ORLANDO, Fla. — The Assistance Fund, an independent charitable patient assistance foundation that helps patients and families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs, today announced a program to offer financial assistance to individuals with head and neck cancer. The Copay Assistance Program provides funds for out-of-pocket costs associated with head and neck cancer, including copays, hospitalization and travel, as well as monthly health insurance premiums.
“Unfortunately, many individuals with head and neck cancer do not have the means to pay the out-of-pocket expenses that accompany their treatment plans,” said Mark P. McGreevy, President, The Assistance Fund. “It is our mission to help remove the financial barriers to medication access, where possible providing assistance not just for copays, but for the incidental expenses and health insurance premiums that may stand in the way of patients receiving optimal care. We are pleased to be able to expand the assistance we offer to cancer patients with this new head and neck cancer Copay Assistance Program.”
Head and neck cancers affect the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, paranasal sinuses and naval cavity, and salivary glands. They account for approximately three percent of cancer cases in the United States, and are more common among men and people over 50. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy or a combination thereof.[i]
“Patients with head and neck cancers have treatment options that can control the disease while preserving their quality of life, but many families struggle to afford the related copays and incidental medical expenses,” said Dr. Steven G. Roshon, hematology and oncology specialist and member of The Assistance Fund’s Medical Advisory Board. “With the help of The Assistance Fund, eligible patients can access the financial support they need to pursue the optimal treatment regimen prescribed to them for their condition.”
To learn more or determine eligibility for support through the Copay Assistance Program, individuals should visit TAFcares.org or call 844.294.6408 to speak with a patient advocate.
A list of all the funds available at The Assistance Fund can be found at TAFcares.org/patients/apply. New funds can open and close at any time as funds are allocated to patients in need of assistance and new funds become available. We encourage patients to frequently check the status of the fund for their disease area if they are seeking financial assistance.
About The Assistance Fund
The Assistance Fund is an independent charitable patient assistance foundation that helps patients and families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs by providing financial assistance for their copayments, coinsurance, deductibles and other health-related expenses. The Assistance Fund currently manages more than 30 funds – each of which covers the FDA-approved medications that treat a specific disease. Since its founding in 2009, The Assistance Fund has helped more than 43,000 adults and children access the medicines they need to stay healthy or manage a chronic condition. To learn more about The Assistance Fund, or for information on how to donate, please visit TAFcares.org.
References
[i] “Head and Neck Cancers.” National Cancer Institute. 2016, December. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet.