- 50,500 patients assisted in 2009.
- $118 million+ awarded to patients in 2009.
- 16,000 callers assisted each month.
- Over 95,000 patients helped to date.
- Recognized by Forbes.com as one of the 20 most efficient charities in America.
FAQs for Providers
- How do I apply on behalf of my patients?
- Do you cover the entire copayment or just certain treatments?
- How do I get reimbursed? What do I submit? Will I receive a check?
- My patient received a plastic HealthWell pharmacy card with his or her enrollment letter. How is it used?
- Are approvals retroactive?
- How do I check the status of an application?
- How do I check the status of my payment?
- How long do I have to submit a claim for reimbursement?
How do I apply on behalf of my patients?
The easiest and fastest way to apply is to complete the application online. If you do not have access to a computer, please call us at (800) 675-8416 and we will complete the application with you over the phone or send you a paper version. After completing the application, you also must send us: 1) a Patient Attestation (for online applicants) or patient application; 2) Statement of Treatment signed by the prescriber; and 3) the patient’s most recent federal tax form or other proof of income. For faster service, please fax these materials to us at (800) 282-7692, or if you do not have a fax you can mail them to: HealthWell Foundation, P.O. Box 4133, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Once we have received all three pieces of information – patient’s attestation/application, Statement of Treatment, and proof of income – we will begin to process your application.
Do you cover the entire copayment or just certain treatments?
The Foundation pays only copayments related to prescription treatments taken specifically for the medical condition listed in the application. The Foundation typically does not reimburse for lower cost treatments, such as steroids, pain medication, and generic medicines. Please keep in mind that patients are free to change the type of medication they are taking or their provider at any time without affecting their eligibility.
How do I get reimbursed? What do I submit? Will I receive a check?
If the Foundation approves the patient’s application, he or she will receive a Reimbursement Request Form in the mail with the enrollment letter. The patient must submit a Reimbursement Request Form, along with an invoice and proof of payment, each time he or she has an out-of-pocket cost for an eligible medication. If the patient has not yet paid the copayment or premium, the patient should indicate this on the Reimbursement Request Form, and we will mail the payment directly to the pharmacy, physician, or insurer. If the patient has already paid the premium or copayment, the Foundation will send the reimbursement check to him or her. Please note that the patient must include proof of payment with all reimbursement requests. Proof of payment includes a copy of a canceled check, a credit card receipt or statement, or an itemized receipt from the pharmacy or doctor listing the drug purchased. Many times we are able to coordinate billing with the pharmacy or physician. In these cases, we will send the award payment directly to them after the patient has received his or her medication. Please contact us to discuss a direct billing arrangement.
Depending on the disease fund a patient is enrolled in, he or she may also receive a HealthWell Pharmacy card with the enrollment letter. If so, please see the next question.
My patient received a plastic HealthWell pharmacy card with his or her enrollment letter. How is it used?
The patient should bring the HealthWell pharmacy card to the pharmacy when filling his or her prescription, or call the mail order pharmacy and provide the numbers on the card. The card is similar to an insurance card and the pharmacist should be able to use it to pay the copayment for the treatment. If the pharmacist has questions about how to use the HealthWell card, he or she may call the pharmacist telephone number on the back of the card.
The patient cannot use the pharmacy card for treatments received at a doctor’s office. Instead, the physician must fill out an Award Redemption Form, which was received with the patient’s enrollment letter, and mail it to HealthWell with an invoice that shows the cost of the treatment.
Are approvals retroactive?
The Foundation will consider retroactive reimbursement on a case-by-case basis. Generally, the Foundation provides retroactive reimbursement for no more than 90 days before the date we approve your application.
How do I check the status of an application?
You can check the status of an application any time by using our automated telephone menu system at (800) 675-8416.
How do I check the status of my payment?
You should receive your reimbursement check about 2 to 3 weeks after we receive a complete payment request. If you have waited longer than this, please call us at (800) 675-8416.
How long do I have to submit a claim for reimbursement?
The HealthWell Foundation accepts claims for reimbursement up to six months after the date the patient received the treatment. In order to manage our funding and help as many patients as possible, we cannot accept claims older than six months.
Other questions? Please contact us