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Educational guides

Cancer Drug Coverage and Denials

Plain-language guides to why insurers deny specialty cancer drugs, your appeal rights, and where to get cancer-specific coverage help.

A note on scope. Apellica focuses on appeals for non-oncology insurance denials and does not handle cancer-related appeal cases. Cancer coverage involves complex, fast-moving clinical and financial questions, and patients are best served by organizations built specifically for oncology. If you are facing a cancer drug denial, please reach out to the specialized groups listed on this page, including the PAN Foundation, the Patient Advocate Foundation, Triage Cancer, and CancerCare, along with the manufacturer's own copay or patient-assistance program. They offer free, expert, cancer-focused support, and they can help you understand your options and protect your access to treatment. ---

Drug guides

Keytruda (pembrolizumab)

PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor. Treats a range of cancers including melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, and others.

Opdivo (nivolumab)

PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor. Treats melanoma, lung, kidney, and other cancers.

Tecentriq (atezolizumab)

PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor. Treats lung, bladder, and other cancers.

Revlimid (lenalidomide)

immunomodulatory agent. Treats multiple myeloma and certain blood disorders.

Tagrisso (osimertinib)

EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Treats EGFR-mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer.

Imbruvica (ibrutinib)

BTK inhibitor. Treats certain leukemias and lymphomas.

Ibrance (palbociclib)

CDK4/6 inhibitor. Treats HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

Darzalex (daratumumab)

anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Treats multiple myeloma.

Verzenio (abemaciclib)

CDK4/6 inhibitor. Treats HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

Xtandi (enzalutamide)

androgen receptor inhibitor. Treats prostate cancer.

Cancer-specific resources

  • PAN Foundation Copay and financial assistance funds for specific diagnoses.
  • Patient Advocate Foundation Case managers who help with insurance denials and appeals for serious illness.
  • Triage Cancer Free education and resources on cancer-related insurance and appeals.
  • CancerCare Professional support services and financial assistance.