Operating principles
No payment before eligibility
The eligibility review costs nothing. Cost conversations happen only after the clinical team confirms a fit.
No referral fees received
FixCancer.org receives no compensation from medical lenders, life settlement providers, insurance specialists, or any party referenced below.
Cost in writing
Partner clinics issue a written engagement letter with the full cost before treatment begins. No surprises.
Independent advice
Consult a licensed financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney before pursuing any funding pathway below.
Insurance reimbursement
Health insurance coverage of advanced or out-of-country care varies by plan, employer, and jurisdiction. The pathways below are most likely to produce reimbursement.
United States Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans
Some PPO plans reimburse out-of-network and out-of-country care at a reduced rate. Patients should request a pre-determination letter from the carrier before treatment, obtain CPT and ICD-10 coding from the partner clinic, and submit claims with full medical documentation. Reimbursement specialists familiar with international medical billing increase the likelihood of payment.
Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare and Medicaid generally do not cover medical care delivered outside the United States. Limited exceptions exist for emergency care at the nearest hospital, including some Canadian and Mexican border facilities. Patients should verify exclusions with the responsible benefits administrator before traveling.
Private international plans
Some private international health plans include cross-border coverage. Patients with multinational employer plans, expatriate insurance, or specialty cancer plans should request the policy schedule of benefits before assuming coverage.
Medical loans
Medical loans provide immediate funds with scheduled repayment. Rates and terms vary by lender, credit profile, and loan size. Patients should compare offers, read the full repayment schedule, and confirm there is no prepayment penalty before signing.
Common loan structures include unsecured personal loans, healthcare-specific patient financing, and home-equity lines of credit. The intake team provides a starting list of lenders on request. FixCancer.org does not endorse any specific lender and receives no referral compensation.
Life insurance pathways
Living Benefit Loan
A Living Benefit Loan borrows against the death benefit of an existing life insurance policy. Eligibility typically requires a serious medical diagnosis and a policy of $75,000 or more. The policy remains in force and beneficiaries remain the same. Repayment is satisfied from the death benefit if the borrower passes away during the loan term.
Life settlement
A life settlement is the sale of an existing life insurance policy to a third-party buyer for a lump-sum payment that exceeds the cash surrender value. After sale, the policy passes to the buyer, who pays future premiums and receives the death benefit. Life settlement is most often appropriate for older policyholders with a serious medical diagnosis and policies they no longer need for estate planning.
Consult an independent life-settlement broker, not a buyer-affiliated agent, before agreeing to terms.
Retirement account access
United States
Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and 401(k) distributions are available at any time. Distributions are taxable and, before age 59 1/2, subject to an additional 10 percent early-withdrawal tax. Section 72(t)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code provides an exception to the 10 percent tax for unreimbursed medical expenses exceeding 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income. Consult a tax professional to confirm the calculation and to evaluate the impact on retirement planning.
Canada
Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) withdrawals are available at any time without tax consequence, subject to contribution-room recovery rules. Locked-in retirement accounts (Locked-In RRSP, LIF, RLIF, RLSP) provide limited unlocking pathways for medical hardship under federal and provincial pension legislation.
Australia
The Australian Taxation Office permits early release of superannuation on compassionate grounds for medical treatment that is not readily available through the public health system. The application process requires medical documentation and ATO approval. Patients should consult their superannuation fund directly or engage a specialist to manage the application.
United Kingdom
Pension freedoms permit access to defined-contribution pension funds from age 55 (rising to 57 in 2028). Earlier access is restricted and triggers significant tax consequences. Patients should consult a chartered financial planner before accessing pension funds for medical treatment.
Crowdfunding
Medical crowdfunding has helped many patients raise treatment funds through a documented story shared with a personal network and the broader public. The platforms most commonly used in the cancer patient community include GoFundMe, GiveSendGo, Fundly, and PlumFund.
Effective campaigns share a clear narrative, a specific dollar goal, transparent use of funds, and regular updates. Platforms charge processing fees and may charge platform fees. Read the platform terms before launching a campaign.
Tax deductions
United States taxpayers may deduct qualifying medical expenses exceeding 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income on Schedule A of Form 1040, subject to itemization. Qualifying expenses generally include treatment costs, transportation, lodging at $50 per night per person, and prescribed therapies. Canadian taxpayers may claim the Medical Expense Tax Credit subject to threshold rules. Australian taxpayers should consult a registered tax agent for medical-expense treatment under current tax law.
Charitable assistance
Patient-assistance foundations support qualifying patients with co-pays, transportation, and out-of-pocket costs. Programs relevant to advanced cancer patients include the HealthWell Foundation, the Patient Access Network Foundation, CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance, and CancerCare Financial Assistance. Eligibility depends on diagnosis, income, and program availability at the time of application.
Travel and lodging assistance
Patients traveling for treatment may qualify for travel and lodging assistance through programs such as the Angel Flight network in the United States, the Joe's House lodging database, and partner-clinic lodging programs in Mexico and Australia. The intake team coordinates introductions when a partner clinic is selected.
What we do not promise
- FixCancer.org does not guarantee insurance reimbursement.
- FixCancer.org does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice.
- FixCancer.org does not earn commission, referral fees, or marketing payments from any lender, insurer, life-settlement buyer, or platform referenced above.
- Partner clinics set their own pricing. Pricing is disclosed in writing before treatment begins.
Start the eligibility review
Money is the second conversation. Clinical eligibility is the first. Submit the intake form to start the eligibility review. The clinical team responds within three to five business days.