Financial Assistance for Melanoma Patients

Not only is it important to learn about all of the melanoma treatment options after a diagnosis, but you should also learn about all of the financial assistance resources available. Below are a variety of organizations, links and contacts to help you if your melanoma diagnosis becomes a financial burden on you and your family. We encourage you to take advantage of some or all of these resources. If you know of a helpful resource that is missing, please email education@melanoma.org.  

Pharmaceutical Patient Assistance Programs 

• Amgen's Assist Program^® (Imlygic^®) 
• ArrayACTS™ (Braftovi™; Mektovi^®) 
• Bristol-Myers Squibb's Access Support^® (Yervoy^®; Opdivo^®)
• Genentech's Access to Care Foundation^® (Zelboraf^®; Cotellic^®)
• Novartis' Patient Assistance Now^®  (Tafinlar^®; Mekinist^®)
• Merck's Access Program^®  (Keytruda^®)

Government Agencies & Other Organizations

• Government Benefits – find benefits you might be eligible for
• US Dept. of Health and Human Services – find free or reduced cost healthcare
• CancerCare
• Cancer Support Communities
• Patient Advocate Foundation – find assistance with insurance issues
• Assistance Fund - a non-profit finanical aid foundation
• Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation  – an independent charitable foundation providing financial support for out-of-pocket medication costs
• Patient Services Inc. – a non-profit premium and co-payment foundation
• The Healthwell Foundation – when health insurance is not enough
• Kelly's Dream - melanoma awareness and financial assistance for patients in the state of Maryland

Lodging Assistance

Many hotels near cancer centers and major healthcare facilities offer discounts to patients. Below is a list of housing resources for patients and their families when they travel for medical treatment. Please contact the treatment centers directly via their websites or toll-free numbers for more information.

• American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge – find a Hope Lodge in one of 22 states
• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston, MA)
• Fox Chase Cancer Center (Philadelphia, PA)
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Seattle, WA)
• Hosts for Hospitals (Philadelphia, PA)
• Joe’s House - a nationwide lodging guide for cancer patients
• Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD)
• Mayo Clinic (Arizona, Florida and Minnesota)
• MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX)
• UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (Chapel Hill, NC)

Travel Assistance - Flights

Though some airlines offer compassionate airfare, similar to bereavement airfare, the following organizations help people in need seek free air transportation to specialized health care facilities.

• Air Care Alliance
• Corporate Angel Network Inc.
• Mercy Medical Airlift
• The National Patient Travel Center