Financial Assistance

The Kidney Cancer Association offers financial assistance to help individuals with financial hardships caused by their kidney cancer diagnosis. We believe your focus should be on your health, not on your finances.

Financial Assistance Options:

$250 Visa Gift Card

*Funds temporarily on hold as of February 17, 2025

  1. You must be a United States citizen or legal resident
    • Your kidney cancer medical team will need to confirm your citizenship status when applying.
  2. You must have a provider-verified primary kidney cancer diagnosis and are currently receiving treatment
    • Your kidney cancer medical team will need to verify your kidney cancer diagnosis as well as the type of treatment you are receiving or are planning to receive.
    • Approved types of treatments may include:
      • Surgery (completed 6 months prior to application date or scheduled within the next 6 months)
      • Medications (including participating in a clinical trial)
      • Radiation therapy
      • Other (an explanation of the type of treatment will be needed)*
    • Kidney cancer types that will be accepted are:
      • Clear cell RCC
      • Chromophobe RCC
      • Collecting duct RCC
      • Papillary RCC
      • Renal Medullary Carcinoma
      • Translocation RCC
      • Unclassified RCC
      • Renal sarcoma
      • Wilms tumor
  3. You must provide proof of financial hardship because of your kidney cancer diagnosis
    • You will need to demonstrate you will have expenses that total at least $250 or more related directly to your kidney cancer diagnosis and treatment incurred 6 months prior to application date and/or expected in the next 12 months from application date in at least one of the following categories:
      • Insurance-related costs (premium/co-pays/co-insurance/deductible)
      • Kidney cancer related medical bills**
      • Kidney cancer related prescriptions
      • Kidney cancer related travel (including lodging, transportation, parking, gas, tolls, food)
      • Medical equipment needed because of your kidney cancer

*active surveillance or routine follow-up care will not be an acceptable type of treatment
**funeral/burial expenses may be considered in this category

Applications are only accepted using our online form submitted by a member of your kidney cancer medical team. 

Next Steps:

After your application has been submitted by your kidney cancer medical team, you will receive an email confirmation acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application will be reviewed by KCA staff and you’ll receive an email update on the status of your application within 5 business days of it being initially reviewed. Review times may vary depending on the number of other applications received, holidays, or other circumstances outside of the KCA’s control.

You will receive an email notifying you that your application has been declined and will include the reason(s) why.

Reasons you may be declined include (but are not limited to):

  • Not a US citizen or legal resident
  • Not actively receiving treatment for kidney cancer or don’t have an approved kidney cancer diagnosis
  • Will not have more than $250 in expenses directly related to your kidney cancer diagnosis and treatment
  • Have received a gift card within the last 12 months

You will receive an email notifying you of the approval. Your $250 gift card will be arriving in the mail within 5-10 business days following application approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

As long as you meet the eligibility requirements and your kidney cancer medical team applies on your behalf, you are eligible for a $250 gift card once every 12 months.

No, only a healthcare professional on your kidney cancer medical team can apply on your behalf. The portal is available 24 hours a day.

Only online applications will be accepted.

Only US citizens and legal residents are eligible to receive assistance.

You will receive an email when a decision has been made regarding your application.


Our financial education guides, created with our partner, Triage Cancer, can help you navigate the unexpected challenges you may face.

Minimize Cancer Costs

Do you have questions about how to choose a health insurance plan, or how to deal with your medical bills? This guide provides an introduction to: health insurance terms you should understand, how to pick a health insurance plan that meets your needs; health insurance options that may be available to you; and ways to manage your medical bills and find financial help.

Your Rights at Work

If you have been diagnosed with cancer or if you are a caregiver for someone with cancer, you may need to figure out how to continue working, take time off, return to work, or even retire. Understanding employment laws may help you navigate these options and make decisions. This guide provides a brief overview of employee rights, as well as what benefits and policies may exist in your workplace.

For Healthcare Providers

Patient outcomes and quality of life can be significantly improved when patients are connected to members of the health care team who can discuss their health insurance coverage, preferences around managing work and cancer treatment, and access to financial assistance. This guide covers ways that members of the health care team can help patients navigate the cost of their care and insurance denials of coverage.

Keep Learning:

The Kidney Cancer Association provides educational literature for anyone impacted by kidney cancer.