Referral for Travel Support

Refer a Child & Family

Every child deserves access to cancer treatment that offers hope. Compass to Care provides Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) for children whose ability to survive may be impacted by social determinants of health.

To meet the unique NEMT needs of your patients, Compass to Care offers three proven programs:

ACCESS LIFE

Provides gasoline and parking support for families traveling from suburban and rural communities.
Parents receive a Compass to Care debit card that can be used to pay for approved travel expenses each time their child goes to treatment.

CARE & BACK™

Offers rideshare transportation for children who live within 20 miles of their medical center.

In collaboration with Kaizen Health, parents can request customized rides from home to the hospital and back.
Children may receive up to three round-trip (or six one-way) rides per week, with additional trips available when medically necessary. All travel is arranged on demand to meet the individual needs of each family.

FLIGHTS FOR HOPE

Covers airfare, ground transportation, and lodging for children who must travel to distant medical centers to participate in clinical trials.

Eligibility Criteria for Families (for all programs)

  • Child must be under the age of 18
  • Child must be diagnosed with cancer
  • Child must be in active oncology treatment, confirmed by a social worker or oncologist familiar with their treatment plan
  • The household annual income must be at or below the Maximum Household Income in the chart below
  • Applications must be completed truthfully

Maximum Household Income

To be eligible for support, a child’s family cannot have an annual household income over the following (based on 250% and 300% of the 2025 Federal Poverty Line):

Family Size Maximum Income Maximum Income if Flying
2 $51,100 $61,320
3 $64,550 $77,460
4 $78,000 $93,600
5 $91,450 $109,740
6 $104,900 $136,370
7 $118,350 $142,020
8 $131,800 $158,160

For questions and extenuating circumstances, please reach out to our Program Manager at (563) 231-0458 or Essy@CompassToCare.org

Healthcare Referral Form

If you are a Healthcare Provider and would like to refer a family, whose child has cancer and who is currently in an active cancer treatment regimen please click the button below:

Travel Needs We Do Not Support

Compass to Care is unable to provide assistance with:

  • Travel for second opinions (when a cancer diagnosis has not yet been confirmed)
  • Travel for integrative therapies, non-cancer treatments, or care unrelated to active oncology treatment (e.g., dentist, physical therapy, etc.)
  • Travel for follow-up appointments after active cancer treatment is complete
  • Past travel expenses
  • Expenses not related to travel, such as mortgage, rent, utilities, childcare, etc.
  • Travel for additional family members (beyond the approved caregiver and child)
  • Travel home and back while the child is inpatient
  • Car rentals or vehicle repairs
  • Travel during inpatient stays (to and from home)

Additional Important Information

Eligibility Requirements

  • The patient must have an oncology cancer diagnosis and be actively in treatment.
  • Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, Sickle Cell, and non-cancerous tumors are not eligible.
  • The patient must be under 18 years old at the time of application.
  • Every 3 months, Compass to Care requires an updated referral to confirm the child remains in active treatment. We will contact the social worker directly.

Updated form: https://www.compasstocare.org/patient-update/

Program Guidelines

  • Travel assistance is provided for the patient and one legal guardian only. We do not support travel for additional family members.
  • Assistance is available only within the continental United States (not including Hawaii or Alaska).
  • Lodging and airfare support are provided on a case-by-case basis, and we request as much advance notice as possible.
  • Compass to Care maintains regular communication with social workers and oncologists to verify ongoing treatment and ensure appropriate support is provided.