In our last edition of The Pulse, we shared a sneak peek at some of our proudest achievements in 2024 – including the significant milestone of assisting more than 1 million patients since our founding.

The full, preliminary unaudited results of our 2024 operations are now available in our 2024 Year in Review. I invite you to view the full report to see how your generosity and trust resulted in:

• A record $885+ million in individual and corporate contributions
• Individual donor contributions of more than $2.68 million from over 19,600 people
• Awards of $1.23+ billion in medication copayment and insurance premium assistance to patients in need
• More than 311,000 grants to over 291,700 underinsured patients

On behalf of every single patient we served in 2024 and those we continue to serve in 2025 and beyond, my sincerest thanks. In this season of uncertainty, it is our humblest honor to provide a much-needed financial lifeline to those underinsured Americans who have nowhere else to turn.

Read on to learn how your valued support will allow us to continue to reduce financial barriers to care and support the most vulnerable among us.

Fund Updates – New Fund Launches Broaden Disease Portfolio and Address Critical, Unmet Needs of Patients

Earlier this month, HealthWell launched a new fund to assist individuals living with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Through the fund, we provide up to $15,000 in medication copayment or insurance premium assistance to patients for prescription drugs and biologics for the treatment of their disease. Eligible patients must have household incomes up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level.

“Once a proper [NET] diagnosis is given, there are countless doctor’s visits and a multitude of medications, many of which are life-long treatments,” said Maryann Wahmann, Executive Director, Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network (NCAN). “As a person living with neuroendocrine cancer for over two decades, I understand the emotional and financial hardship that accompanies this disease. Treating NETs is expensive and may be cost prohibitive for many. We applaud HealthWell for recognizing the financial burden treatment imparts on people living with NETs and for providing resources to ensure that they can access and continue proper treatment.” Read the full release.

We were also excited to recently announce the opening of a second new fund, the Parkinson’s Disease – Medicare Access Fund. Through the fund, HealthWell will provide up to $4,000 in medication copayment or Medicare Part B premium assistance to Medicare patients for prescription drugs and biologics for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Eligible patients must have household incomes up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level.

“Treatment and management of Parkinson’s disease is expensive, oftentimes much more than a person on Medicare can afford. Yet, the inability to stay on a treatment regimen because of cost is not a viable option for someone living with PD,” commented John L. Lehr, President and CEO of the Parkinson’s Foundation. “Missing even a single dose of medication can be temporarily debilitating and can drastically impact a person’s quality of life. We commend the HealthWell Foundation for understanding the financial challenges PD patients encounter in managing their condition and the importance of adhering to a proper treatment regimen.”  Read the full release.

Visit the Neuroendocrine Tumors Fund or the Parkinson’s Disease – Medicare Access Fund pages to determine eligibility and apply for assistance.

HealthWell Takes the Stage at Asembia AXS25 Summit

HealthWell is excited to again be an integral part of Asembia’s annual AXS Summit, to be held April 27 to May 1 in Las Vegas.

We especially look forward to participating on the panel: IRA Series Part III – 2025 Early Results – “The New Normal” for Medicare Part D Benefit Redesign and the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MPPP), on Wednesday, April 30. Fred Larbi, Chief Operations Officer for HealthWell, will join a distinguished group of panelists for an informative discussion around specialty pharmacy implementation and management impact of the unintentional consequences of the MPPP on 2025 Medicare Part D benefit redesign, including its impacts on patients, health plans, providers, pharmacies, and pharma manufacturers.

In addition, HealthWell will be exhibiting at the Summit from April 28 through April 30. If you are attending, please visit us in booth #1315 to meet members of our team and learn about our programs and services to assist patients in need.

Our Busy Spring Conference Schedule

In addition to Asembia’s Specialty Pharmacy Summit, the HealthWell team will be travelling around the country to other conferences to share the word about our life-changing work. We look forward to seeing you at one of these upcoming events.

• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) – May 31-June 2, Chicago, IL
• Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) – June 11-13, Atlanta, GA
• National Infusion Center Association (NICA) – June 20-21, Miami Beach, FL
• ATMRD – Advanced Therapeutics in Movement & Related Disorders – June 27-30, Washington, D.C.

You can keep up with where we’re going next by visiting our Conference Schedule page.

HealthWell-Sponsored Research Highlights Charitable Copayment Assistance as a Critical Safety Net

The largest survey yet to examine seriously ill patients receiving charitable copayment assistance found that high out-of-pocket costs impact access to health care, adherence to medication, and quality of life even for those on Medicare.

The independent research, funded by the HealthWell Foundation, found that 31 percent of the 1,550 respondents from across the United States said they would be forced to go without treatment if they lost their charitable copay support. Nearly all the patients in the study, published in Cancer, a journal published by the American Cancer Society, were insured by Medicare.

“Many older Americans assume that Medicare will shield them from exorbitant costs if they become seriously ill,” said Jeffrey Peppercorn, MD, MPH, an oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and principal author of the study. “Yet many of the people we surveyed were not aware of the potentially catastrophic cost of care — or that cost could be a barrier to receiving medication prescribed by their doctor for a serious illness like cancer or autoimmune disease.”

Suzanne Miller, Ph.D., an author of the study and Professor of Cancer Prevention and Control and Director of the Patient Empowerment and Decision-Making Department at Fox Chase Cancer Center/Temple University Health System, said little has been known about the role charitable copay assistance plays in access to care and financial distress.

“The experience of patients needs to be part of the public discussion about charitable copay assistance,” said Dr. Miller, who serves as the Vice Chair and Secretary on the HealthWell Board. “This research adds considerably to the still sparse literature describing recipients of charitable copay assistance grants and shows the important role this assistance plays for patients in the American health care system.”

Read more about the research at “National Survey Finds that Charitable Copay Assistance is a Critical Safety Net for Patients with Cancer and Autoimmune Disease.”

“HealthWell Helps Real People with Real Disabilities Solve Their Real-World Problems”

At HealthWell, we know that just as people with life-altering illnesses must sometimes make difficult choices about their finances, so do our donors. That is why we truly value each donation we receive.

Our donors know that every dollar they contribute goes directly to helping patients in need – patients like Zachary D., who shared his gratitude for HealthWell’s assistance in this heartfelt letter.

I have been a HealthWell grant recipient for many years now. I have not always taken ‘full advantage’ of my grants’ abilities but have always been grateful for the Cystic Fibrosis therapies and treatments as well as the Vitamins and Supplements funds for nearly all of my prescription needs.

This past year, 2024, the state of Texas removed their support that was allowing my wife (also a CF grant recipient) and I access to the “Extra Help” portion of Medicare assistance, stopped covering our Medicare premiums, and removed our SNAP benefits, due to income level. We bring in approximately $2850 / month before deductions. We lost about $500/month in food benefits, and after Medicare taking their cut of $185 each, we have been left with less than $2500 / month to fully support ourselves.

My wife has been hospitalized 3-4 times a year for the past several years, as she has been unable to tolerate the newer genetic modulators that have helped the majority of the CF population – me included. While I have remained mostly stable with 30-40% lung function the last several years, we were left without a choice but to try and find part-time work that would fit our therapy schedules, as well as our physical limitations. We tried DoorDash as it fit the needs of our schedule limitations but quickly discovered that while I was able to handle the physical aspects, the income was nominal and the wear and tear on our vehicle left us without A/C during Texas summers. We also had a number of other issues that popped up with our vehicle in the short timeframe and have been unable to afford the proper repairs. I had a friend give me a recommendation at our local FedEx branch, and I have been there for several months now with great success. Read Zachary’s full story.

I began to explore the full breadth of the vitamins and supplements grant by purchasing Fairlife shakes and RXBars as quick snacks that have been helpful for the on-the-go job of delivery driving, and they seemed to help me stabilize the weight loss I was experiencing with the added cardio and energy consumption of the part-time job.

In December, our HealthWell grants expired. Both my wife and I lost coverage for both CF Therapies and Vitamins + Supplements grants as the portals were not open for re-enrollment. It was a punishing blow, after having some income stability and job satisfaction with FedEx being incredibly gracious with my limitations. It drove me to a place of both hurt, and also gratitude for what y’all do for us that I don’t know if I have ever truly reflected upon.

We were forced, once again, to make some sacrifices to cover the cost of our prescription needs in December as well as find a solution to my energy needs on the days that I work. We made the necessary sacrifices, as any human being does when pushed back in a corner, and though the portals are now re-open again, and we have been pre-approved pending an income verification, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to pause and say THANK YOU. Thank y’all for existing, for trying to do the right thing in helping real people with real disabilities solve their real-world problems. I know probably all Foundations start with that goal in mind; and I hope that stays the heartbeat of HealthWell in the years to come.”

Want to help people like Zachary and his wife? Consider a donation to the HealthWell Foundation today!

Sign Up Today for Real-Time Fund Alerts

Did you know? You can get instant notifications about changes and updates to HealthWell’s diverse portfolio of disease funds in real time.

Real-Time Fund Alerts are a great way for patients, providers, and pharmacies to learn about new and re-opened funds and for our donors to stay abreast of disease funds that need additional contributions.

Sign up today for email alerts or text/call alerts (message and data rates may apply). Please note: if you already have access to HealthWell’s patient, provider or pharmacy portals, please sign up for email Real-Time Fund Alerts using your dedicated portal.

Simplifying Giving Through the Launch of Smart Giving Suite

Thanks to our partnership with FreeWill, making non-cash donations to the HealthWell Foundation has never been easier!  Donating non-cash assets (such as Donor Advised Funds, gifts of stock, and Qualified Charitable Distributions) often comes with greater tax benefits, increasing the overall value of your contribution while making a sizable impact on our mission.

When you donate to the HealthWell Foundation, you’re investing in a meaningful cause that has the power to bring about positive transformation nationwide. Your contribution can make a real impact by providing aid to those who need it most.  Here are a few easy ways you can continue to support our life-changing work:

• Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)
• Stocks and Securities
• Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

For more information about tax-free contributions to HealthWell’s mission, contact Abby Pevey at [email protected].

Behavioral Health Matters: A New Series from Real World Health Care

Millions of Americans are affected by mental and behavioral health conditions. From depression and anxiety to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, psychosis, and schizophrenia, mental health conditions are far more common than many people think.

Throughout 2025, HealthWell’s blog, Real World Health Care, will share insights about the importance of mental and behavioral health care for adults and children, with a special focus on underserved and vulnerable communities. We’ll speak with national non-profit organizations, clinicians, social workers, and other thought leaders to uncover some of the most pressing barriers facing patients and their families – and how those barriers are being addressed and overcome.

We invite you to follow our coverage by subscribing to Real World Health Care today. Simply enter your email address in the “Sign up for RWHC Alerts” at the top of our blog page.

Follow Us on Bluesky!

HealthWell has joined the Bluesky community. Follow us for updates about our funds, patient stories, health observances and more. We look forward to engaging with you there! You can also connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and X to help us spread the word about our life-changing work.

Please!! Help Us Spread the Word – Calling Grant Recipients in the DC, Maryland and Virginia Area

We are always looking for ways to reach more underinsured patients in need. Did you know that sharing your HealthWell story can provide hope and inspiration to someone struggling with a chronic or life-altering illness? Your story can let someone who has nowhere else to turn know that they are not alone, there is help.

If you or a loved one have been touched by a HealthWell grant and you reside in the DC, Maryland, or Virginia area, we’d love to hear from you. We are launching a local grant recipient campaign to gather stories that we can share in our outreach across the nation. Would you help us help more patients through your own HealthWell story? If so, please visit the Those We Serve section of our website and click the Share Your Story button. Click “Yes” we have your permission to use your story and a HealthWell representative will reach out to you with next steps! Thank you in advance for helping us help more people in need! We look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for helping us help others in any way you can.