Financial assistace

laurissa
laurissa Member Posts: 773
in Breast Cancer #1
I will soon be having trouble paying my bills since we are both out of work, husband gets partial disability from his work and I'm now applying for ssdi, which I'm eligible. Anyway, does anyone know of any organizations that could help me. For power, food, and will credit card companies accept lower payments or put a freeze for a few months? This is the first time we needed help financial and it is overwhelming. I still have med bills from the first round that's not paid off. Radiation wasn't covered as well as chemo. Thanks.
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Comments

  • Tux
    Tux Member Posts: 544
    #2
    Sorry to hear that you'll be
    Sorry to hear that you'll be having trouble with bills. Every community is different, but we have a social service agency in our town that helps families in difficult straits.
    I would say to start inquiring at your local township trustee's office; also, you
    might contact a church in your area. Many times they have a list of agencies that can help.

    I am so sorry that you have bad news on your dx. My thoughts & prayers are with you.
  • natly15
    natly15 Member Posts: 1,941
    #3
    Laurissa if you call
    Laurissa if you call electric company, cc companies and explain, I've heard that they will work with you. If you arent up to it yourself a social worker can help and perhaps your sister could become an advocate. These are suggestions. If you are affiliated with a church they are usually good about helping and then there are food banks. I'm sure there are other gals who will have better info for you. I think I've also read that if you call ACS they can provide info as well. You are in my prayers. Sending love and hugs to you and hubby. ((((((HUGS))))))
  • fighting4five
    fighting4five Member Posts: 71
    #4
    Good Morning Laurissa
    Here
    Good Morning Laurissa
    Here are a few organizations I was given info on by my cancer navigator.You can go to their site online and print out an application fill it out but parts of it have to be filled out by Doctor.

    www.cancercare.org 1-800-813-4673

    www.teamcontinuum.net 917-595-4169

    http://sosmd.org/sos-pro/ soshopestore 877-202-1130

    Life beyond cancer foundation 1-800-381-2637

    I hope this helps. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

    Hugs
    Mary
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #5
    Also check with ACS, Susan
    Also check with ACS, Susan G. Komen, and Avon. If they don't provide assistance themselves, they may be able to give you some direction.

    My very best wishes go out to you and your husband, along with prayers and positive energy.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #6
    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    Also check with ACS, Susan
    Also check with ACS, Susan G. Komen, and Avon. If they don't provide assistance themselves, they may be able to give you some direction.

    My very best wishes go out to you and your husband, along with prayers and positive energy.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Hi I am also still working with bill from 2008
    Sorry, ask your hospital for payment plan they can restructure your payment to small portions as low as $100 per months
    Hugs
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #7
    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    Also check with ACS, Susan
    Also check with ACS, Susan G. Komen, and Avon. If they don't provide assistance themselves, they may be able to give you some direction.

    My very best wishes go out to you and your husband, along with prayers and positive energy.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Hi I am also still working with bill from 2008
    Sorry, ask your hospital for payment plan they can restructure your payment to small portions as low as $100 per months
    Hugs
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #8
    fighting4five said:

    Good Morning Laurissa
    Here
    Good Morning Laurissa
    Here are a few organizations I was given info on by my cancer navigator.You can go to their site online and print out an application fill it out but parts of it have to be filled out by Doctor.

    www.cancercare.org 1-800-813-4673

    www.teamcontinuum.net 917-595-4169

    http://sosmd.org/sos-pro/ soshopestore 877-202-1130

    Life beyond cancer foundation 1-800-381-2637

    I hope this helps. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

    Hugs
    Mary

    You might call the American
    You might call the American Cancer Society and the Susan B. Komen site. They might be able to help you or give you some places that can.


    I am so sorry that you have to deal with this now. It is not fair!


    Hugs, Kylez
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #9
    Laurissa
    I am still paying on hospital bills from 2 years ago, I pay $30 a month and as new ones come in they keep adding them on to the end but have not raised the payment. I found that the credit card companies were not quite as helpful, but they did back off for a while, and stopped the interest, so my balances didn't increase. Also, I learned that medical bills are negotiable, so if you have a big balance after tests, procedures or if you are admitted, talk to their hardship dept, they will negotiate to almost nothing.

    I found that my cancer group (where my doctor practices) also have a financial aid person who gave me great information on available resources in the area. I had all the necessary information (medical reports, dates of tests and appointments, clear diagnosis info) when I had my phone interview with ssi, it only took them 2 weeks for the approval letter and 3 weeks for the first check to arrive. They went back 3 months to 6 months of the onset of the mets, medically I was eligible earlier but I was getting disability from my employer which made me ineligible.

    I wish you the best on this, it takes time, but there are programs out there that help.

    ~Carol
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #10
    camul said:

    Laurissa
    I am still paying on hospital bills from 2 years ago, I pay $30 a month and as new ones come in they keep adding them on to the end but have not raised the payment. I found that the credit card companies were not quite as helpful, but they did back off for a while, and stopped the interest, so my balances didn't increase. Also, I learned that medical bills are negotiable, so if you have a big balance after tests, procedures or if you are admitted, talk to their hardship dept, they will negotiate to almost nothing.

    I found that my cancer group (where my doctor practices) also have a financial aid person who gave me great information on available resources in the area. I had all the necessary information (medical reports, dates of tests and appointments, clear diagnosis info) when I had my phone interview with ssi, it only took them 2 weeks for the approval letter and 3 weeks for the first check to arrive. They went back 3 months to 6 months of the onset of the mets, medically I was eligible earlier but I was getting disability from my employer which made me ineligible.

    I wish you the best on this, it takes time, but there are programs out there that help.

    ~Carol

    Our local treatment center has a social worker just for issues
    like this so you might want to check with yours. Also the ACS etc., there were some good suggestions there. Also your church and some service groups. We also have a Breast Cancer Alliance locally that has a support group and can offer some financial help. The suggestions to contact your utilities and credit card companies are also good ones. Some areas have a non-profit financial counseling service that might be able to help negotiate with and for you. Wish I had more to offer or that there were easier solutions but wish you the best and will pray for your sucess.
  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    #11
    One more possibility
    is Livestrong.org - they have people dedicated full time to helping/answering questions. They vow to get back to you within 48 hours of your question, but I have found that they respond much quicker and follow up as needed. Good luck.

    Clementine
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #12
    natly15 said:

    Laurissa if you call
    Laurissa if you call electric company, cc companies and explain, I've heard that they will work with you. If you arent up to it yourself a social worker can help and perhaps your sister could become an advocate. These are suggestions. If you are affiliated with a church they are usually good about helping and then there are food banks. I'm sure there are other gals who will have better info for you. I think I've also read that if you call ACS they can provide info as well. You are in my prayers. Sending love and hugs to you and hubby. ((((((HUGS))))))

    I can't offer any more
    I can't offer any more places to contact than what the other sisters wrote about. I pray that you and your husband will get the help you deserve.


    Hugs, Jan
  • debi.18
    debi.18 Member Posts: 850 Member
    #13
    Clementine_P said:

    One more possibility
    is Livestrong.org - they have people dedicated full time to helping/answering questions. They vow to get back to you within 48 hours of your question, but I have found that they respond much quicker and follow up as needed. Good luck.

    Clementine

    Nothing New
    I wish I had another suggestion for you, but sounds like the sisters have provided some good places to start. Just want to let you know I'm thinking about you and praying that you get the help you need and deserve.

    Prayers and Hugs,
    Debi~
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #14
    debi.18 said:

    Nothing New
    I wish I had another suggestion for you, but sounds like the sisters have provided some good places to start. Just want to let you know I'm thinking about you and praying that you get the help you need and deserve.

    Prayers and Hugs,
    Debi~

    I wish I could add more,
    I wish I could add more, but, everyone wrote anything that I would suggest. I am so sorry for you Laurissa and your husband. I pray you will get the help that you need.


    Hugs, Lex
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #15
    New Flower said:

    Hi I am also still working with bill from 2008
    Sorry, ask your hospital for payment plan they can restructure your payment to small portions as low as $100 per months
    Hugs

    Most hospitals Laurissa will
    Most hospitals Laurissa will work with you as far as any medical bills. Also some have money set aside for cases just like yours. Please be sure and ask.


    I will be praying for you and your family.
  • laurissa
    laurissa Member Posts: 773
    #16
    Thanks for advice
    I've already applied for ssdi and food stamps. Waiting for an appointment to come in for food stamps to fill out more forms. So much to do.
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877 Member
    #17
    Laurissa, my cancer center
    Laurissa, my cancer center has a social worker who is absolutely amazing, it's her job to find the resources and help we need. I'm not sure where you live, but each state has different programs that can help as well. First stop I would make, the social worker at the hospital or cancer center you go to, they deal with this stuff everyday, and they know all that's available for us. The hospital that I go too has monies set aside as well for people who are in our situation, they said if I send a letter of explanation about my financial difficulties due to my condition they usually write off or relieve part of the bills.
    Praying you get the assistance you need and that your chemo is working,
    Hugs~Kari
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #18
    so sorry to hear
    so sorry to hear this...terrible people have to go through all they do and then worry about bills...

    We have a local # (NYS) 211 you call for help...you should check in your area/ state it's through United way...

    Denise
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #19
    pinkkari09 said:

    Laurissa, my cancer center
    Laurissa, my cancer center has a social worker who is absolutely amazing, it's her job to find the resources and help we need. I'm not sure where you live, but each state has different programs that can help as well. First stop I would make, the social worker at the hospital or cancer center you go to, they deal with this stuff everyday, and they know all that's available for us. The hospital that I go too has monies set aside as well for people who are in our situation, they said if I send a letter of explanation about my financial difficulties due to my condition they usually write off or relieve part of the bills.
    Praying you get the assistance you need and that your chemo is working,
    Hugs~Kari

    Kari has good advice. Check
    Kari has good advice. Check with the social worker at your cancer center. I am almost positive that they can help you with some of the costs of your treatment.

    Praying that you get the help,


    Diane
  • deeb111
    deeb111 Member Posts: 141 Member
    #20
    for help
    If you contact american cancer society they might have patient navigators to help or put you in direction of help and maybe your family could run a benefit my family did this for my son and sometimes food pantries give food and money I dont know where u live but give these a try
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #21
    laurissa said:

    Thanks for advice
    I've already applied for ssdi and food stamps. Waiting for an appointment to come in for food stamps to fill out more forms. So much to do.

    Please let us know Laurissa
    Please let us know Laurissa if you find some help. I will be praying that you do!

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