updated 5/16/25

Patient Assistance Programs for GIST-approved Medications

Gleevec (Novartis)

  • Medicare beneficiaries can apply for Extra Help.If you have Medicare drug coverage, you may be eligible for financial support through the Extra Help program. It helps people with limited income and resources pay for prescription drugs. Extra Help eliminates premiums and deductibles and limits co-payments and other out-of-pocket costs for people who qualify. You can get Extra Help no matter where you live in the United States. Call 1-800-772-1213. For TTY users, call 1-800-325-0778. PDF
  • Novartis Oncology Universal Co-pay Program – To understand your out-of-pocket costs for Gleevec and to see if you are eligible to pay $10 for a 30-day supply with the Gleevec $10 Co-Pay Card, call 1-866-GLEEVEC (1-866-453-3832) or visit enroll in the Novartis Oncology Universal Co-pay Program. You can also access this service at 1-877-577-7756.
  • Cost Plus Drug Company‘s goal is to reduce the cost of drugs by offering drugs at cost plus 15%, plus the pharmacy (if any)
  • GoodRX gathers current prices and discounts to help patients find the lowest cost pharmacy for your prescriptions. GoodRx is 100% free and no registration required.
  • Amazon Pharmacy can fill most common prescriptions and offers transparent pricing, simple refills, and discreet delivery right to your door.
  • Triage Cancer in partnership with NeedyMeds is helping connect you with healthcare savings. The Triage Cancer drug discount card can help you save up to 80% off the cash price of prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and supplies written as prescriptions, and human equivalent pet medications.

International Glivec Assistance

  • Max Access Solutions is an innovative, patient-centered model for delivering cancer treatment to those in need. Max Access Solutions receives donations of lifesaving cancer medicines from pharmaceutical companies and channel them to people facing cancer in countries where those medicines are not locally available. Contact MAS at the link above for more information and eligibility. Contact The Max Foundation for more information about access to Glivec (imatinib) in these countries. 1-888-462-9368.

Sutent (Pfizer)

  • Pfizer RxPathways connects eligible patients to a range of assistance programs that offer insurance support, co-pay help, and medicines for free or at a savings. Call 1-844-989-PATH (7284)
  • Sutent Financial Assistance/Co-Pay Card – Eligible, commercially insured patients may pay as little as $0 per month for Sutent. To be eligible, you must be commercially insured (receive healthcare through your employer or pay for it on your own) and not participate in any federal or state healthcare programs such as Medicaid or Medicare.
  • Pfizer Compassionate Use and Expanded Access – In cases where a clinical trial is not an option and the patient has exhausted all available treatment options, regulators may grant permission for Pfizer to provide a treating physician with an unapproved drug. Such individual use of an unlicensed investigational drug is often called “compassionate use” or “expanded access”, but may go by other names. Pfizer refers to these uses collectively as “compassionate access”. Treating physicians may submit compassionate use or expanded access requests on behalf of patients or their caregivers. Patients or non-healthcare professionals may not submit requests, but may gain information and submit questions by visiting Pfizer Compassionate Use and Expanded Access. Physicians may submit requests to Pfizer at PfizerCAReS.com.

International Sutent Assistance – Treatment Access Solution

  • Max Access Solutions is an innovative, patient-centered model for delivering cancer treatment to those in need. Max Access Solutions receives donations of lifesaving cancer medicines from pharmaceutical companies and channel them to people facing cancer in countries where those medicines are not locally available. Contact The Max Foundation for more information about access to Sutent (sunitinib malate) in these countries. 1-888-462-9368.

Stivarga (Bayer)

  • $0 Co-Pay Program allows patients to fill their prescription with no out-of-pocket costs for eligible, commercially insured patients.
  • Access Services by Bayer offers a free support program providing you with information about your therapy as well as your financial assistance options. Call 1-800-288-8374 for more information.
    • Privately Insured
      • Enroll at $0 Co-Pay Program or call 1-866-581-4992 for more information on enrolling online.
    • Government Insured (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, Military)
      • Financial assistance may be available through independent charitable organizations or alternate funding options. Call 1-866-639-2827 to speak with a Reimbursement Counselor (9am-5pm EST/EDT).
    • Uninsured/Underinsured
      • Financial assistance may be available through the Patient Assistance Program (PAP) or alternate funding options. Call 1-866-639-2827 to speak with a Reimbursement Counselor (9am-5pm EST/EDT).

Ayvakit (Blueprint Medicines)

  • YourBlueprint™ is a patient support program designed to assist you throughout your treatment with AYVAKIT by providing: 1-on-1support, and financial assistance options, and helpful resources. Connect with a case manager today. For more information, visit YourBlueprint™ or call 1-888-BLUPRNT (1-888-258-7768).

Qinlock (Deciphera Pharmaceuticals)

  • Financial help may be available no matter what insurance you have, or if you have no insurance at all. Cost and insurance coverage should never come between you and your treatment. For help getting Qinlock and enrolling in Deciphera’s patient assistance program, visit Deciphera AccessPoint.

Rozlytrek (Genentech Pharmaceuticals)

Vitrakvi (Bayer Pharmaceuticals)

Other: Nexavar (Bayer)

  • Access Services by Bayer is a free support program providing you with information about your therapy, as well as your financial assistance options.
    • Privately Insured
      • Enroll at Zero Copay Support or call 1-866-581-4992 for more information on enrolling online.
    • Government Insured (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, Military)
      • Financial assistance may be available through independent charitable organizations or alternate funding options. Call 1-866-639-2827 to speak with a Reimbursement Counselor (9am-5pm EST/EDT).
    • Uninsured/Underinsured
      • Financial assistance may be available through the Patient Assistance Program (PAP) or alternate funding options. Call 1-866-639-2827 to speak with a Reimbursement Counselor (9am-5pm EST/EDT).
  • $0 Co-Pay Program allows patients to fill their prescription with no out-of-pocket costs for eligible, commercially insured patients. To complete the 3-step enrollment process visit $0 Co-Pay Program

Other: Ponatinib (Ariad)

  • Takeda Oncology Here2Assist provides support throughout your treatment by offering a wide range of services to get you the information you need and assist with day-to-day concerns associated with your treatment. Regardless of your insurance status, Takeda Oncology Here2Assist can help identify an array of financial assistance programs for which you may be eligible.
    • Eligible, Commercially-Insured
      • The Takeda Oncology Co-Pay Assistance Program limits your co-pay or coinsurance to $10 per month. To determine your eligibility and enroll in the ICLUSIG Co-Pay Assistance Program call 1-844-T1POINT (1-844-817-6468).
    • Government Insured
      • Takeda Oncology helps identify third-party, nonprofit foundations that can grant financial assistance to you that can help with your out-of-pocket, treatment-related expenses (e.g., co-pays, coinsurance, and deductibles). To learn more, call 1-844-T1POINT (1-844-817-6468).
    • Uninsured or Underinsured
      • Takeda Oncology can help explore patient eligibility for the Patient Assistance Program, which may provide drug at no cost for up to 1 year, subject to eligibility. To learn more call 1-844-T1POINT (1-844-817-6468).

Other: Tasigna & Votrient (Novartis)

Financial Assistance for Cancer Care through Charitable Foundations

  • Accessia Health assists eligible patients with one or more of the following: medication and provider copays, coinsurance, health insurance premiums, medical expenses, and travel. Program availability here.
  • Benefits Checkup finds programs for people ages 55 and over that may pay for some of their costs of prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other services. There are also other programs available that help patients obtain prescription drugs and medications free of charge.
  • Patient Access Network Foundation is dedicated to assisting patients who cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs associated with their treatment needs. With disease-specific funds, PAN assists the underinsured in accessing health care treatments. More information is available on the website or call 1-866-316-7263. PAN began a new patient assistance program for people living with gastrointestinal stromal tumors, providing up to $4,200 per year for eligible patients.The PAN Foundation GIST fund opens and closes throughout the year. Sign up for the waitlist to be alerted by email when the fund opens.
  • NeedyMeds provides information on the programs many drug companies have that give away free prescription medications to people who have no insurance and qualify for their programs. Allows you to access the information on the drug by searching by drug or by manufacturer.
  • The Medicine Assistance Tool matches patients with resources and cost-sharing programs that may help lower your out-of-pocket costs, whether or not you have insurance.
  • Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) provides co-pay assistance for patients with Metastatic Gastric Cancer. Information about the PAF Co-Pay Relief Program can be obtained by calling 1-866-512-3861, option1, or visiting PAF Co-pay Relief.

Travel Assistance for Medical Care

  • Air Care Alliance is a nationwide league of humanitarian flying organizations whose volunteer pilots are dedicated to community service. This site lists volunteers who perform public benefit flying for health care, patient transport, disaster relief, environmental support, and other missions of public service.
  • Air Charity Network provides access for people in need seeking free air transportation to specialized health care facilities or distant destinations due to family, community, or national crisis. To request assistance, call 1-877-621-7177 or visit Air Charity Network
  • Angel Flight is a non-profit organization of pilots and other volunteers dedicated to serving the community by arranging free private air transportation for medical patients and their families who cannot afford to utilize normal, commercial transportation.
  • Corporate Angel Network aims to ease the emotional stress, physical discomfort and financial burden of travel for adult and pediatric cancer patients by arranging free flights to recognized treatment centers, using the empty seats on corporate aircraft flying on routine business.
  • LifeLine Pilots facilitates free transportation for such medical needs as on-going medical treatments, diagnosis and follow-up care in 10 states. To speak to the Mission Coordinator, call 1-800-822-7972, or visit LifeLine Pilots
  • Mercy Medical Angels provides free transportation nationwide to and from medical care on the ground with gas cards, bus and train tickets, and in the air through commercial airlines and volunteer pilots. To request assistance visit http://www.mercymedical.org/ or call 1-888-675-1405.
  • Patient AirLift Services (PALS) arranges free air transportation for individuals requiring medical diagnosis, treatment or follow-up.
  • American Cancer Society (ACS) Road to Recovery offers a directory of available options, sorted by city. The ACS Road to Recovery program partners with municipalities, faith-based organizations, and a network of volunteer drivers to provide the much-needed rides back and forth to appointments. For more information, call 1-800-227-2345.
  • Uber Health is an extension of the Uber ride-sharing platform for patients and caregivers. Uber Health provides access to care for those in need by scheduling reliable transportation using the Uber Health dashboard or API.
  • Lyft Concierge offers a similar platform to Uber Health, also providing transport coordinated through the doctor’s office. As with Uber, the Lyft rides can be paid for by a patient’s health insurance provider, including Medicare and Medicaid in some cases.
  • Chemo Cars (available in Charlotte, NC and Amarillo, TX with plans to expand) is a non-profit organization that partners directly with Uber and Lyft to provide free transport to and from medical visits. The cost of the rides is provided by donations to Chemo Cars, requested at $12 per donor to pay for one ride.

Lodging Assistance for Medical Care

  • The Healthcare Hospitality Network, Inc. (HHN) is a nationwide professional association of nearly 200 unique, nonprofit organizations that provide lodging and support services to patients, families and their loved ones who are receiving medical treatment far from their home communities.
  • Joe’s House is a housing resource for cancer patients and their families who must travel away from home for medical treatment. The site lists hundreds of cancer treatment centers and nearby lodging facilities.
  • Ronald McDonald Houses, Family Rooms and Care Mobiles keep families with sick children together and near the care and resources they need.

Legal & Financial Navigation

For additional information, please call 424-258-4628 or visit their website.

Pharmacy Programs

  • Amazon Pharmacy can fill most common prescriptions and offers transparent pricing, simple refills, and discreet delivery right to your door.
  • Cost Plus Drug Company‘s goal is to reduce the cost of drugs by offering drugs at cost plus 15%, plus the pharmacy (if any)
  • GoodRX gathers current prices and discounts to help patients find the lowest cost pharmacy for your prescriptions.  GoodRx is 100% free and no registration required.
  • QuickRX is an independent pharmacy that uses a personalized approach to providing medication for the lowest out-of-pocket price to their patients.  They specialize in copay assistance for specialty medications where funding is often limited or not available. Services include 24/7 pharmacist accessibility, a reliable team to advocate for the patient’s prescription needs, and staying connected with the prescribing team to solve issues and address concerns on behalf of the patients.
  • Triage Cancer in partnership with NeedyMeds is helping connect you with healthcare savings. The Triage Cancer drug discount card can help you save up to 80% off the cash price of prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and supplies written as prescriptions, and human equivalent pet medications. Users can also save 40% off medical equipment. This drug discount card is free, no registration is required and it is accepted at more than 65,000 pharmacies nationwide.
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