Through our men's health partner, the LIVESTRONG Foundation and the nationally recognized case management organization Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF), Movember is funding the launch of the Radiation Co-Payment Small Grant Financial Aid Fund, ensuring prostate cancer patients across the nation have access to monetary support that can bring needed relief to their budget.
Eligible men include those who have been diagnosed and are in active radiation treatment for prostate cancer with an annual income of $60,000.00 or less. Qualified patients may use the one-time grant of $1,000 to cover their out of pocket expenses associated with radiation therapy, helping to reduce the financial burden associated with treatment. On average, Medicare patients receiving up to 9 weeks of radiation treatments have an out-of-pocket responsibility ranging from $1,054 to over $3,300, depending on the specific radiation treatment prescribed. Patients that receive Proton Beam Radiation treatments can see almost double that amount in out of pocket costs allowed within their 20% copayment.
Patient Advocate Foundation’s professional staff is available to assist applicants and distribute funds through the toll-free financial assistance line at (855) 824-7941. Live financial counselors are available Monday – Thursday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. EST to assist patients through the grant application process.
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in the U.S., affecting 1 in 6 men. One new case occurs every 2.2 minutes and a man dies from prostate cancer every 17.5 minutes.
"Movember is honored to partner with PAF and the LIVESTRONG Foundation to assist men undergoing prostate cancer treatment, “said Mark Hedstrom, Director of Movember U.S. “This financial aid will provide men and their families monetary support while undergoing treatment and throughout the recovery process.”
“The LIVESTRONG Foundation is grateful to partner with the Patient Advocate Foundation and Movember on this program to reduce the financial burden on men facing prostate cancer,” said Doug Ulman, Foundation President and CEO. “We believe access to affordable, timely and quality health care is a human right and want to do our part to make this possible for anyone affected by cancer.”
PAF, one of the nation’s leading nonprofit patient assistance programs, will direct the contribution toward helping males in treatment for prostate cancer, regardless of insurance status.
“For years PAF has identified the barrier to treatment that is created by the direct expense associated with potentially life- saving radiation therapies. As a result of this gift from Movember and the LIVESTRONG Foundation, we can now provide relief for those who need it most,” said Beth Patterson, President, Mission Delivery for PAF.