Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

Childhood Cancer Lantern
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HUGS Charities

H.U.G.S Patient Assistance Program

What you get

Payments toward rent, mortgage, utilities, home or car insurance, car payments and repairs, plus food gift cards and gas for treatment trips. The amount isn't published. Ask. Open now, but funds are limited, so ask early.

Who starts it
You, with a document from your social worker or doctor
How it’s sent
Email to hugspatientsassistance@gmail.com, or by post
Your time
About 15 minutes, plus waiting for the document
Last checked
Aug 27, 2026

Before you start, check you fit

  • Requests are approved monthly.
  • Medical bills and medical debt are not covered.
  • The applicant must reside in Marion County and receive active cancer treatment in Florida.

  1. Ask your social worker or doctor for the documentStart here. This is the part that takes the longest.

    HUGS Charities needs a signed confirmation of the diagnosis from your social worker or doctor. It has to cover 3 things. Copy this message, or say it in person at the next visit.

    Hi [social worker’s name],

We’d like to apply to HUGS Charities’s H.U.G.S Patient Assistance Program. They offer payments toward rent, mortgage, utilities, home or car insurance, car payments and repairs, plus food gift cards and gas for treatment trips, and they are taking applications now while funds last.

They need a signed confirmation of the diagnosis from you or someone on the care team. It has to cover cancer center and contact, diagnosis and date, and current treatment. Their form and instructions are here: https://www.hugscharities.org/apply

Could you do that when you have a chance? I’ll bring the printed form to our next visit, or I can email it. Thank you for everything you do for us.

[your name] · [phone]
    Copying is the only thing this page does with your text. Nothing is saved.

  2. Fill in their formPrint it, or fill it in on screen if the PDF allows.

    Open the application PDF ↗ Checked Aug 27, 2026

    What the form asks for

    They don’t publish the questions in advance. Have your contact details, your child’s diagnosis and date, and the hospital’s name to hand.

    Have ready

    • Copy of every bill requested for payment.

  3. Email your application and the document togetherTo hugspatientsassistance@gmail.com. Or post it to the address on the form.

    • Email the signed packet and bills to hugspatientsassistance@gmail.com, or mail to P.O. Box 34, Ocala, FL 34478.

    Email: hugspatientsassistance@gmail.com

    Subject: H.U.G.S Patient Assistance Program application, [child’s name]

Hello,

Attached are our completed application and the document from [social worker’s name] at [hospital]. Please let me know that it arrived and if anything is missing.

Thank you,
[your name] · [phone]

After you send

Use the assistance email for pending-application questions; processing is every two to three weeks and approval monthly. If you have not heard back by then, write and ask.

Full record, as published