Federal, exists in every state
Costs and travel for an NIH Clinical Center study
Care in an NIH Clinical Center study is provided without charge, and approved travel and lodging support can reduce the cost of taking part.
What it is
Care in an NIH Clinical Center study is provided without charge, and approved travel and lodging support can reduce the cost of taking part.
Care that is part of an NIH Clinical Center study is provided without charge, and approved travel or lodging can be arranged; the Children’s Inn is a supporting nonprofit for family lodging, not a cash grant. This applies to NIH Clinical Center participation, not every federally funded trial.
Rules
- A referral or interest is not enrollment or a reservation.
- Travel assistance depends on the protocol and approval; confirm tickets and reimbursement in advance.
What you get
- Free study care at NIH and approved travel support, when enrolled.
Detail
- Family lodging has separate arrangements and availability.
If you decide to apply
- If the oncology team raises an NIH-run study, ask the study coordinator to confirm eligibility, which visits are study care, how treatment outside NIH is covered, and to arrange travel before you book anything.
NIH Clinical Center studies · Official page ↗
If it becomes relevant
- Ask the team what the study pays for, in writing.
Good to know
The clinical-trial card above covers what your own insurance must keep paying in any approved trial.
Other details
- Ask how care between NIH visits is covered at home.
Official sources
“If an NIH study were ever proposed, would the team help us understand costs and travel before we decide?”
Why I’m asking: We want to know what would be covered.
More background and detailed requirements
How this works
Care in an NIH Clinical Center study is provided without charge, and approved travel and lodging support can reduce the cost of taking part.
Care that is part of an NIH Clinical Center study is provided without charge, and approved travel or lodging can be arranged; the Children’s Inn is a supporting nonprofit for family lodging, not a cash grant. This applies to NIH Clinical Center participation, not every federally funded trial.
- Free study care at NIH and approved travel support, when enrolled.
- If the oncology team raises an NIH-run study, ask the study coordinator to confirm eligibility, which visits are study care, how treatment outside NIH is covered, and to arrange travel before you book anything.
Rules
- A referral or interest is not enrollment or a reservation.
- Travel assistance depends on the protocol and approval; confirm tickets and reimbursement in advance.
Detail
- Family lodging has separate arrangements and availability.
If it becomes relevant
- Ask the team what the study pays for, in writing.
Other details
- Ask how care between NIH visits is covered at home.
The clinical-trial card above covers what your own insurance must keep paying in any approved trial.
A referral or interest is not enrollment or a reservation.
Travel assistance depends on the protocol and approval; confirm tickets and reimbursement in advance.
Family lodging has separate arrangements and availability.
Ask the team what the study pays for, in writing.
Ask how care between NIH visits is covered at home.
Additional program information and published rules
Who does what
The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.
You
Ask the trial team to contact NIH; travel office 1-866-227-9339, Children’s Inn 301-496-5672.
Your social worker
The hospital social worker helps locate the right office and gather supporting records.
The care team
Records and letters when the application asks for them.
- Who decides
- The agency or plan named in the first step
- Ask your social worker
- “Is this an NIH-run study, and can the team confirm travel and lodging approval before we book?”
How to apply
First step: Ask the trial team to contact NIH; travel office 1-866-227-9339, Children’s Inn 301-496-5672.
- Ask the trial team to contact NIH; travel office 1-866-227-9339, Children’s Inn 301-496-5672.
Official application / program page ↗
Where it starts: Ask the trial team to contact NIH; travel office 1-866-227-9339, Children’s Inn 301-496-5672.
What to gather
- The relevant plan or benefit notice
- Documents showing the need and relevant income
How long: Ask the deciding office for its current processing time.
What a yes looks like
Written confirmation of the benefit, its scope and any cost.
What a no looks like, and the next move
Ask for the reason in writing and the review route.
The numbers and the rules
The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 10, 2026.
What it is worth
Study care and approved travel or family lodging, subject to NIH admission and arrangements.
Covers: Study care and approved travel or family lodging, subject to NIH admission and arrangements.
What it costs the family: Ask the agency or plan to confirm any charge before committing.
The eligibility facts, as published
- Review
- The agency or plan must confirm the conditions described here.
The trap: The agency or plan checks the conditions; this guide does not decide the application.
What changes by state: Plan and local implementation vary.