Real Hope Now Education Program
A guide to financially navigating breast cancer
30–50% of breast cancer patients report experiencing financial stress due to their diagnosis and treatment plan. Follow these first steps to help reduce some of the financial barriers from diagnosis through treatment to recovery.
Questions to Ask
- What is my treatment plan, timeline and projected costs?
- Who can I talk to about what my insurance will cover?
- Will I need to take time off work for treatment?
- Can I schedule my treatment around my work schedule?
- Will I need a caregiver with me?
- What are the various tests available to me that can help guide my treatment plan?
*Certain genomic tests can measure the risk of recurrence and may result in a less invasive treatment that won’t be as likely to affect your ability to work.
Know Your Care Team
- Social workers help you make decisions about your cancer care, cope with difficult emotions and find financial resources.
- Patient and Nurse Navigators help you schedule your appointments, find transportation, talk with your doctors and connect you with additional resources.
- Financial Counselors help identify financial assistance, talk with your insurance company and determine out-of-pocket costs.
Always consult with your oncologist.
Stay Informed
- Explore payment plans for large bills to make monthly expenses manageable.
- Ask your healthcare provider about payment plans to manage medical expenses.
- Review your employer’s sick leave policy.
- Understand your insurance coverage to know your deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.
- Join breast cancer support networks to learn more about available resources.
- Sign up for Pink Fund’s monthly newsletter to stay informed and follow us on social media.