St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
What St. Jude Covers for Patient Families · About this organization
What you get
If your child is treated at St. Jude, you never get a bill for that care, and St. Jude arranges or pays for your travel, free housing and help with meals.
How to start
Your child’s doctor refers your child to the St. Jude referral office at 1-888-226-4343. Once your child is accepted, the care team and Patient Services arrange the rest.
Good to know
- Most children are accepted by joining a St. Jude clinical trial; children living within 180 miles of Memphis may be accepted without one.
- Ask Patient Services for travel help before each trip.
The details, as published
A hospital benefit for children accepted for treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis: families do not pay for services provided at St. Jude, travel is arranged or paid based on distance, free housing is assigned to families living more than 35 miles away, and meal accounts and meal stipends help with food. The St. Jude care team and Patient Services arrange it after acceptance; acceptance needs a physician referral.
What help you may get
Medical And Insurance Costs
No bill for care at St. Jude
Accepted patients get care whether or not the family can pay, and families do not pay for services provided at St. Jude.
Actual eligible cost · As Needed
Can cover
- treatment and services provided at St. Jude
- Families do not pay for services provided at St. Jude.
Travel And Transportation
Travel arranged or paid by distance
After acceptance, St. Jude arranges or pays for travel by distance: local transport or mileage; bus or rail; rental car help from 50 miles; air, bus or rail from more than 250 miles. Free parking, valet and shuttles on campus.
Actual eligible cost · Per Trip
Can cover
- air travel (more than 250 miles)
- bus or rail travel
- auto mileage
- rental car help (50 miles or more)
- free parking, valet and shuttles
- Travel is arranged or mileage paid; no dollar cap is printed.
- Ask for travel help before each trip; mileage can be claimed after arrival.
Lodging Near Treatment
Free housing near the hospital
Free short-term or long-term housing (Tri Delta Place, Target House, The Domino’s Village, Ronald McDonald House) for families whose child needs an overnight stay and who live more than 35 miles away.
Noncash help · As Needed
Can cover
- short-term lodging
- long-term lodging
- Free.
Meals And Food
Meal accounts and meal stipends
Cafeteria meal accounts based on the appointment schedule, a daily stipend for families in short-term housing and a weekly meal stipend for families in long-term housing.
Amount decided by the program · Recurring
Can cover
- cafeteria meal account
- daily short-term stipend
- weekly meal stipend
Does not cover
- alcohol
- tobacco
- lottery tickets
- gambling
- Funds are loaded at St. Jude’s discretion and balances may be capped; amounts are not printed.
- Daily in short-term housing, weekly in long-term housing.
Why this may help
Meals And Food: St. Jude gives you cafeteria meal accounts and a daily or weekly meal stipend, depending on where you stay.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. St. Jude names acute lymphoblastic leukemia among the diseases it treats; the benefit applies once a child is accepted.
Age
Any starting age to age 21, measured at application.
- Most diseases: accepted at age 21 or younger. For acute lymphoblastic leukemia the published limit is age 18 or younger; some diseases on open clinical trials go to age 25.
Treatment status
No specific treatment status is published.
- Most patients are accepted by enrolling in a St. Jude clinical trial; some trials only take children who have not started treatment. Children living within 180 miles of Memphis may be accepted without a trial.
- A physician or other qualified medical professional must refer the child to St. Jude.
- Care is given whether or not the family can pay.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
No residence restriction is published.
- No residence limit: St. Jude treats patients from across the country and abroad. Children living within 180 miles of Memphis may be accepted without a clinical trial.
Where your child is treated
Treatment must be connected to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
- Only for children accepted for treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
How to get started
Does a social worker or care team need to start it? Yes. Ask your child’s social worker or care team to begin the request.
Who can start: Physician
- Your child’s doctor contacts the St. Jude Physician/Patient Referral Office to refer your child.
- Once your child is accepted, St. Jude Patient Services arranges travel, housing and meal help.
- Ask Patient Services for travel help before each trip.
Ways to apply or ask
- Hospital Workflow — The child’s doctor refers the child to St. Jude; after acceptance St. Jude Patient Services arranges travel, housing and meals.
- Phone · 1-888-226-4343 — Physician/Patient Referral Office (local 901-595-4055).
- Phone · 1-866-278-5833 — Patient Services, ext. 4501, for travel and housing help once your child is a patient.
Documents to prepare
The program does not publish a document checklist. Ask before gathering paperwork.
- Travel help must be requested in advance; auto mileage can be claimed after arrival.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Hospital Mediated |
| Funding or space | Not Applicable |
| Application window | Not Applicable |
| Last checked | Sep 29, 2026 |
- Delivered by St. Jude to accepted patient families; no separate application.
- Starts on acceptance as a patient.
Limitations and things to confirm
- Only for children accepted for treatment at St. Jude.
- Housing is for families living more than 35 miles away whose child needs an overnight stay.
Official sources
Program details were last verified Sep 29, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital · checked Sep 29, 2026
- Housing | St. Jude Care & Treatment · checked Sep 29, 2026
- Information for New Patients | St. Jude Care & Treatment · checked Sep 29, 2026
- Places to Eat on Campus | St. Jude Care & Treatment · checked Sep 29, 2026
- How to Seek Treatment at St. Jude | St. Jude Care & Treatment · checked Sep 29, 2026
- Transportation | St. Jude Care & Treatment · checked Sep 29, 2026