Gas Cards for Cancer Patients: Where to Find Fuel Help and Free Rides to Treatment

Where gas cards for cancer patients come from

Most gas cards reach patients through one of four doors. Knowing the doors saves you a lot of phone calls.

• Hospital and cancer center funds. Many treatment centers keep a small patient assistance fund, often paid for by local donors or hospital foundations. Gas cards are one of the most common things these funds buy.
• National cancer charities. Some national groups give limited grants for transportation costs, usually after a short application and an income check.
• Foundations for specific cancers. Some charities focus on one diagnosis, such as a type of blood cancer or breast cancer, and offer small travel grants to people with that diagnosis. Programs open and close often, so ask your care team which ones are taking applications.
• Local community groups. Churches, civic clubs, and local cancer support groups sometimes donate gas cards to a nearby clinic or hand them out directly. Your local 211 line can point you to them.

Gas cards are usually a one-time or short-term help, often enough for a few trips rather than a whole course of treatment. That is why it helps to combine them with free rides, Medicaid trips, and lodging when you can.

Your cancer center social worker

If you only make one call, make it to the oncology social worker or patient navigator at your treatment center. Ask the nurse at your next visit to connect you, or call the main number and ask for social work. These staff members help patients with money problems every day.

A social worker can usually:

• Tell you whether the hospital has gas cards or parking vouchers right now.
• Apply to charities on your behalf, since some programs only accept referrals from a social worker.
• Sign forms that confirm your diagnosis and treatment schedule.
• Connect you with hospital financial assistance (charity care) for your medical bills.
• Help you set up rides, lodging, or home care.

The National Cancer Institute notes that social workers can help find financial assistance and explain coverage. NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER can also help you find services.

National cancer charities that help with travel

CancerCare offers limited financial assistance for costs such as transportation, home care, and child care. Its page says applicants need a confirmed cancer diagnosis, active treatment or cancer-related surgery, U.S. or Puerto Rico residence, and income within its federal poverty guidelines. Funding is first come, first served and is confirmed through a social worker interview. Call the CancerCare Hopeline at 800-813-4673 to learn which programs are open. The amount of each grant is not published.

Ask the charity tied to your diagnosis, too. Your oncologist’s office usually knows which groups are active. When you call any charity, ask three questions: Is the fund open now? What does it cover? Do you pay me, or do you pay the gas station or provider?

Free rides instead of gas money

A free ride can be worth more than a gas card, especially if you feel too sick to drive after treatment. The American Cancer Society’s Road To Recovery program uses trained volunteer drivers to take patients to cancer-related appointments and back home. To request a ride, call 1-800-227-2345, which is answered around the clock.

A few things to know before you call:

• Rides can take several business days to set up, so call well before your appointment.
• Service depends on how many volunteer drivers are in your area. Some places have more drivers than others.
• A caregiver may need to ride along if the patient cannot walk without help or is under 18.

Also ask your treatment center about its own shuttle, and ask your local Area Agency on Aging about senior ride programs. Some counties run low-cost dial-a-ride services for medical trips. Our transportation assistance program guide covers more of these options.

Medicaid and insurance trip benefits

If you have Medicaid, you may not need a gas card at all. Federal rules require each state Medicaid plan to make sure members have necessary transportation to and from covered care (42 CFR 431.53). This is often called non-emergency medical transportation, or NEMT. Depending on your state, it can mean a ride from a transport company, a bus pass, or mileage repayment when a friend or family member drives you.

How to use it:

1. Call the member services number on your Medicaid card, or your state’s Medicaid ride line.
2. Ask how far ahead you must book. Many states ask for a few days’ notice.
3. Ask whether mileage repayment is available if you drive yourself or a relative drives you.
4. Keep appointment slips, since some states ask for proof of the visit.

See Medicaid.gov for an overview. Original Medicare generally does not pay for routine rides to appointments, but some Medicare Advantage plans include a transportation benefit. Check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage or call the number on your card.

Free lodging near treatment

If your treatment center is far away, a free place to stay can save both gas and hotel costs. The American Cancer Society runs Hope Lodge locations, which give patients and caregivers a free place to stay during treatment. The ACS lists 31 locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. You need to have cancer or be caring for someone with cancer, be traveling away from home for outpatient care, and be treated in a city with a Hope Lodge. To ask, call 1-800-227-2345. If there is no Hope Lodge near your treatment center, the same line can tell you about other lodging help.

Many hospitals also have discounted hotel rates or hospitality houses. Ask the social worker. If rent is the bigger problem at home, see our guide to rental assistance for cancer patients.

Free flights for long-distance care

For care at a distant specialty center, free charity flights may help.

• Corporate Angel Network arranges free seats on business aircraft for cancer patients going to treatment, clinical trials, or second opinions. Patients must be able to walk and travel without medical help. Its site says eligibility does not depend on financial need.
• Air Charity Network coordinates free flights with volunteer pilots for people who are in financial need or cannot travel on public transportation. Each flight depends on pilot availability and weather.

If you are in a clinical trial, ask the trial team whether the study pays for travel. The National Cancer Institute explains how trial costs are usually covered.

Comparing your travel help options

Deducting medical mileage on your taxes

Driving to medical care can count as a medical expense on your federal taxes. According to IRS Publication 502, you can use either your actual gas and oil costs or the standard medical mileage rate, and you can add parking fees and tolls. Lodging while you travel for care can count up to $50 per night for each person, with limits. You can only deduct medical costs above 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, and you have to itemize.

The IRS raised the rate in the middle of 2026 because of higher fuel prices. Rates are listed on the IRS standard mileage rates page. Keep a simple log with the date, where you went, and the miles. A free tax preparation site or a tax professional can tell you whether itemizing makes sense for you.

Why gas card funds run out

It is normal to hear “we are out of funds right now.” Most gas card programs rely on donations, and many give out their yearly budget within a few months. Some reopen at the start of a new year or a new grant cycle. Here are ways to work around it:

• Ask when the fund will reopen and whether you can join a waitlist.
• Ask for a parking voucher, bus pass, or ride instead of a card.
• Ask the social worker to check more than one foundation for you.
• Cut other bills so more money can go to gas. Food help through SNAP and utility help through LIHEAP can free up cash.
• Be wary of any website that charges a fee for a gas card list. Real charity programs do not charge to apply.

For local fuel help that is not tied to cancer, see our gas vouchers near me guide.

How to ask for travel help, step by step

1. Write down your schedule. List treatment dates, the round-trip miles, and your monthly gas cost.
2. Ask for the social worker. Ask about gas cards, parking vouchers, and charity referrals.
3. Call CancerCare at 800-813-4673 to ask whether transportation help is open.
4. Call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 about Road To Recovery rides and Hope Lodge.
5. Call your Medicaid plan if you have Medicaid, and book rides or ask about mileage repayment.
6. Dial 211 for local churches and groups that give gas cards.
7. Keep a mileage log and receipts for parking and tolls for tax time.

Related guides

• Government grants for cancer patients
• Financial assistance for cancer patients in Texas
• Emergency gas vouchers near me
• Help with medical bills after insurance

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not medical, legal, or tax advice. Program rules and funding change often. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with any hospital, charity, or government agency.