Movement Disorders - Medicare Access (Medicare patients only)

Fund Definition

Assistance with the prescription drugs and biologics used in the treatment of movement disorders including: Tardive Dyskinesia, General Dyskinesia, Huntington’s Disease, Choreas, Tourette Syndrome and Parkinson’s Disease.

Grant Utilization

HealthWell estimates that patients use an average of $5,540 during their 12-month grant period for this disease area.

Consider Premium Assistance

Under this fund, HealthWell can assist with premium costs. Medicare supplemental policies can help with cost shares related to many aspects of your health care. Using a HealthWell grant to cover premiums may be a better option than treatment-specific cost shares.

About Our Movement Disorders Fund

This fund offers copayment or premium assistance for eligible Medicare beneficiaries in several different movement-related disease areas, including, but not limited to:

• 1. Chorea

  Chorea is an abnormal involuntary movement derived from the Greek word “dance”. It is characterized by brief, abrupt, irregular, unpredictable, non-stereotyped movements. In milder cases, they may appear purposeful; the patient often appears fidgety and clumsy. They can affect various body parts, and interfere with speech, swallowing, posture and gait. Source: International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society

• 2. Tardive Dyskinesia

  Tardive dyskinesia is caused by long-term use of neuroleptic drugs, which are used to treat psychiatric conditions. Tardive dyskinesia causes repetitive, involuntary movements, such as grimacing and eye blinking. Source: Mayo Clinic

• 3. Huntington's Disease

  Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person’s physical and mental abilities during their prime working years and has no cure. HD is known as the quintessential family disease because every child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of carrying the faulty gene. Source: Huntington’s Disease Society of America

• 4. Tourette Syndrome

  Tourette Syndrome is one type of Tic Disorder. Tics are involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations. They are the defining feature of a group of childhood-onset, neurodevelopmental conditions known collectively as Tic Disorders. Individuals with Tourette Syndrome (TS) have had at least two motor tics and at least one vocal/ phonic tic in some combination over the course of more than a year. Source: Tourette Association of America

• 5. Parkinson's Disease

  Parkinson’s disease affects the nerve cells in the brain and slowly stops producing a neurotransmitter called dopamine. With less and less dopamine, a person has less and less ability to regulate their movements, body and emotions.

  Parkinson’s disease itself is not fatal. However, complications from the disease are serious; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rated complications from PD as the 14th top cause of death in the United States.

  There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s. Source: National Parkinson’s Foundation

Do I Qualify?

HealthWell bases eligibility on an individual’s medical, financial and insurance situation. To qualify for HealthWell’s assistance, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• 1. You are being treated for one of our listed movement disorders.

  Please make sure that HealthWell currently has a fund for your diagnosis/indication and that your medication is covered under that fund by visiting our Disease Funds listing. If we do not have a fund that currently covers your diagnosis, please check back as we frequently open and reopen programs as funding becomes available. The Foundation is able to help patients receiving treatment for indications for which we currently have an open fund. We can only assist with medications that have been prescribed to treat the disease/covered diagnosis. You will be asked to provide the Foundation with the patient’s diagnosis, which must be verified by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant’s signature. The patient must receive treatment in the United States.

• 2. You have Medicare.

  This is a Medicare Access Fund. In order to qualify for assistance through this fund, you must have Medicare. The Foundation will refer patients without Medicare to other programs, such as manufacturer patient assistance programs.

• 3. Your income falls within our guidelines.
  HealthWell assists individuals with incomes up to 300-500% of the Federal Poverty Level. The Foundation also considers the number in a household and cost of living in a particular city or state. If you believe you qualify for assistance, you may begin the application process here.
• 4. You are receiving treatment in the United States.

  If you are receiving treatment in the U.S. and have met the eligibility criteria as listed, you are ready to apply! Please note that you will be asked to provide a Social Security Number in order to create a grant. This information is gathered to eliminate duplicate applications and is kept secure and confidential.