Clinical
Trials or Support > Travel and Lodging Assistance
Last update: 04/18/2008
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Air
Travel | Local Travel | Lodging
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There are many organizations that can assist cancer patients with free transportation,
and many may refer you to another when they cannot help.
Note: Costs
associated with travel on a regular basis can be enormous and can easily be
underestimated. So it's important to
understand both your financial and physical limitations. Seek help
from others, and the many organizations that are in place to assist you.
Resources
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Air Travel services
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Local travel
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“Road to Recovery.”
ACS
Where available, volunteer drivers take qualified patients
to and from treatment.
Phone: 1-800-ACS-2345
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Lodging
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Hope Lodging ACS
Temporary residential facility that provides free
accommodations
to cancer patients undergoing treatment.
There are currently 15 Hope Lodges across the US. Another four
Hope Lodges are under construction. Phone: 1-800-ACS-2345
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Special thanks to Sue Gallant for this compilation
work on travel resources.
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AirLifeLine Transportation 50 Fullerton Court, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95825. Voice (877) AIR-LIFE / (877) 247-5433
or (916) 641-0600 or (800) 446-1231 and Fax (916) 641-0600.
An organization of over 1,100
volunteer pilots nationwide who has flown more than 19,000 missions surpassing 9 million
flying miles at no charge to the patient or referring agencies.
Compassionate individual
pilots donating their entire expense of fuel, landing fees, and other miscellaneous
expenses to fly you for medical care. Very small single engine planes are used, only 4 or
6 seats without bathrooms.
Patient and caregiver eligible. Assists ambulatory patients
needing life-sustaining treatments at a medical facility far from home and who cannot
afford the cost of travel. Able to fulfill "standby" missions critical in nature
such as for donor organs. Patient should be ambulatory and medically stable.
Patient must
demonstrate financial need and be unable to afford other means of commercial
transportation (this is done by a simple letter from employer, pastor, etc.) The medical
destination must be within 1,000 miles from his or her home. Substantial paperwork
including a financial approval, liability waiver, and physician report must be completed
before any flight.
Oncologists and volunteer pilots interested in benefit
flying are encouraged to call 877-AIR-LIFE for more information.
Patient Criteria
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Should be ambulatory and physically able
to get on and off a plane with minimal assistance or travel with a
companion who can help.
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Must be able to sit upright in the seat
with a seatbelt.
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Should be comfortable in small spaces and
not need a bathroom or medical equipment (as the plane size limits
facilities and space).
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Must have a demonstrated financial or
time-critical medical need to fly.
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Note:
This is a separate and distinct organization from Corporate Angel Network listed below.
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Helps cancer
patients travel to distant health centers for care.
Phone: (800) 989-2602
Angel
Flight Hospice (for financially needy seniors or hospice patients)
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Helps cancer
patients travel to distant health centers for care.
Phone: (888) 260-9707 toll free in the U.S.
or call the direct number at (757) 318-9145
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This is a separate and distinct organization from Angel Flights listed above.
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Helps cancer patients travel to distant health centers for
care.
Note: Corporate Angel Network need at least one week advance notice.
Phone: (914) 328-1313 Toll Free (866) 328-1313
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Joe's
House
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The mission of Joe's House is to be a housing resource for cancer
patients and their families who must travel away from home for medical
treatment. Our site lists hundreds of cancer treatment centers and nearby
lodging facilities.
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Helps
cancer patients travel to distant health centers for care.
Phone: (800) 296-1191
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Mission Air Transportation Network
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Provides free air transportation on corporate aircraft.
(Canada) 77 Bloor St West, Ste 1711, Toronto, Ont. M5S
3A1
Phone: (416) 924-9333
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Phone (800) 296-1217
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MD Anderson (Houston) And Continental Airlines: MD Anderson
has arranged a contract with Continental Airlines to assist their patients
traveling for care. You must first obtain a patient identification number
from MD Anderson, but this can be done in advance of your first appointment.
For example, the Continental fares from New York’s
LaGuardia Airport to Houston was quoted to me today to be $252 each R/T if
purchased 21 days in advance and including a Saturday overnight. This ticket
would be nonrefundable, and changes in dates would incur $75 penalties.
Continental fares not including the Saturday overnight or purchased closer
to flying date ranged upwards to $1,828 per person round trip for the same
flight!
You may speak with your MD Anderson social worker for
information on Continental's reduced fares for their patients, or with your
MD Anderson patient identification number in hand, call Continental Airlines
department, We Care Two, (800) 932-2732. Currently, their round trip fare
from New York’s LaGuardia is $388 per person at any time and fully
refundable. Not great, but livable.
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Help negotiate the lowest airfares.
Phone: (407) 363-1991
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Call the airlines . . .
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You can call direct and try to arrange a compassionate air
fare. I just wrote to American Airlines, Delta, US Air, and United Airlines requesting
that they consider allowing cancer patients to travel free in unused seats. ~
Sue.
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Contact Wholesalers on regular commercial airline flights.
Anyone can use these sources at any time:
Fly 4 Less (800) 359-4537
Travel
Bargains (800) 247-3273
Cheap Tickets (800) 377-1000
Preferred Member Services (800) 800-9359
American Travel Associates (800) 243-2724
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Local private or
military flying club.
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Many pilots rent small
planes for pleasure flights. They might be able to fly you to your destination by
rearranging their schedules.
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