Tampa, Florida (WTSP) -- A simple call for cancer patients could link them with valuable resources for transportation or lodging during treatment, support groups, even help finding ways to pay for a treatment they can't live without.
The American Cancer Society helps thousands of cancer patients get connected to the help they need to survive and thrive. Volunteers at a patient services center in Tampa answer hundreds of calls each day. For Michelle Walker, the call she made was a life changer.
"Tremendous, tremendous help. I initially called in and I had a medication, an antibiotic and my co-pay with insurance was about $400 and I was like yikes," Michelle said, but "immediately they began to look up information and almost the first phone call that they gave me to make, a company gave me a grant."
Florida patients who call the ACS toll free are transferred to the center. Volunteers search through a database that's updated daily to find organizations, businesses, and government resources that can help cancer patients find everything from wigs to prosthesis to rides to treatment to financial aid.
"There are programs out there that do offer assistance to cancer patients because of the cost of the drugs either through a co-pay where they pay a very small amount for an expensive drug and in some cases they even get the drugs for free," ACS Patient Services Center Manager Carlos Pundik said.
The cost of cancer drugs can add up to some big bucks... some drugs cost more than $2,500. Michelle's oral chemo drug was more than $450 a month.
"They asked what pharmacy I used. They got the exact information for the pharmacy. I went to go pick up my medication. No fee." Michelle added, "Having gone from working a full time 50 hours a week to not working at all and only relying on my husband's income that was a truly difficult financial time for us. To have that amount of money snatched out of your resources is huge, so to have something like that take care for me and I don't have to worry, that's one less stress."
Now, this former elementary school teacher and mother of two can focus on more important things like volunteering for the ACS instead of how to pay for her medication.
"As a four-time cancer survivor, I know the importance of calling that number, so please take my word for it, you need to call," Michelle said.
The toll free number for the American Cancer Society is 1-800-ACS-2345.
According to the American Cancer Society website, the average cost of a 30-day cancer drug prescription was more than $1,600 in 2006, and it's even higher today. Many cancer drugs cost much more than drugs for other illnesses. Also, co-pays are often higher for these prescriptions than those for other types of treatment.
When your doctor prescribes medicines or outpatient care, here are some questions you can ask:
If I get outpatient treatment, how much will be covered by my health insurance?
How much will the chemotherapy drug that I take by mouth cost me? What about the nausea medicines and other drugs that go along with it?
How much will I pay for this drug? Will my insurance cover it? Are there less expensive drugs or generic forms that will work as well?
Is there any other way I can get help paying for this drug?
Here are some links to some resources that can help with prescription drug costs:
American Cancer Society Prescription Drug Assistance Programs
Partnership for Prescription Drug Assistance is a network to help qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage get free or low-cost medicines through the public or private program.
National Council on Aging offers web-based Benefits Checkup that helps seniors with limited income and resources find benefits programs like help with prescription drug costs
American Association for Cancer Research
Libby Hendren, 10 News