Cancer Navigation Resources
Practical guidance for patients and families navigating a cancer diagnosis — from understanding your options to finding financial assistance and supporting a loved one through treatment.
37 posts
What a 90-Day Pilot with Beacon Looks Like — And What Changes
Oncology practices that partner with Beacon for 90 days see fewer non-clinical calls, better-supported patients, and a care experience that reflects the quality of their clinical team.
What Oncology Practices Gain When They Add a Patient Navigator
A dedicated non-clinical navigator reduces front-desk burden, improves patient experience, and strengthens care continuity — without adding to your clinical team.
How to Communicate With Your Cancer Care Team Between Appointments
Cancer care does not pause between appointments. Knowing how to reach your care team, what to communicate, and how to track those interactions can reduce stress and help ensure nothing important is missed.
Understanding Your Pathology Report: What It Is and How to Organize It
A pathology report is one of the most important documents in a cancer diagnosis — and one of the hardest to read. This guide explains what a pathology report contains, why it matters, and how to organize and track it as part of your cancer records.
The Cancer Diagnosis Paperwork Nobody Warns You About
A cancer diagnosis brings a second full-time job nobody signed up for. Here's what to expect — and how to manage it without losing your mind.
Colorado Medicaid Medical-Frailty Exemption: What Cancer Patients Should Know
Colorado is preparing to implement new Medicaid community-engagement requirements beginning in 2027. For cancer patients on Health First Colorado, understanding the medical-frailty exemption and staying organized now may matter. Here is what we know and how Beacon Cancer Navigation can help.
Colorado Medicaid eConsult Is Ending August 31: What Cancer Patients Should Know
Colorado's state-supported Medicaid eConsult platform is shutting down on August 31, 2026. For Health First Colorado members navigating cancer care — especially in rural or underserved communities — here is what the change means and how to stay organized through the transition.
What to Bring to Every Cancer Appointment
Cancer treatment involves a lot of appointments — and arriving prepared makes each one more productive. This practical guide covers the documents, questions, comfort items, and logistics worth organizing before you go.
How to Stay Organized During Cancer Treatment (Free Tool Inside)
Managing a cancer diagnosis means managing an enormous amount of information. Here's a practical system for staying on top of it — plus a free tool to help.
Free Resource
Glossary of Common Insurance Terms
Navigating a diagnosis is overwhelming enough without needing to learn a new language. Here are the most common terms you will encounter when reviewing your health insurance coverage or reading medical bills.
Key Terms
Major Colorado Health Insurance Carriers
When calling your insurance company, always have your member ID card ready, write down the date and time of your call, and ask the representative for a call reference number.
3 Rules for Calling Your Insurance Company
If you are managing your own care logistics, keep these rules in mind before you pick up the phone.
Keep a Call Log
Never hang up without asking for the representative's first name and the call reference number. If you are told a treatment is covered, this reference number is your proof.
Always Ask for a Supervisor on Denials
The first-tier representative answering the phone usually does not have the authority to overturn a denied prior authorization or claim. If you hit a wall, firmly ask to speak with the escalations department or a supervisor.
Record the "Hold Music" Time
Track the time you spend managing insurance bureaucracy. If it begins to interfere with your treatment schedule, work, or peace of mind, it may be time to bring in professional, non-clinical logistical support.
Feeling overwhelmed by insurance paperwork?
Beacon Cancer Navigation can help you track bills, understand your EOBs, and identify financial assistance resources — so you can focus on healing.
Free Resource
National Cancer Financial Relief & Grants
These established organizations provide significant financial assistance across the country, typically focusing on medical out-of-pocket costs, prescription copays, and travel.
Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) Co-Pay Relief
Provides direct financial assistance to qualified patients for co-payments, co-insurance, and deductibles required by insurers for prescribed medications.
CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation
Offers financial assistance for copayments to cover the cost of medications for treating cancer, alongside free professional support services.
HealthWell Foundation
Assists the underinsured with prescription copays, health insurance premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance, as well as out-of-pocket travel costs for treatments.
Family Reach
Focuses entirely on the non-medical, everyday financial burden of cancer. They provide grants specifically to keep a roof over patients' heads, covering rent, mortgages, utilities, and groceries.
The PAN (Patient Access Network) Foundation
Helps underinsured people with life-threatening, chronic, and rare diseases get the medications and treatments they need by assisting with out-of-pocket medical costs.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Financial Support
Offers multiple assistance programs, including a Co-Pay Assistance Program and a Patient Aid Program, specifically for blood cancer patients.
Colorado-Specific Grants & Everyday Living Support
Local resources are often faster to access and can cover the vital non-medical expenses that national grants sometimes miss.
Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation
A cornerstone resource for Colorado residents. They provide unrestricted financial grants to help cancer patients with everyday living expenses — like rent, utilities, and groceries — so they can focus entirely on treatment and healing.
Rocky Mountain Cancer Assistance (RMCA)
Offers financial assistance for basic needs (rent, mortgage, utilities, auto-related expenses) to cancer patients living in Colorado.
Sense of Security
Provides financial assistance to Colorado residents specifically going through breast cancer treatment, helping with non-medical expenses to maintain their standard of living.
Project Angel Heart
While not a direct cash grant, this Colorado organization removes a massive financial and logistical burden by preparing and delivering free, medically tailored meals to people living with severe illnesses across the state.
Colorado Cancer Coalition
An excellent hub that doesn't distribute funds directly, but maintains an actively updated directory of hyper-local grants, support groups, and resources for patients across the state.
Need help finding and applying for financial assistance?
Beacon Cancer Navigation can help you identify the right programs, gather the required documentation, and navigate the application process — so you don't leave money on the table.