FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Ginny Dunn
240-632-5309
Ginny.Dunn@HealthWellFoundation.org
HealthWell Foundation Opens Huntington’s Disease Fund to Assist Medicare Patients
Copayment and Premium Assistance Now Available
GERMANTOWN, Md. — August 1, 2017 — The HealthWell Foundation®, an independent non-profit that provides a financial lifeline for inadequately insured Americans, has opened a new fund to provide copayment and premium assistance to eligible Medicare patients living with Huntington’s disease. The fund will provide up to $10,000 in assistance to Medicare patients who have annual household incomes up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level. The new fund will assist Huntington’s disease patients in accessing critical medications for treatment of their disease.
According to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA), Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person’s physical and mental abilities during their prime working years and has no cure. HD is known as the quintessential family disease because every child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of carrying the faulty gene. Today, there are approximately 30,000 symptomatic Americans and more than 200,000 at-risk of inheriting the disease.
“We are delighted to have a fund dedicated to assisting individuals living Huntington’s disease with their treatment costs,” said Krista Zodet, HealthWell Foundation President. “Huntington’s is a deadly disease for which there is no cure. Dealing with the financial stress of being able to afford out-of-pocket costs to treat this devastating disease can be overwhelming for both the patient and their families. We are honored that our donors recognize the need for this critical financial lifeline to ease some of the burden these patients have to endure.”
To determine eligibility and apply for financial assistance, visit HealthWell’s Huntington’s Disease Fund page. To learn how you can support this or other HealthWell programs, visit HealthWellFoundation.org.
About the HealthWell Foundation
A nationally recognized, independent non-profit organization founded in 2003, the HealthWell Foundation has served as a safety net for more than 250,000 underinsured patients in more than 50 disease areas by providing access to life-changing medical treatments they otherwise would not be able to afford. HealthWell provides financial assistance to adults and children facing medical hardship resulting from gaps in their insurance that cause out-of-pocket medical expenses to escalate rapidly. HealthWell assists with the treatment-related cost-sharing obligations of these patients. For more information, visit www.HealthWellFoundation.org.
About Huntington’s Disease Society of America
The Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) is the premier non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by Huntington’s disease. From community services and education to advocacy and research, HDSA is the world’s leader in providing help for today and hope for tomorrow for people with Huntington’s disease and their families. HDSA’s network of chapters, affiliates, HDSA Centers of Excellence, social workers and support groups provides a seamless connection for help, education and outreach to HD families and health care professionals across the United States. To learn more about HDSA, visit: www.hdsa.org.
###
