- 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When can I speak with someone at HealthWell to get help?
- What services does the Foundation provide?
- Can I receive both premium assistance and copayment assistance?
- Does HealthWell provide assistance for all diseases?
- Do I qualify? What are the HealthWell Foundation eligibility criteria?
- How do I apply?
- How long does it take to process an application? When will I hear if I have been accepted?
- What happens if my physician changes my prescription while I am enrolled in the program? Does the amount of my award change?
- Do you cover the entire copayment or just certain treatments?
- How much financial assistance does the HealthWell Foundation provide?
- If I am approved, how long will I be enrolled?
- Why do I need to send income information? What is the minimum we can make to be approved?
- Do uninsured patients qualify for assistance from the HealthWell Foundation?
- Can I get approved over the phone?
- How do I get reimbursed? What do I submit? Will I receive a check?
- I received a plastic HealthWell pharmacy card with my enrollment letter. How do I use it?
- Are approvals retroactive?
- How do I check the status of my application?
- Can I reapply for help every year?
When can I speak with someone at HealthWell to get help?
The HealthWell Foundation customer service phone lines are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, Eastern Time. We are closed on Federal holidays. The best times to call are Wednesday through Friday mornings. If you call during a very busy period you may be asked to leave a message. We generally return all messages within one business day. You may also send a fax, apply online or visit our web site 24/7 – all at your convenience.
What services does the Foundation provide?
The Foundation provides financial assistance to eligible individuals to cover coinsurance, copayments, healthcare premiums and deductibles for certain treatments. This means that if you've been prescribed a medication and your insurer covers it, but you cannot afford the coinsurance or copayment required, we may be able to help by paying some or all of your costs associated with the medication. Also, if you are eligible for health insurance, but cannot afford the insurance premium, we may be able to help by paying some or all of the medical portion of your insurance premium.
Please keep in mind that the Foundation currently does not assist with the following expenses:
- Coinsurance and copayments for office visits
- Administration or infusion costs
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Medical transportation
- Health insurance premium costs for the entire family
- Deductibles that apply to treatments and services that are not eligible for the approved disease fund
Can I receive both premium assistance and copayment assistance?
On a case by case basis, the Foundation may approve patients for assistance with insurance premiums for one fund and copayments for a second fund.
Does HealthWell provide assistance for all diseases?
At this time, HealthWell Foundation is able to help patients taking treatments only for selected diseases. For an updated listing of diseases, see our Diseases page. The HealthWell Foundation adds new disease funds throughout the year, so please visit this site regularly for the latest information.
Do I qualify? What are the HealthWell Foundation eligibility criteria?
To qualify for assistance, you must meet the Foundation's insurance, income, and medical criteria. If you call us, we can pre-screen you to see if you are likely to qualify, and if so send you an application. Or, answer a few short questions online and immediately learn whether you are likely to qualify.
Eligibility criteria include: household income is below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (somewhat more in cities where the cost of living is higher); the patient is being treated for a specific disease for which funding is available; the patient has insurance that covers the treatment for this disease; and the medication is dispensed in the U.S.
How do I apply?
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 Statement of Treatment form, which your physician must complete and sign; and 2) a copy of your most recent federal tax form or other proof of your income. For faster service, fax these items to us at (800) 282-7692. If you do not have access to a fax machine, you may mail these materials to: HealthWell Foundation, P.O. Box 4133, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.
Once we have received all three pieces of information – your application, your Statement of Treatment Form, and proof of your income – we will begin to process your application.
How long does it take to process an application? When will I hear if I have been accepted?
Because the Foundation reviews and considers each application very carefully, it takes about 3 to 7 business days to process a completed application. Processing begins only when we have all three required documents at our office: your application, your Statement of Treatment Form, and your proof of your income. We will then check each document to make certain that is has all required information. If information is missing, we will send you a letter explaining what is missing and ask you to send it to us so that we may begin processing your application.
Once the Foundation has made a decision, we will mail you a letter, so please allow a few extra days for mail delivery time. If the Foundation approves your application, the letter will tell you the amount of your award and will explain how you can begin to receive reimbursement for eligible expenses.
What happens if my physician changes my prescription while I am enrolled in the program? Does the amount of my award change?
You are free to change the therapy you are using at any time, as long as your physician has prescribed an eligible therapy for the disease area in which you are enrolled. You are free to switch your treatment, physician, or pharmacy at any time and it will not affect your eligibility for assistance or change the amount of your award.
Do you cover the entire copayment or just certain treatments?
The Foundation pays only copayments related to prescription or biologic treatments you are taking specifically for the medical condition listed in your application.
How much financial assistance does the HealthWell Foundation provide?
The HealthWell Foundation provides full or partial assistance with eligible out-of-pocket health care expenses. The amount of assistance you receive will depend on your income, your insurance coverage, the amount of funding we have available for assistance, and other factors. If the HealthWell Foundation approves your application, you will receive a letter telling you exactly how much assistance you are eligible to receive.
If I am approved, how long will I be enrolled?
Enrollment is typically for 12 months, starting on the day of your enrollment. Patients may reapply each year. Prior to the end of your 12-month enrollment, we will send you information about how to apply for re-enrollment if you are interested.
In order for patients to remain eligible for assistance from the Foundation, we must receive the first complete reimbursement request within 60 days of the enrollment start date, and continue to receive a complete reimbursement request at least every 60 days. Grants with no activity for over 60 days will be considered inactive and closed. The HealthWell Foundation cannot guarantee future availability of funds once a grant has been closed due to inactivity.
Why do I need to send income information? What is the minimum we can make to be approved?
The HealthWell Foundation is only able to assist individuals who make less than a certain income, and we require proof of your family’s income to determine whether you are eligible for assistance. Specifically, your household's adjusted gross income must be below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level, or somewhat more in cities where the cost of living is higher. For example, a family of 2 can earn a total household income of up to $58,280 (or slightly more in some high cost cities) and qualify for assistance.
Do uninsured patients qualify for assistance from the HealthWell Foundation?
The Foundation assists uninsured patients who need help paying for their insurance premiums. If you are eligible for an insurance plan that would pay for your treatments, but are having trouble affording the premium, the Foundation may be able to help.
The HealthWell Foundation cannot assist uninsured patients who need help paying the full cost of their treatment. However, the Foundation can refer you to other resources that may be helpful, such as drug manufacturers' patient assistance programs and state prescription assistance programs. See our resources page for more helpful links.
Can I get approved over the phone?
Unfortunately, we are unable to approve applications over the telephone. We can prescreen you and mail you an application, or you can apply on our website.
How do I get reimbursed? What do I submit? Will I receive a check?
If the Foundation approves your application, you will receive Reimbursement Request Forms in the mail with your enrollment letter. You must submit a Reimbursement Request Form, along with an invoice and proof of payment, each time you have an out-of-pocket cost for an eligible medication. If you have not yet paid the copayment or premium, please indicate this on the Reimbursement Request Form, and we will mail the payment directly to your pharmacy, physician, or insurer. If you have already paid the premium or copayment, the Foundation will send the reimbursement check to you. Please note, if you have already paid for the medication and need to be reimbursed, you must include proof of payment with the Reimbursement Request Form. 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 your pharmacy or physician. In these cases, we will send the award payment directly to them after you have received your medication. Please ask your pharmacy or physician’s office to contact us to discuss a direct billing arrangement.
Depending on the disease fund you are enrolled in, you may also receive a HealthWell Pharmacy card with your enrollment letter. If so, please see the next question.
I received a plastic HealthWell pharmacy card with my enrollment letter. How do I use it?
Bring the HealthWell pharmacy card with you to the pharmacy when you fill your prescription, or call your mail order pharmacy and provide the numbers on the card. The card is similar to an insurance card and your pharmacist should be able to use it to pay your copayment for your treatment. If your pharmacist has questions about how to use the HealthWell card, please ask him or her to call the pharmacist telephone number on the back of the card. If you received a HealthWell card but receive your treatment at your doctor's office, you will not need to use the plastic pharmacy card (but save it just in case you need it later). Instead, please give your physician an Award Redemption Form, which you received with your enrollment letter, and ask him or her to mail it to us with an invoice that shows the cost of your treatment.
Are approvals retroactive?
The Foundation will consider retroactive reimbursement on a case-by-case basis. The Foundation will consider retroactive reimbursement for no more than 90 days prior to the date we approve your application
How do I check the status of my application?
You can check the status of your application any time by using our automated telephone menu system at (800) 675-8416.
Can I reapply for help every year?
Yes. All patients are welcome to re-enroll every twelve months in the program as long as the patient still requires assistance and meets the program criteria.
Other questions? Please contact us