
 
 

This website is accredited by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. We subscribe to the HONcode principles. Verify Here
This website is dedicated in perpetuity to the memory of Mary S. Golnik
JT IMAGES, Inc. - Website designer
© Copyright 2009 Life Raft Group. All rights Reserved.
Last Modified - November 22, 2011 4:04pm
View the Life Raft Group Policies and Disclaimer