Financial help

By far the most complete source of information on financial help for Canadians diagnosed with cancer is the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) website. Please visit their website to find information specific to your region. Other resources and information will be covered by us when it is not available on the CCS website.

You can also call their Cancer Information Line at 1-888-939-3333.

Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon

Government income programs based on your contributions/premiums and amount paid through employer:

Canada Pension Plan – Disability Benefits The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefit is a taxable monthly payment that is available to people who have contributed to the CPP and who are not able to work regularly at any job because of a disability.

The CPP disability benefit is not designed to pay for such things as medications and assistive devices.

To qualify for a CPP disability benefit, you must:

You should apply as soon as you develop a severe and prolonged or terminal medical condition that prevents you from working regularly at any job.

Do not delay in sending your completed application forms. You must apply for the CPP disability benefit in writing. The date your application is received affects the date your benefit begins.

For more information about Canada Pension Plan – Disability Benefits, click here.

Toll-free: 1-800-277-9914 (Service Canada)

Employment Insurance (EI) Benefits Employment Insurance (EI) provides Sickness Benefits to individuals who are unable to work because of sickness, injury, or quarantine.

You may be entitled to receive EI sickness benefits if:

  • you are employed in insurable employment;
  • you meet the specific criteria for receiving EI sickness benefits;
  • your normal weekly earnings have been reduced by more than 40 per cent; and
  • you have accumulated at least 600 hours of insurable employment during the qualifying period or, if you are a self-employed fisher, you have sufficient insurable earnings from self-employment in fishing during the qualifying period.

You have paid EI premiums

If you are employed in insurable employment, your employer will deduct EI premiums from your wages or salary. These premiums go into the EI Fund. There is no minimum or maximum age for paying EI premiums.

You pay EI premiums on all your earnings up to a maximum amount. In 2015, for every $100 you earn, your employer will deduct $1.88, until your annual earnings reach the maximum yearly insurable amount of $49,500. The maximum amount of premiums to be paid in 2015 is therefore $930.60.

For more information about Employment Insurance (EI) Benefits, click here.

Toll-free: 1 800-206-7218 (Service Canada)

Employment Insurance (EI) – Compassionate Care Benefits Compassionate care benefits are Employment Insurance (EI) benefits paid to people who have to be away from work temporarily to provide care or support to a family member who is gravely ill and who has a significant risk of death within 26 weeks (six months). A maximum of six weeks of compassionate care benefits may be paid to eligible people. To be eligible for compassionate care benefits, you must be able to show that:

  • your regular weekly earnings from work have decreased by more than 40 per cent; and
  • you have accumulated 600 insured hours of work in the last 52 weeks, or since the start of your last claim (this period is called the qualifying period).

For more information about EI – Compassionate Care Benefits, click here.

Toll-free: 1 800-206-7218 (Service Canada)

Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits EI Sickness Benefits to individuals who are unable to work because of sickness, injury or quarantine. Generally, you need to have worked 600 insured hours in the last 52 weeks and prove that your earnings have been reduced by at least 40 per cent to qualify for sickness benefits.

To see whether you meet the sickness benefits criteria, you will need to submit:

  • a medical certificate,
  • an application form
  • records of employment from all employers you have worked for in the last 52 weeks or since the start of your last claim (whichever is fewest)

Employers are obliged to provide these records within five days of your notification. It’s important that you file your claim within four weeks or you may lose benefits. If you are unable to obtain these records within four weeks, you may file your claim using pay stubs or T4 slips to verify your employment history.

Coverage may last up to 15 weeks. After the coverage ends, you may be able to receive regular EI benefits if you are able to show that you have regained the ability to work and have no job to return to.

For more information about EI – Sickness Benefits, click here.

Toll-free: 1-800-206-7218

More Financial Aid Programs

Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Foundation The Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Foundation`s Snow Run for Fun Trust was established in 1999 by the late Kelly Shires (then just diagnosed with breast cancer) and her best friend Suzy Cayley. They wanted to find ways to ease the financial stresses confronting women undergoing breast cancer treatment so they started the Snow Run for Fun, a sponsored snowmobile ride that has been an amazingly successful fundraising event.

The Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Foundation offers up to $1,000 per application to qualifying individuals and you can apply up to four times a year (lifetime financial assistance capped up to $10,000). Click here for the criteria of financial assistance.

For more information about the Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Foundation and financial assistance, click here.***

Toll-free: 1-877-436-6467

Ontario Disability Support Program (Ontario only) Managed and delivered by the Ministry of Community and Social Services, provides financial help for people with disabilities. It can help pay for living expenses, like food and housing.

You may qualify for income support if you:

  • are in financial need
  • are 18 years of age or older
  • live in Ontario, and
  • have a substantial physical or mental disability that: is expected to last a year or more, and makes it hard for you to care for yourself, take part in community life or work.

The amount of income support you receive will depend of your:

  • family size
  • income
  • assets, and
  • housing costs

If you qualify for income support, you and your family may also qualify for other benefits, such as:

  • drug coverage
  • dental coverage
  • vision care
  • transportation to medical appointments

For more information on the Ontario Disability Support Program, click here.

Toll-free: 1-888-789-4199

Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre – Patient Assistance Program (London, Ontario area only) If you are undergoing treatment within the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre and its affiliated regional sites you may be eligible to apply for financial assistance. Funding is available for emergency, short-term situations when funding from other sources and services is not available. The funding can be used for various expenses such as wigs, prostheses and bras, child care during treatment, and supportive medications to treat symptoms related to treatment.

Tel: 519-685-8622

Patient Financial Assistance Program (PFAP) (Alberta) provides short-term help for cancer patients so families can focus on recovery instead of how to pay for transportation or cover the cost of medications.

Toll-Free: 1-866-408-5465.

Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund – Current and former members of the naval forces of Canada and their dependants may qualify for financial assistance from the Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund. Benefits may take the form of either a loan or grant depending on your circumstances. Applications are available at Veteran Affairs Canada office or Royal Canadian Legion Branches.

Toll-free: 1-888-557-8777
Tel: 613-996-5087
Email: rcnbf@sympatico.ca

Veteran Affairs Canada provides treatment and other health-related benefits to veterans and their survivors/dependants. Benefits include medical, surgical and dental care, prosthetic devices, home adaptations, supplementary benefits such as travel costs for examinations or treatment, and other community healthcare services and benefits.

Toll-free: 1-266-522-2122
Email: information@vac-acc.gc.ca

Medical and Drug Coverage:

Group Health Care Insurance For those covered by supplemental health insurance, either through a group plan at your place of employment or your partner’s place of employment, or carried independently if you are self-employed, many of the additional costs you might face may be covered. However, the level and duration of such coverage varies greatly from policy to policy, so you will need to carefully check your policy.

Areas that may be covered are drugs, semi-private or private room accommodation in hospital, assistive devices, home nursing care and prostheses. Some policies may also include acupuncture, physiotherapy or message therapy.

Should you have an insurance-related complaint that you cannot resolve with your insurance company, you can contact the OmbudService for Life & Health Insurance** (OLHI). OLHI is an independent service that assits consumers with concerns and complaints about life and health insurance products and services. Their objective is to provide fair and prompt resolution of problems.

For more information on Group Health Care Insurance, click here.

Toll-free: 1-800-268-8099

Ontario Drug Benefit Program The Ontario Drug Benefit Program provides prescription drugs at a small cost to eligible Ontario residents, including:

  • People 65 years of age and older
  • People in social assistance (Ontario Disability Support Program and/or Ontario Works)
  • Residents of homes for special care and long-term care homes
  • People receiving professional home care services
  • People enrolled in the Trillium Drug Program

Under the ODB program, recipients are eligible for the over 3,200 drug products listed in the Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary.

Through its Exceptional Access Program, the Ministry of Health may also consider requests for coverage of drugs not listed on the formulary if your doctor submits a written request on your behalf.

Depending on your annual income, single seniors who have an annual income of $16,018 or more and senior couples with a combined annual income of $24,175 or more may be asked to pay some portion of their prescription drug costs. If you fall into one of these categories, you would pay an annual deductible of $100 plus up to $6.11 toward the dispensing free each time you fill a prescription. All other ODB eligible patients may be asked to pay up to $2 each time they fill a prescription.

For more information on the Ontario Drug Benefit Program, click here.

Toll-free: 1-866-532-3161

Trillium Drug Program (Ontario residents) This program helps people who have high prescription drug costs relative to their household income.
You may qualify for the Trillium Drug Program if:

And you are not covered under ODB as:

OR

  • You don’t have private health insurance or your private insurance does not cover 100 per cent of your prescription drug costs.

For more information about the Trillium Drug Program for Ontario residents only, click here.

Toll-free: 1 800 575-5386

Canada Revenue Agency – Tax Credits and Deductions There are certain credits that you may be able to claim on your federal income tax return to reduce the amount of tax you pay.

  • The Medical Expense Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit that provides tax relief for above-average medical expenses (a non-refundable tax credit only to be used to reduce taxes to zero but will not generate a refund payment from the government if no taxes are payable).
  • An expense is generally eligible to be claimed if it is directly related to a medical condition, including prescription drugs, wigs and prostheses. If you have private health insurance, you can claim the portion of expenses that your plan does not cover, as well as the premiums you pay.
    There is a minimum amount of medical expenses that you must have incurred before they are able to start reducing the amount of tax you need to pay. This is equal to three per cent of your net income or $2,024 (as of 2010), whichever amount is less. If you have a spouse or a common-law partner, it may be better for the one of you with the lower net income to claim the allowable medical expenses.
  • The Refundable Medical Expense Supplement is a refundable tax credit for working individuals with low incomes and high medical expenses. Refundable tax credits can be used to reduce the amount of tax you pay to zero and any excess may be refunded by the government.
  • The Disability Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit for those that the Canada Revenue Agency defines as having “a severe and prolonged mental or physical impairment which markedly restricts the ability to perform a basic activity of daily living”. It is not available to all persons with disabilities and is not automatically given to those receiving CPP disability benefits or disability from insurance.
  • If your medical treatment is not available locally (within 40 km) and you must travel to get treatment elsewhere, you may be able to claim the cost of public transportation (e.g. taxi, bus or train) to get the treatment somewhere else. If public transportation is not readily available, you can claim vehicle expenses to get medical treatment. If you have to travel more than 80 km for treatment, you may also be able to claim travel expenses for someone to accompany you if a medical practitioner certifies in writing that you are unable to travel without assistance.

For more information on tax credits and deductions, click here.

Northern Health Travel Grant Program(Ontario) The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care provides grands to help defray the costs of transportation and accommodation for eligible residents of Northern Ontario who much travel at least 100 km (one-way) to receive medical services that are not available locally.

For more information about the Northern Health Travel Grant Program, click here.

Assistive Devices Program (Ontario)

  • Lymphedema Garments. The Assistive Devices Program (ADP) is part of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care ADP contributes towards the cost of medical equipment including breast prostheses and compression garments for chronic (secondary) lymphedema. You are able to apply for assistance if you are an Ontario resident, have a valid OHIP card and require a device or garment for at least six months of regular daily use.ADP forms can be accessed through a medical specialist, such as an oncologist or plastic surgeon. Your specialist will also refer you to an authorizer to assess your specific needs and prescribe the appropriate equipment or supplies. An “authorizer” may be an occupational therapist or physiotherapist registered with ADP.
  • Prosthesis. ADP will contribute to the cost of one or two prostheses depending on whether you have had a single or double mastectomy or lumpectomy. It will not cover bras, temporary prostheses, silicone nipples or breast implants. The prostheses vendor must provide you with a written warranty against manufacturer’s defects for at least two years, as well as guarantee the fit for at least two years, barring changes in your size or medical condition.

For Either Lymphedema Garments or Prostheses

Purchase of your required equipment must be from a vendor registered with ADP. As long as the cost of your item does not exceed the maximum set by ADP, you will pay approximately 25 per cent of the cost and ADP covers the remaining 75 per cent.

Should your items exceed the ADP guidelines, you will be responsible for the coverage. Discuss this with the vendor before purchasing. They are very accustomed to dealing with ADP and are familiar with the billing procedures and cost guidelines.

If you have extended health insurance, remember to check to see if any of your costs are covered.

Replacement

ADP will pay for replacement items as your needs change or as wear and tear take their toll. However, this too is on a limited basis. Although the funding formula is the same as it is for the initial purchase, generally lymphedema compression garments (i.e. three sets, two garments each) can be replaced ever 12 months.

Prosthesis may be replaced after a minimum two-year period unless your doctor verifies a change in your medical condition or body shape/size.

For more information about the Assisted Devices Program, click here.

Toll-Free: 1-800-268-6021 (within Ontario only)

Other Programs for Assistive Devices

Canadian Red Cross – Health Equipment Loan Program (HELP) (B.C., Alberta and Ontario only) For everything from wheelchairs to commodes to walkers, your local Red Cross may be able to lend it to you temporarily.

For more information about HELP, click here.