By Allison Silvers, MBA
Caring for someone with a serious illness is hard enough. On top of that, figuring out how to pay the endless medical bills can be stressful and overwhelming. We hope these four tips help you, as a caregiver, find new ways to deal with the financial burden of serious illness.
1. Learn About and Enroll in All Benefits and Entitlements
National, state, and local governments all have programs to help patients (which we will also refer to as care recipients) when bills are piling up. These benefits, which the care recipient would need to qualify for, covers bills so that family caregivers don’t have to. For example, there are:
- State and federal tax credits for care recipients
- Programs that help care recipients with health insurance payments
- Benefits for veterans and their spouses
- Benefits for people with disabilities
- In-home services for older adults
Some hospitals work with lawyers or government programs in what’s called “Medical-Legal Partnerships” to help patients understand and apply for, and/or get new benefits. Even if your local hospital doesn’t offer this type of partnership, a medical social worker can support your family with this process.
I once met three sisters who took turns caring for their father and had to quit their jobs. They didn’t know enough about Medicaid rules and thought that Medicaid was just a “yes” or a “no”—they didn’t know that in some states and some circumstances, there’s also an “it depends.” Once they learned more about the rules, and understood how their father could get Medicaid benefits, they worked with a social worker and helped him apply. He was approved for full-time in-home help. This meant that his daughters were able to return to work.
That said, make sure to find out all the details about possible benefits from the health care team, and do not rely on friends or the internet.
2. Pay Attention to Health Care Prices and Bills
Hospitals can charge very different prices for the same procedure. By law, they must post their prices and give you a cost estimate before you get care, but sometimes this information is hard to find. If your family has a deductible or has to pay a part of the bill (most of us do!), take time to compare prices in your area before the procedure is done. It can save you money. To get started, FAIRHealth is a helpful website that shares information on costs for many common procedures.
You also have rights that protect your family from “surprise bills.” These happen when someone accidentally gets a service that is not in their insurance network. This happens fairly often, most commonly during emergency room visits, ambulance rides, or for services like X-rays and other scans. A law called the No Surprises Act (passed in 2022) helps protect you from these unexpected bills, but sadly, too many families still get those bills. Make sure you’re aware of these rights, and question any bill that insurance doesn’t pay.
3. Talk to the HR Department About Changes to Health Coverage
If the person you care for gets health insurance through their job (or a former job, or your job), it’s important to speak to someone in the human resources department (HR)—sometimes called People Operations or Talent Management. They may be able to make changes to the health care coverage, such as agreeing to pay for something that the insurance company will not pay for, even after you get a denial. While this is not a guarantee, talking about your family’s needs and asking for help from the HR department is always worth a try.
The HR team may also be aware of resources in your community that might be helpful. And here are more tips on what to do if insurance doesn’t approve something (called a “denial”).
4. Talk to the Doctor
Most doctors are willing to help patients and families figure out what to do when they have challenges with the cost of care. Also, many doctors work with other staff, including social workers, navigators, and care managers, who can help you find solutions to a wide range of problems. So, asking the doctor may also lead you to new helpers and ideas. Also, some doctor’s offices may have samples of medications to give to patients during times of need.
A great place to start is the palliative care team, if the person living with serious illness is under their care. The palliative care team is there to not only help with symptoms, but also to support family caregivers and relieve stressors.
The Bottom Line
Managing bills while providing care for someone with serious illness is very hard. But you don’t need to do it alone—there are people and services in your corner to help you. Need somewhere to start? Check out the National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF) and our recent blog post that includes a list of nonprofits that offer financial help.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. Palliative care is provided by a specially trained team of doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other specialists who work together with your other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided alongside curative treatments.
About GetPalliativeCare.org
GetPalliativeCare.org is an online resource for patients and families that focuses on providing information on palliative care (and other ways to support people living with serious illness) from the point of diagnosis. At GetPalliativeCare.org, you can take a short quiz to see whether the person you are caring for could benefit from palliative care and find a nearby provider. The site is provided by the Center to Advance Palliative Care.
When you’re diagnosed with a serious illness—like breast cancer or heart disease—it affects more than just your body. It can stir up deep emotions, shift your thoughts, and unsettle your sense of safety. You may feel overwhelmed, afraid, or even emotionally numb. These responses are normal—and deeply human.
When you’re living with a serious illness, it can feel like everything is happening at once—new symptoms, medications, side effects, tons of doctor appointments, paperwork, and big questions about what comes next. You might have received different advice from multiple doctors. Or maybe you’re not sure who to call if something goes wrong.
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