Financial Relief
The financial burden of accessing care and living with cancer can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. In our financial relief section, we’ve gathered a list of grant and aid programs that can help you prepare for costs related to housing, food, transportation, or care, and overcome any financial challenges you may have right now.
The American Cancer Society is a national nonprofit organization working to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families. ACS provides financial support for transportation and lodging.
The American Cancer Society operates more than 30 free Hope Lodges across the country for individuals receiving treatment away from home, and they have partnered with Extended Stay America to offer discounted rooms for individuals receiving treatment in a city without a Hope Lodge. ACS also provides free transportation to and from treatments.
For more information, please visit their website here and reach out to (800) 227-2345.
Beat the Odds - Patient Navigator
Beat the Odds is a grassroots, nonprofit organization in Petersburg, Alaska, designed to assist people living with cancer, their families, and support systems. They collaborate with Brandy Boggs, the Petersburg Medical Center’s Patient Navigator, to connect community members impacted by cancer to the resources they need.
Brandy Boggs, the Petersburg Medical Center’s Patient Navigator, works with individuals with cancer, caregivers, and families to connect them to chore services, special equipment and supplies, counseling, travel assistance funds, and other resources. If you or someone you know is impacted by cancer in the Petersburg area, please reach out to Brandy for the help you need. Brandy can be reached at (907) 531-5857 or (907) 772-5716 or by email at bboggs@pmc-health.org.
CancerCare is a national organization that provides free, professional support services and information to help people manage the challenges of cancer. They offer financial relief that can be used for treatment, transportation, home care, and child care.
All CancerCare services are provided by master’s-prepared oncology social workers and cancer experts. They can help connect you with counseling resources, support groups, education, or financial relief that best applies to your situation. They also offer a financial resource database for you to find local and national financial relief.
To learn more or to apply for financial relief, please visit their website here and reach out to (800) 813-4673.
Cancer Connection is a grass-roots, nonprofit organization designed to assist people living with cancer, their families, and support systems. They offer education programs, awareness events, social support, and financial relief with the intent of prevention and early detection of cancer.
Cancer Connection’s mission is to bring together health and wellness resources for people residing in Southeast Alaska, thereby empowering them to make sound decisions and choices with the goal of prolonging their quality of life whether in time of crisis or fulfillment.
They offer housing and travel related financial relief.
To learn more about their resources, please visit their website here. You can also reach out to admin@cancerconnectionak.org or (907) 796-2273.
The Interior Alaska Cancer Association is a nonprofit organization that helps people with cancer and their families in the Interior and educates the community. They provide support groups and financial relief.
The Interior Alaska Cancer Association provides financial relief grants for transportation, housing, food, and treatment related costs to people with cancer in the Interior.
To apply for financial relief or to learn more about their work, please visit their website here and reach out to info@interioralaskacancer.org or to their Facebook page here.
Susan G. Komen is a national organization that focuses on patient navigation and advocacy specifically for breast cancer. The organization offers the Komen Financial Assistance Program to people with breast cancer for living costs such as housing, utilities, food, transportation, child care, and more.
Susan G. Komen’s Financial Assistance Program is not considered an emergency fund, and staff make every effort to process applications within 4-6 weeks of submission. Funding payments can only be disbursed to the applicant, and the specific amount varies based on current stage of cancer. For stages 0 – 3, $500 is available to eligible individuals. For stage 4, the amount is $750.
In order to be eligible for the program, applicants must currently be in treatment for breast cancer or be living with metastatic breast cancer, live in the United States or in a U.S. territory, and have an income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. Individuals can only submit one application in a 12 month period.
To apply for the assistance program, please visit this website here. Applicants have the options of applying online, e-mailing or postal mailing a paper application, or applying via phone. All instructions are listed on their website.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with blood cancers and their families. LLS provides many financial relief programs for a variety of expenses and facilitates connections to resources.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society offers financial relief to help people with blood cancers and their families afford both medical and non-medical expenses. They offer support for insurance premiums and co-pays, transportation, housing, utilities, food, child or elder care, dental care, clothing, and phone service.
To learn more or to apply for financial relief, please visit this website here and reach out to an LLS Information Specialist at (800) 955-4572.
The Sitka Cancer Survivor’s Society provides mini-grants to Sitka residents affected by cancer. These grants are $1,000 for the first year and $500 for each following year up to 5 years. Funds may be used for a variety of expenses.
Individuals with cancer may apply on their own behalf, and family members or friends of individuals with cancer may apply on their behalf as well. A physician’s signature confirming eligibility is required when applying.
Please click here to download the grant application.
To learn more, please download click here or visit their Facebook page here.
Triage Cancer's Legal & Financial Navigation Program
Triage Cancer is a national, nonprofit organization that provides free education on the legal and practical issues that may impact individuals diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers. Through their Legal & Financial Navigation Program, Triage Cancer offers one-on-one help with issues such as work, health and disability insurance, finances, and estate planning.
Triage Cancer’s Legal & Financial Navigation Program is a resource for individuals diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers when navigating the legal, financial, and practical barriers that may arise during and after treatment. While the program does not provide direct financial assistance, prescription drug assistance, or legal representation, the program does empower individuals to explore the options available to them and to find information relevant to their unique situation.
For more information or to access the resources available through the program, please visit the website here.