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Who we are
Founded in 1958, United Cancer is a non-profit agency that is committed to the care of Elkhart County’s cancer patients.
Although United Cancer is frequently confused with national agencies, UC is not a branch office but was founded and operates only in the Elkhart County area. The large, national cancer agencies do good work in research and education, but United Cancer's mission is local. UC helps Elkhart County area cancer patients pay for their treatment, supplies, and medicine.
Will you reach out to your Elkhart County neighbors with cancer?
To learn more about our history,
click here.
To see a copy of our most recent annual report, click here.
What we do
"Being diagnosed with cancer is one of the most terrifying moments of your life, then the medical community comes at you like a whirlwind.", confided one of our clients.
United Cancer's Journey Through Treatment program helps change a cancer patient from being an overwhelmed, passive recipient of health care, to becoming an educated, proactive planner for their time in treatment. How does this happen? Journey Through Treatment helps the cancer patient:
- Research and estimate their total treatment costs;
- Calculate their health insurance contribution, so that they can estimate their out-of-pocket expense;
- Investigate options for substituting the income they will lose while they are in treatment;
- Consider their regular living expenses;
- Assess their family & friend support structure;
- Then UC helps the patient design their plan for the Journey Through Treatement.
- Finally, UC can apply our strategic tools of referral, lifestyle change and direct financial support.
Helping you
Most people are surprised to find that 75% of the people who ask United Cancer for help have health insurance! Why are insured people asking for help? Most cancer patients cannot work while they are in treatment, but life's regular living expenses don't stop when you are diagnosed with cancer. Then add the ever growing out-of pocket medical costs of insurance deductibles and scores of co-pays from treatment, tests and medications, and solidly middle class families quickly find themselves financially and emotionally overwhelmed. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Arming yourself with knowledge is an important part of the fight. A wealth of information is available on cancer and the treatment options. The references below will help educate you on the many facets of life with cancer.
WebMD
American Cancer Society
Helping us
United Cancer has distributed over $525,000 in direct financial aid to hundreds of your Elkhart County neighbors in cancer treatment since the year 2000! However, that only considers the direct benefit of United Cancer's service. By discovering patients who were seeking treatment from "out of network" medical providers and redirecting them back to their network, and by referring cancer patients to other non-profit and governmental resources, United Cancer's benefit to local patients is well over $1 million since the year 2000.
United Cancer does not receive any government funding! All of United Cancer's funds come from donation, sponsorships, and the proceeds of our local events. Will you do your part to help your Elkhart County neighbors in cancer treatment?
Join our cause –
Make a donation
Show your support at one of our events