WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The lymphoma diagnosis was terrifying enough. But when Charlotte Kostakos, 75, and her husband, Steven, 74, began struggling with the spiraling costs of paying for her treatments, they were overwhelmed.
"As far as we are concerned our income is Social Security, period, and therefore we were extremely anxious," said Steven. Still reeling from the shock of learning that Charlotte had B-cell lymphoma, the Kostakos's, who live part of the year in Claremont, Fla., and the other half in Edgarton, Wis., couldn't imagine how they would manage the costs, even with Medicare coverage.
The Kostakos's turned to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's co-pay assistance program for help.
"I don't know where we'd be without this program -- it's been a huge help to us," Steven said. "Every little bit that we can get is a relief for us."
The program provides support for prescription drug co-pays and health insurance premiums for patients who meet certain income requirements. Since launching the program last year, LLS has expanded it to include more disease categories. The program currently covers patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, non- Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes.
Patients with private insurance, Medicare beneficiaries under Medicare Part B and/or Medicare Plan D, Medicare Supplementary Health Insurance and Medicare Advantage premium are eligible.
"Receiving a diagnosis of a blood cancer is overwhelming and that devastating news can be compounded by an inability to afford the treatments," said Anita Welborn, director, LLS's Information Resource Center, and administrator of the program. "LLS is trying to do what it can to help alleviate this burden for the neediest patients that it serves."
For more information, visit http://www.lls.org/copay or call 877-LLS-COPAY.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society(R), headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 68 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. LLS's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested more than $550 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, LLS made 5.1 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.
For more information about blood cancer, visit http://www.lls.org/ or call LLS's Information Resource Center (IRC), a call center staffed by master's level social workers, nurses and health educators who provide information, support and resources to patients and their families and caregivers. IRC information specialists are available at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
Contact:
Andrea Greif, 914.821.8958
Andrea.greif@lls.org
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
