I need a mammogram
If you are between the ages of 40 and 64, you may qualify for a screening mammogram, clinical breast exam and Pap test through the PA Department of Health’s opens in a new windowPA Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Your annual income must be within 250% of poverty, or $37,650 for a single person household or $78,000 for a family of four, for example. Call 800-377-8828 ext. 3020 or email Dolores@PABreastCancer.orgcreate new email for more information.
3D mammograms are covered at no cost to women insured under Pennsylvania law. Click here to find a 3D mammography center near you.
I need a care package
Click here to request a FREE Friends Like Me Care Package
The PA Breast Cancer Coalition provides FREE Friends Like Me care packages for individuals in Pennsylvania who have been diagnosed with breast cancer with in the past six months and for individuals facing a stage IV metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. Each package contains educational resources as well as small gifts recipients may find helpful and comforting during their treatment journey. This care package program supports newly diagnosed women at a time when they need it most. You are not alone.
I don’t have insurance and I need treament
You may be able eligible for no-cost breast cancer treatment through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s opens in a new windowBreast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment program (BCCPT). Women who qualify for this coverage can receive free coverage (except for nominal co-payments), including healthcare for medical needs unrelated to the cancer diagnosis, throughout their course of their treatment for breast or cervical cancer. For more information, opens in a new windowClick here or call our Director of Patient Advocacy, Dolores Magro at 800-377-8828, ext. 3020.
Need insurance? Find affordable coverage through opens in a new windowPennie, Pennsylvania’s health insurance marketplace.
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department also answers insurance-related questions and hears complaints. Reach the department on its automated toll-free hotline at 1-877-881-6388.
I need help paying for prescriptions
opens in a new windowPatient Advocate Foundation offers co-pay relief for patients. opens in a new windowClick here to learn more.
opens in a new windowGoodRX offers discounts on prescriptions. opens in a new windowClick here to learn more.
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging website provides a comprehensive listing of opens in a new windowprescription programs in Pennsylvania here.
Needy Meds is a nonprofit information service devoted to helping people in need find assistance programs to help them afford their medications and costs related to health care. Simply enter the name of your prescription medication in the search line and all available programs will be shown. For more information, visit the opens in a new windowNeedy Meds web page.
I need financial assistance
opens in a new windowThe Pink Fund provides 90-day help with non-medical cost-of-living expenses for patient in active treatment.
opens in a new windowLiving Beyond Breast Cancer offers grants from $500 to $1,250 for living expenses ONLY, not for medical costs. To apply, click here.
opens in a new windowSusan G. Komen Financial Assistance Program provides $400 grants to individuals in active treatment to assist with daily living expenses such as rent, utilities, food, transportation, childcare or medical needs.
opens in a new windowFamily Reach Young Adult Fund provides financial support for young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 years old facing cancer.
opens in a new windowPink Daisy Project, (for women under 45 only) offers financial help by providing grocery, restaurant and gas gift cards.
opens in a new windowTa-Ta Rebels, Inc. covers out-of-pocket expenses for breast cancer survivors no longer in treatment.
opens in a new windowKAMM Cares allows breast cancer patients to apply online for small grants to help with bills.
ASSISTANCE WITH CO-PAYS
opens in a new windowPatient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay Relief Program offers assistance if your income is restricted to 400% of the poverty level. For more information, click opens in a new windowhere or call 866-512-3861.
opens in a new windowCancer Care Co-Payment Assistance Foundation, offers assistance for co-payment of prescriptions. For more information, click opens in a new window here or call 866-55-COPAY.
FINANCIAL HELP, REGIONALLY
Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, or York counties: opens in a new windowPink Hands of Hope Helping Hands program offers financial assistance grants up to $1,500 to help breast cancer patients with unpaid medical bills. opens in a new window Click here to download the application opens PDF file.
Blair, Centre, Clearfield & Huntington counties: opens in a new windowBob Perks Fund – 814-231-2692
Bedford County: The Bedford County Pink Ribbon Fund is dedicated to supporting breast cancer patients/survivors, along with their families and friends, in their battle against breast cancer in the Bedford County region. Click here to open their PDF financial assistances application.
Delaware Valley (in PA, Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Montgomery & Delaware counties; in NJ, Camden, Burlington & Gloucester counties): opens in a new windowLiving Beyond Breast Cancer Foundation offers financial assistance with some restrictions. Applications are accepted in March, June, September, and December. Click opens in a new windowhere to apply or call 610-645-4567.
Central PA Only: opens in a new windowVickie’s Angel Walk provides three-month renewable blocks of financial help with everyday bills. opens in a new windowClick here for more information or call 717-774-3800 .
Westmoreland County: opens in a new windowThe Pink Angel Fund offers help to women in Westmoreland County currently in treatment for breast cancer. The fund, created by Westmoreland Walks, Inc., provides assistance with expenses like groceries, co-pays, lymphedema supplies and meals when patients are too sick to care for their families. If you or a loved one are facing breast cancer and live in Westmoreland County, call (724) 441-4130, email WestmorelandWalks@gmail.comcreate new email or opens in a new windowclick here to send a message to Westmoreland Walks, Inc. on Facebook.
I need transportation to treatment
opens in a new windowThe Road to Recovery program offers rides to cancer patients across the country through the American Cancer Society. To get a ride or give a ride by becoming a volunteer, get more information opens in a new windowhere or call 1-800-227-2345.
opens in a new windowUberHealth – ask your healthcare facility if it partners with UberHealth to assist with transportation to appointments, prescription deliveries and grocery delivery.
opens in a new windowAngel Flight East offers air travel to distant cities for medical treatment. Patients must be able to board an aircraft and travel in a single or twin-engine plane. For details, visit the website opens in a new windowhere or call 610-940-1600.
opens in a new windowPatient Airlift Service provides free volunteer medical flights. Patients assume the cost of ground transportation at destination and departure locations. Find more information opens in a new windowhere or call 631-694-7257.
I need legal advice
The Cancer Legal Resource Center offers information and resources about cancer-related legal issues. Contact the CLRC at 866-THE-CLRC ( 866-843-2572) or opens in a new window Thedrlc.org/cancer.
The PA Health Law Project (PHLP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit law firm that represents Pennsylvanians who need help getting or keeping Medicaid (also known as Medical Assistance or MA). PHLP offers advice and advocacy on access to health care for low-income consumers, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Contact them at opens in a new windowwww.phlp.org or 1-800-274-3258.
I need a wig / prosthetic
opens in a new windowClick here for a list of wig and prosthesis boutiques opens in a new windowWigs and Wishes lists hundreds of salons nationwide (including dozens in Pennsylvania) that have joined together to offer FREE wigs and beauty services in their salons for cancer patients. For more information, click opens in a new windowhere. opens in a new windowPink Hands of Hope, located in Mechanicsburg, offers FREE wigs, bras, chemo caps, port pillows, and more to breast cancer patients. opens in a new windowClick here to learn more.To Donate Scarves / Wigs / Prosthetics
opens in a new windowSparkle My Headscarves offers patients a chance to opens in a new window“Pass on the Sparkle” by donating their gently used head scarf to be used in the PBCC’s free Friends Like Me care packages for newly diagnosed women. Click opens in a new windowhere for more information on our care package program.Pink Hands of Hope (more information above) accepts gently used items for breast cancer patients. Learn more opens in a new windowhere. In the Pittsburgh area, within 412 and 724 area codes, Hair Peace Charities offers $200 for women and girls in the Western PA region to purchase a wig when insurance does not help them. Contact them at opens in a new windowwww.hairpeace.org or 412-327-5177. Some, but not all, insurance policies cover the cost of wigs if the request is from a physician and worded as a “cranial prosthesis.”
I’m worried about keeping my job
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) applies to taking care of yourself as well as others. To qualify, your place of employment must have 50 or more employees and you must have worked there for at least 12 consecutive months. The act requires your employer to provide 12 work weeks of unpaid leave time. Details are on the opens in a new windowDepartment of Labor website.
The Cancer Legal Resource Center offers information and resources about cancer-related legal issues. Contact the CLRC at 866-THE-CLRC ( 866-843-2572) or Thedrlc. opens in a new windoworg/cancer.
I need to find support
opens in a new windowClick here to access the PA Breast Cancer Coalition’s support group database to find a group in your area. opens in a new windowFox Chase Cancer Center’s Patient2Patient Network offers support to both patients and caregivers. Patient2Patient is a telephone-based support program that matches patients and caregivers with survivors or caregivers who faces a similar cancer or underwent similar treatments. You do not need to be a Fox Chase Cancer Center patient to participate in this program.
Additional Resources
Cleaning Resources
opens in a new windowCleaning for a Reason offers free house cleaning services for cancer patients. opens in a new windowClick here to apply.
Free Retreats and Camps
opens in a new windowCasting for Recovery offers free fly fishing wellness retreats for women with breast cancer. opens in a new windowClick here to find a retreat.
opens in a new windowCamp Kesem is a free summer camp and mentorship program for children whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer. opens in a new windowFind a camp in your area.
Johns Hopkins Medicine offers free metastatic breast cancer retreats twice each year. For more information, please contact Judy Matthews at judith.matthews@outlook.comcreate new email.
