Our Program

What is the HealthWell Foundation?

The HealthWell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2003 that is committed to addressing the needs of individuals with insurance who cannot afford their copayments, coinsurance, and premiums for important medical treatments.  Our mission is to reduce barriers to care for underinsured patients with chronic and life-altering illnesses.

As patients are required to pay a larger share of health care costs each year, out-of-pocket expenses for essential medications can add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars a month - even for people with insurance. When medical expenses become too large, patients forego care or basic necessities such as groceries, rent and mortgage payments.  They may cut pills in half to make them last longer, a potentially harmful practice, or give up life-sustaining treatment to send a child to college.  Many go bankrupt as 60% of US bankruptcies are related to medical expenses. 

Our vision is to ensure that no patient, adult or child, goes without essential medications because they cannot afford them. Since 2004, we have helped more than 150,000 patients afford their medical treatments and lead healthier, more fulfilling and productive lives.
 

What does underinsured mean?

Underinsured patients are those patients with some health care coverage, whether through a private insurance plan, Medicare or Medicaid, but who still have trouble paying the out-of-pocket costs associated with their medical treatment. Their insurance may be a plan with high premiums, copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles, or they may be faced with a catastrophic, chronic or life-threatening diagnosis. According to the Consumer Reports National Research Center, 42.5 million Americans are underinsured.

How is HealthWell funded?

HealthWell receives donations from a number of sources in and outside of the healthcare industry, including corporate and individual contributors. The Foundation is entirely independent and is not controlled or influenced by any of its donors. The assistance that HealthWell provides to patients is based on objective criteria that the Foundation applies consistently and in accordance with applicable laws. As a copayment assistance foundation, HealthWell operates within a complex regulatory framework. The regulations governing the healthcare industry, as well as a favorable Advisory Opinion that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued to HealthWell, set standards that HealthWell must meet to stay in compliance with applicable laws. According to the OIG opinion, the Foundation may not disclose the identity of its donors.

Through the generosity of all of our donors, HealthWell has already provided financial assistance to over 150,000 patients who, without such assistance, would likely have been unable to afford the critical treatments they needed. It is our sincere desire to help as many patients as possible afford the medical treatments they need.

990s, Financials and Annual Report

 

Testimonial

This letter is to express our appreciation for the recent notification that your award for my wife Ruth for 2008-2009 has been increased to $8,000. This news comes at a most welcome time given the difficulties of our economy in general, our personal financial situation, and Ruth’s daily struggle with MDS and the iron overload that comes with transfusions every two weeks. We are most grateful for your generosity and that of your donors. With your assistance, Ruth’s iron overload has been reduced significantly. Thank you for the good work you do.

—Frank, Valley, NE

Tell us your HealthWell Story

Our Impact

  • Over 54,000 patients assisted in 2010.
  • 21,000 callers assisted each month.
  • $144 million+ awarded to patients in 2010.
  • Over 150,000 patients helped to date.