Insurance and Financial Assistance
We know how difficult dealing with a cancer diagnosis can be. We want you to focus on your well-being rather than worry about how you will pay for your treatment.
Dana-Farber offers several services to help you and your family manage the financial side of cancer treatment. From creating bill payment schedules and estate planning advice to debt management and resource assistance for patients in need, our team is here for you.
Understanding your insurance policy
Each insurance policy is different, and the amount of coverage for exams and procedures depends on your specific health plan, so it is important to read and understand your policy.
Some insurance companies require authorization before patients can receive treatment; others require paperwork, such as a Hospital Claim Form.
Since patients are fully responsible for all bills related to treatment, regardless of what their insurance policy covers, it is important for you to know these details to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses.
To find out the specifics of your policy, contact your insurance company (the phone number is usually on your insurance card). They should be able to tell you about in-network and out-of-network coverage for care at Dana-Farber, as well as what your financial responsibility will be if you become a patient here.
Question to ask your insurance company
Use these questions as a guide when you talk to your insurance company about your coverage options. Be sure to make note of the name of the person you spoke with and the date.
- What type of insurance plan do I have?
- Is Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in my network? If so, does my insurance plan cover physician costs as well as inpatient and outpatient hospital services? What, if any, are my co-payments?
- If Dana-Farber is not in my network, and I go out of network, what percentage of my bill will be paid by the insurance company?
- Before I see a doctor at Dana-Farber, do I need a referral from my primary care physician, or will I need authorization from my insurance carrier?
- Will I be covered for any testing, pathology, or radiology charges that may be incurred as part of my initial consultation with a Dana-Farber doctor?
- Is the percentage of my bill paid by the insurance company based on "usual, customary, and reasonable" (UCR) schedules or on the actual charges?
- Does my insurance plan offer any additional coverage through special networks for treating medical conditions such as cancer?
- Does my policy have an out-of-pocket maximum?
- If my out-of-pocket expenses reach a certain amount, will the insurance carrier ever reimburse at 100 percent? If so, does this mean that my claims will then be paid in full, or will I still be responsible for the difference between Dana-Farber’s charges and UCR rates?
How we help
Our Financial Information Services staff is ready to guide you every step of the way. Whether you have questions about coverage, payment plans, or Medicaid applications, a financial counselor can help you sort through the details and steps needed to make your financial arrangements go smoothly. To make an appointment, call 617-632-3455.
If you have questions about your bill, please call the Customer Service department at 617-632-3795 or 866-408-4669.
Patient assistance funds
Generously donated patient assistance funds are available to help ease the financial burden of a cancer diagnosis. Patient assistance is based on financial need and helps eligible patients and families with day-to-day financial expenses such as groceries, housing costs, and transportation. Referrals are made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, contact your social worker, resource specialist, or patient navigator, or call 617-632-4494.
Financial coaching program
All Dana-Farber patients and caregivers have access to financial planners free of charge. Through collaboration with the Financial Planning Association of Massachusetts, volunteer coaches can meet with you to discuss budgeting, debt management, wills, and estate planning. For more information, contact your social worker, resource specialist, or patient navigator, or call 617-632-4494.
For families of children with cancer
The stress of a child's cancer diagnosis is often intensified by financial burden. Many families find it difficult to meet basic expenses such as co-payments for their children's prescriptions, transportation costs, and meals during extended hospital stays.
Dana-Farber’s Pediatric Resource Program provides resource assistance to eligible families whose children are currently receiving treatment at Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center.
We help families by:
- Identifying local, regional, and federal assistance programs
- Serving as patient/family advocates and as a liaison between Dana-Farber and the resource community
- Providing direct and immediate support, including gift certificates to places to eat in the Longwood Medical Area
Resource Specialists in the Jimmy Fund Clinic are available to discuss family needs and help identify potential resources.
To speak with a Resource Specialist, please ask any member of your Jimmy Fund Clinic care team for a referral or call a Resource Specialist directly.
Resource Specialists
Daisy Gómez
call 617-632-5796
Michele Stolper
call 617-632-6842
Joe Chabot
call 617-632-3365