Real-Time Solutions for Financial Toxicity & Patient Navigation: A New Series from Real World Health Care
Almost 60% of Americans live at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. In 2025, that equated to about $128,000 in annual income for a family of four. For these Americans, paying for daily necessities like rent, food, and utilities can be a juggling act. Add a chronic or life-altering illness, and their financial situation can become dire, even if they have “good” health care insurance. In fact, the percentage of U.S. adults who have recently been unable to afford or access quality health care has reached 11% — equivalent to nearly 29 million people – according to a 2025 poll.
In 2009, medical researchers coined the term “financial toxicity” to describe the economic impact of cancer treatment on patients. Today, we know that financial toxicity can impact patients and caregivers living with a host of diseases and medical conditions. This financial toxicity can have very real and far-ranging consequences, from psychological distress to poorer health-related quality of life, and even increased morbidity and mortality.
Michael Heimall
“Fear, shame, or stigma can keep patients and their caregivers from reaching out for financial help,” said Michael S. Heimall, President and CEO, HealthWell Foundation. “But just as one wouldn’t hesitate to seek help for a physical condition, we encourage patients to seek help when tight finances impact their ability to access the care they need. We also encourage health care providers to screen their patients for financial toxicity throughout their care journey, as financial stressors may emerge at any time.”
What’s Working to Reduce Financial Toxicity
For those facing financial toxicity, both the present and the future can look daunting. However, there are sources of hope and proven solutions to tackle the problem. Charitable patient assistance programs (CPAPs) like HealthWell offer free grants to help cover the cost of treatments and insurance premiums. Last year, HealthWell launched an ACA Marketplace Insurance Premium Assistance Fund to help people who were struggling to afford their now-higher ACA Marketplace insurance premiums. The Fund aimed to provide a safety net for enrollees in the ACA Marketplace with household incomes within 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL). While the Fund is now temporarily closed due to lack of sufficient donations, people can receive notifications of changes in the Fund’s status by signing up for Real-Time Fund alerts, which provides instant notifications of HealthWell’s diverse portfolio of disease funds in real time.
Many disease-focused non-profit organizations also offer financial assistance, along with services to help patients navigate the many costs and insurance issues involved with managing their disease. Most health care providers also offer navigation services, as well as regular screening to determine if patients are at risk of or currently experiencing financial toxicity. And recently, new organizations and initiatives have emerged to wipe away patients’ medical debt completely.
This year, Real World Health Care will cover the issue of financial toxicity and will share actionable patient navigation strategies and real-time solutions designed to help those struggling with the stress, expense, and instability caused by direct and indirect health care costs. We look forward to bringing you the good news of what’s really working to help the millions of Americans facing financial toxicity because of a life-altering medical diagnosis.
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HealthWell Foundation will also produce a companion webinar series, which highlights innovative partnerships, practical tools, and replicable models that are expanding health care access and reducing financial burdens. Learn more about the “Financial Toxicity & Patient Navigation: A Real-Time, Solutions-Focused Webinar Series” here: https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/about/financial-toxicity-webinar-series/
Do you have a story to share with Real World Health Care subscribers? Best practices, innovative programs, or free services to highlight? Reach out to our managing editor and let us know.
