Pancreatic Cancer - Medicare Access (Medicare patients only)

Fund Type

Copay/Premium

Maximum Award Level

$10,000

Pharmacy Card Fund

Yes

Household Income Limit

500% of the Federal Poverty Level
(adjusted for household size and high
cost of living areas)

Fund Alerts

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Treatments Covered

  • 5-fluorouracil
  • Abraxane
  • Afinitor
  • Amerinet Choice Irinotecan Hcl
  • Camptosar
  • Camptosar Novaplus
  • Capecitabine
  • Capecitabine Avpak
  • Carac
  • Cisplatin
  • Creon
  • Docetaxel
  • Docetaxel Novaplus
  • Efudex
  • Erlotinib Hcl
  • Fluoroplex
  • Flutamide
  • Fusilev
  • Gemcitabine
  • Gemcitabine Hcl
  • Gemcitabine Novaplus
  • Gemzar
  • Infugem
  • Irinotecan Hcl Novaplus
  • Jelmyto
  • Keytruda
  • Khapzory
  • Leucovor Ca
  • Leucovorin
  • Levoleucovor
  • Lynparza
  • Mitomycin
  • Mitomycin Novaplus
  • Mitosol
  • Mutamycin
  • Onivyde
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Premierpro Rx Irinotecan Hcl
  • Premierpro Rx Mitomycin
  • Rozlytrek
  • Tarceva
  • Taxotere
  • Tolak
  • Vitrakvi
  • Xeloda
  • Zanosar
  • Zenpep

Fund Definition

Assistance with the prescription drugs and biologics used in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Grant Utilization

HealthWell estimates that patients use an average of $2,440 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.

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:

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

 

About Pancreatic Cancer

According to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), pancreatic cancer begins when abnormal cells in the pancreas (a gland in the abdomen that makes enzymes that help digestion and hormones that control blood-sugar levels) divide and grow out of control and form a tumor. These cells can spread to other tissues and organs, particularly the liver, abdominal wall, lungs, bones and/or lymph nodes. There are two types of pancreatic tumors, based on the type of cell where they start.

  • Exocrine tumors, which represent approximately 93% of pancreatic cancers. The most common type of pancreatic cancer is adenocarcinoma.
  • Neuroendocrine (endocrine) tumors, also called islet cell tumors, represent about 7% of pancreatic tumors and often grow slower than exocrine tumors.

Although exact causes of pancreatic cancer are not understood, about 10% of pancreatic cancers are familial or hereditary. A person may also be more likely to get pancreatic cancer because of long-standing diabetes (over five years), smoking, being over 60 years of age, ethnicity, gender (males are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer) and obesity. It is estimated that more than 60,000 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2021.

Additional Resources

You may also visit our Resource List to view other copayment organizations that may provide assistance.

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