Conversation Guide: Asking For Financial Help During Cancer Treatment It can be hard to talk about money or ask for help paying your bills during cancer treatment. Remember that you’re not alone — up to 73% of cancer patients experience financial hardship as the result of a cancer diagnosis.1
You deserve the best care and financial support. Use this guide to help you talk about finances with someone you trust.
Write down the questions you want to ask. Consider who you feel most comfortable with. You can talk to someone in your community or anyone on your care team— including your loved ones, doctor, nurse, social worker, patient navigator, therapist, or support group — about financial concerns.
Get ready for the conversation
Be prepared to take notes during the conversation. You can also ask for written materials to review later or bring along a friend or family member to listen with you.
I’m worried about paying...
These resources can help...
Start the conversation
Take steps toward financial relief familyreach.org
Share your financial concerns. For example: “I’m worried about missing work and being able to afford my bills.” Ask questions. For example: Can you help me find financial support for my rent/food/transportation? Are there options to help me pay for treatment? What will my insurance cover?
Follow the steps that your care team shared with you. This could be contacting a certain nonprofit, looking into specific government benefits, or scheduling an appointment with a financial coach. Call, email, or write down questions before your next appointment. It’s always okay to ask someone to repeat or clarify information.
Supported by grant funding from Gilead Sciences, Inc. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has had no input into the development or content of these materials.
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1. Thomas G. Knight, Melissa Aguiar, Myra Robinson, Allison Martin, Tommy Chen, Rupali Bose, Jing Ai, Brittany K. Ragon, Aleksander L. Chojecki, Nilay A. Shah, Srinivasa R. Sanikommu, James Symanowski, Edward A Copelan, Michael R. Grunwald; Financial Toxicity Intervention Decreases Mortality in High Risk Hematologic Malignancy Patients. Blood 2020; 136 (Supplement 1): 14–15. doi: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2020-137222