On the line: Up Front Costs

Photo: “House” by Tax Credits

Katie has significant expenses, as she will need to re-locate near the transplant center for 3 months. Her rent at home is $800/month. Though she can be reimbursed $1,500/month for lodging at the transplant center from insurance, she needs to come up with the money up front and does not have it….The patient is in desperate need of funding to help pay for her portion of lodging ($1,500 for 3 months = $4,500)

Katie’s doctors decided that an allogeneic transplant was the best course of treatment for her aplastic anemia. In addition to housing, she also listed transportation and co-pays/insurance premiums as her areas of greatest need.

In order to give a more clear idea of the depth of need faced by bone marrow, stem cell, and cord blood transplant patients and their families, we are sharing excerpts from actual applications to The Bone Marrow Foundation’s Patient Aid Program. The names have been changed to maintain confidentially, but the stories are straight from the applications.

To learn how you can make a gift to support the Foundation’s efforts to help transplant patients and their families, click here.

On the line: Cannot work

Photo: “Limo arrives!” by fotobydave

Richard is a 49 year old male with myelofibrosis who underwent an allogeneic stem cell transplant in July 2012. He used to work as a limousine driver but cannot work any longer and he cannot afford his rent/utilities. Richard does not qualify for SSI/SSD because he is a resident, but not a naturalized citizen. He has three children and a wife, and the family is struggling significantly financially.

Richard’s wife and eldest son work low wage jobs, but without his income, they are unable to meet the family’s basic needs. They’ve requested assistance paying for housing, utilities, and living expenses.

In order to give a more clear idea of the depth of need faced by bone marrow, stem cell, and cord blood transplant patients and their families face, we are sharing excerpts from actual applications to The Bone Marrow Foundation’s Patient Aid Program. The names have been changed to maintain confidentially, but the stories are straight from the applications. To learn how you can make a gift to support the Foundation’s efforts to help transplant patients and their families, click here.

Depth of need

The Bone Marrow Foundation was founded with one goal: to improve the lives of bone marrow, stem cell, and cord blood transplant patients and their families. One of the ways we try to do this is by helping ease the burden of some of the additional expenses related to transplant, such as housing, transportation, childcare, co-pays, and donor searches.

Because our budget does not allow us to approve every request to our Patient Aid Program, we often have to make tough choices. Sometimes only a tiny difference determines which application is funded and which is denied. In order to give a more clear idea of the depth of need these patients and their families face, we are sharing excerpts, like the one below, from actual Patient Aid applications. The names have been changed to maintain confidentially, but the stories are straight from the applications.

Janice is battling MDS and recently had a stem cell transplant. She has requested help paying for rent and groceries.

Janice is a single working mother who will potentially be off work for the next year. With Janice’s current position, she has no disability benefits; hence when her paid time off and sick leave hours are used, she will no longer get paid. Finances are already a strain for Janice, as she tries to take care of her son while fighting for her life. Also of note, without disability benefits, the patient’s employer only needs to hold her position for 6 months. Beyond this time frame, the patient could lose her job which provides her with insurance. (She has approximately 1 month of paid time off and sick leave left.)

After submitting the application, Janice’s social worker reported that her co-workers were able to donate some of their own paid time off to help her, but that too has run out.

Each of us has the ability to make a big difference in the lives of these patients and their families. By ensuring that they have access to all the resources they need, we truly create a lifeline for those who desperately need it. To learn how you can make a gift to support the Foundation’s efforts, click here.