Medical debt is a significant problem in the U.S., affecting millions of households across the country. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported that one in five Americans have outstanding medical debt, for a total cost of $88 billion. For those overwhelmed by the cost of medical care, it can feel impossible to get out from under it, but there are options, including charitable organizations and nonprofits who have made it their mission to help people cover their medical bills.
Charities That Cover a Wide Array of Medical Issues
HealthWell Foundation
The mission of HealthWell is to reduce the financial barriers for underinsured patients with chronic or life-altering diseases. They are the leading independent nonprofit dedicated to improving access to healthcare and recognized as one of America’s most efficient charities – 100% of every dollar donated goes directly to patient grants and services.
They offer financial assistance with prescription copays; health insurance premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance; travel costs; and behavioral health services.
PAN Foundation
The Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation is dedicated to accelerating access to treatment for those who need it most. They provide critical financial assistance programs for dozens of different diseases, with grants to cover treatment costs, medications, copays, and transportation purchases, including airfare and hotels. They have funds that cover chronic disorders, heart failure, diabetes, behavioral health disorders like schizophrenia, and more.
Dollar For
Most hospitals are required to have programs that discount or completely forgive bills for some patients; Dollar For is a nonprofit that helps patients navigate and access those financial assistance programs. Patients track their cases in a secure portal, and the organization follows up, calls hospitals, prepares appeals, and fights for approvals. To date, they’ve tackled over $117,000,000 in medical debt, and all of it was done for free. Every hospital financial aid program is different, and Dollar For has an easy form to fill out to see if you qualify based on your income.
VFW: Veterans of Foreign Wars
The VFW has multiple financial assistance options, including the “Unmet Needs” program to assist military families who are dealing with financial hardship due to military-related activity. The Unmet Needs grants are not loans and do not need to be repaid.
Undue Medical Debt
The purpose of the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt is to strengthen communities by erasing financially burdensome medical debt. Founded in 2014 by former debt collection executives, they use donations to buy medical debt in large, bundled portfolios and then abolish it. While they can’t clear it by individual request, they focus on debt relief for those earning 4x or below the federal poverty level or those with medical debt that is 5% or more of their annual income.
The Assistance Fund
The Assistance Fund (TAF) is an independent charitable patient assistance organization with the mission to help people with life-changing diseases overcome the financial barriers in healthcare. They assist patients and families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs by providing financial assistance for their copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and other health-related expenses for over 100 different disease programs.
Patient Advocate Foundation
The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) is a nonprofit providing case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses. Their services include: PAF Case Management, which assists patients with navigating the healthcare and insurance systems; Financial Aid Funds, which provides small grants to patients to help cover costs; and the Co-Pay Relief Program, which offers direct financial assistance to patients to help them pay for prescriptions, treatments, and out-of-pocket costs.
Disease-Specific Charities That Help with Medical Bills
The Donna Foundation
Breast Cancer
The DONNA Foundation, a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, was established in June of 2003 by three-time breast cancer survivor, award-winning journalist and Mayor of the City of Jacksonville Donna Deegan to meet the critical financial needs of the underserved living with breast cancer. Our mission is to provide hope, support, and financial relief to those living with breast cancer, creating a world where breast cancer patients are freed from any barriers to their successful treatment.
Project HEAL
Eating Disorders
Project HEAL is the only national nonprofit focused on removing the systemic, healthcare, and financial barriers that make eating disorder recovery inaccessible to most. Their Cash Assistance Program provides one-time grants to individuals with demonstrated financial need, helping them cover copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses so they can access the care they deserve.
Susan G. Kormen
Breast Cancer
The Komen Financial Assistance Program offers grants that can be used for daily living costs like rent, utilities, food, transportation, childcare, and medical needs. These grants go to patients who are currently in active treatment for stage 0-3 breast cancer and have a current annual household income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level.
CancerCare
Cancer, Various
CancerCare is the leading national organization providing free, professional support services and information to help patients manage the emotional, practical and financial challenges of cancer. They have the Co-Payment Assistance Foundation to help people with cancer overcome financial access barriers, as well as a Financial Assistance Program to help cover cancer-related costs like transportation and childcare.
American Kidney Fund
Kidney Disease
The American Kidney Fund runs the Health Insurance Premium Program (HIPP), which provides grants to tens of thousands of patients so they can receive the medical care they need. HIPP is aimed at people who cannot afford their monthly insurance premiums. They also offer the Safety Net Grant Program, which provides money to help pay for expenses that aren’t covered by insurance, including transportation, over-the-counter medicines, copayments, and other needs.
Charities Aimed Specifically at Helping Children
Alex's Lemonade Stand
While the primary mission of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer is to boost childhood cancer research, they also offer programs to support families with children who have cancer. The Travel For Care program can provide financial assistance including gas, lodging and airfare for children battling childhood cancer to travel to clinical trials, experimental therapeutics, or treatment innovations not currently available at their local hospital.
Ronald McDonald House
The Ronald McDonald House organization offers programs and services that address the essential needs of families so they can focus on the health and well-being of their child. Their core programs provide shelter for families of children traveling for medical care, as well as meal programs, education programs, peer and sibling support, and clinical service providers.
UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation
The United Healthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) provides medical grants to help with medical expenses not covered or not fully covered by family health insurance. Grants are awarded based on income requirements to ensure they go to families with the greatest financial need.
Medical Bills Can Be Conquered
If you’re struggling with medical bills or faced with healthcare costs you can’t afford, there are options out there. The charitable organizations above offer a number of resources that can help you tackle that debt.
WITHU INSIGHTS TEAM
WithU Insights is powered by a team of writers and strategists who are passionate about sharing our knowledge of the ever-changing financial landscape. Through educational articles and resources, we aim to empower you to navigate your finances and life with purpose.