Because Treatment Access Shouldn’t Depend on Paperwork.

Navigating health insurance can feel overwhelming—especially after a brain cancer diagnosis. The End Brain Cancer Initiative’s Insurance Navigation Program is here to help you understand your coverage, explore your options, and advocate for the care you deserve. Our team walks with you step-by-step to clarify benefits, address denials, connect with financial assistance resources, and ensure you can access the specialists, treatments, and clinical trials recommended for you.

You focus on healing. We’ll provide the resources to help.

Health Insurance Navigator & Advocate Form

“I Didn’t Know How I Was Going to Get There…”

When Maria was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, her world turned upside down. Her specialist was over 200 miles away, and the treatment schedule was relentless—radiation three times a week and a clinical trial that could offer her more time. But with no reliable transportation, every appointment became a crisis.

Her adult daughter worked full-time and lived in another state. Rideshares wouldn’t take her that far. Medicaid transportation didn’t cover out-of-county care. Maria began missing appointments—not because she didn’t want treatment, but because she literally couldn’t get there.

Through the End Brain Cancer Initiative Travel Resources, Maria was able to connect with free medical transportation options—including long-distance medical flights and ground ambulance support when her condition worsened.

Now, she’s not just getting to treatment—she’s getting hope.

For brain tumor and brain cancer patients, time is everything—and access is survival. Specialized care is often hours away, and many patients are too sick, too rural, or too financially strained to get there on their own. That’s where transportation assistance programs become lifesaving.

Organizations that provide these services free of charge do more than offer a ride—they remove a devastating barrier to care. They ensure that no patient misses a clinical trial, a radiation appointment, or a second opinion because of distance or cost.

These programs deliver dignity, hope, and critical access to treatment—especially for patients navigating some of the most aggressive and complex cancers. Their impact is immediate, profound, and often the difference between giving up and getting help.

Aimee Hoch, LSW, OSW-C, FACCC

Oncology Financial Advocate
St. Luke’s Grand View Campus

Aimee Hoch is a Master’s level, licensed social worker with 30 years of experience in healthcare and behavioral health. Her practice is focused in oncology, specifically addressing financial toxicity. Aimee earned her MSW from Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus and is a certified oncology social worker.

Aimee is an integral member of the Oncology Financial Advocacy Team at St. Luke’s Grand View Campus, formerly Grand View Health, where she created and launched the Financial Navigation Program in 2018. Nationally, she serves as a Financial Navigation Specialist for the Cancer Support Community Helpline, and frequently speaks on the topics of financial toxicity and financial navigation in cancer care.

She is a Fellow of the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) and serves on its Financial Advocacy Network Advisory Committee and is the incoming Chair for 2026-27. Aimee also contributes to several other key organizations, including the Medical Advisory Board of Living Beyond Breast Cancer, the Pennsylvania Cancer Coalition Quality of Life and Survivorship Workgroup, and co-chairs the Pennsylvania Oncology Navigation Network (PONN).

Resources and Links

PALS - Skyhope

Patient AirLift Services is a nonprofit that arranges free flights for medical patients requiring medical diagnosis, treatment or follow-up who cannot afford or are unable to fly commercially.

REQUEST A FLIGHT

Travel To HOPE

Offering hope to cancer patients by helping them afford to travel for care

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Medical Travel Programs

A great place to start your search for medical travel aid! This helpful website lists public benefit flying organizations, pilots, medical transport groups, and more. You can access a free flight with help from this group and directly from their site.

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Road To Recovery

The American Cancer Society Road To Recovery® program eases your burden by giving free rides to cancer-related medical appointments. Our trained volunteer drivers are happy to pick you up, take you to your appointment, and drop you off at home. All for free and all to make your days a little easier. Not having a ride shouldn’t stand between you and lifesaving treatment.

SCHEDULE A RIDE