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Financial Assistance with AMD Medications
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Physicians have options when it comes to treating patients with wet AMD, but for some patients, the cost of treatment may be too much to handle. Fortunately, there are several places patients can turn to receive financial assistance in paying for treatment.
One such source is the Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation, which is dedicated to helping patients who would otherwise be unable to afford high-cost specialty medications. PAN provides financial assistance through more than 50 disease-specific programs designed to help patients undergoing treatment for certain cancers, chronic illnesses and rare diseases.
"PAN is committed to providing help and hope to patients who, without our help, would be unable to access their specialty medications," says PAN President Patrick McKercher. "With the help of our generous donors, PAN is on track to provide assistance to nearly 100,000 patients in 2013."
In the first half of 2013, PAN provided more than 2,100 grants to patients seeking financial help to pay for their AMD medications.
To qualify, patients must be insured and the insurance must cover the medication. The patient must be seeking assistance for a medication that treats the disease directly and the patients must reside in and receive treatment in the United States. The patient's household income must fall at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $60,000 for a two-person household).
"PAN assistance serves as a safety net for patients who often don't qualify for other forms of financial assistance. PAN strives to remove the financial burden of care, so patients can focus on their health rather than what it will cost them," McKercher says.
PAN responds to patient applications quickly, usually within one business day. If you qualify for assistance, PAN will send you an approval letter with key information, such as your award amount and your eligibility dates. PAN will also notify your doctor of your approval. If your application is not approved, a representative will contact you by phone to explain the decision.
Approvals are for a 12-month period, but assistance can be renewed if a patient remains eligible. PAN may also reimburse you for medication expenses you incurred up to 90 days prior to your approval date.
Another source of help is the Chronic Disease Fund (CDF), the nation's largest organization helping chronically ill patients with financial assistance for their medications, including those diagnosed with AMD. As with PAN, patients must have medical insurance coverage and meet program income criteria.
"In most cases, CDF can provide patients with same-day access to therapy," says Clorinda Walley, CDF's Executive Director.
Approved patients are provided with funding to cover their treatment for the balance of the calendar year. Patients who need to continue treatment must re-enroll at the end of every calendar year – between October and January – to receive assistance for the next calendar year. If CDF is unable to provide financial assistance, the organization refers patients to other organizations that may be able to help.
CDF requires that patients follow their treatment plan completely, so they achieve the most benefits from the financial assistance they receive. To help with this, CDF provides a free online Patient Portal that monitors each patient's treatment regimen, dispensing history and medication usage. It also allows patients to check the balances of their funding grants and track payments.
For more information or to apply for help:
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