Did you know that one out of three Americans walk away from the pharmacy counter because they can’t afford their out-of-pocket costs for medication? For 20 years, the non-profit organization Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN) has been a solution to these common and unfortunate issues, dedicating the organization to helping underinsured individuals access vital healthcare treatments.

The foundation’s mission is to provide financial assistance to those who struggle to afford the costs associated with critical medical treatments, particularly for chronic, rare, and life-threatening diseases. The foundation addresses a significant gap in the healthcare system by supporting patients who, despite having insurance, are faced with extremely high costs for their medications and treatments. High co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance can create significant financial barriers, preventing many Americans from accessing the care they need. The PAN Foundation steps in to alleviate this burden, ensuring that financial hardship does not impede access to essential and critical medical care.

Credit: PAN Foundation

“For 20 years, we have focused on providing this important safety net to people who are underinsured in this country to make sure they can access the medications they need to stay healthy. This issue is an important one for millions of people in this country,” PAN Foundation Chief Mission Officer Amy Niles explained during an interview with d-mars. “The work that we do at PAN provides financial assistance to people who are underinsured –most of the people we help are Medicare beneficiaries. With the financial assistance, people can start and stay on treatment.”

Niles said the organization offers this assistance across about 75 different programs that address the needs of patients with various cancers, and chronic and rare diseases. With the support from generous donors, healthcare providers, and pharmacies, PAN provides patients who are underinsured access to the healthcare treatments they need to best manage their conditions and focus on improving their quality of life.

“If someone meets our eligibility criteria and we have funding to provide, they can receive a grant that can cover out-of-pocket costs for a 12-month period,” Niles said. “There are so many needs that people have and affording prescription medications is one of them. Unfortunately, when you’re living on a fixed income, you may not be worrying about your prescription medications, but you may be worrying about your rent, putting food on the table, and other basic needs.”

Credit: PAN Foundation

The foundation’s impact is great, having provided over $4 billion in assistance to more than 1.2 million patients since its founding. This support has enabled countless patients to continue to improve their health outcomes without the added stress of financial strain.

Moreover, the PAN Foundation is also committed to advocacy and policy change. By working with lawmakers, healthcare providers, and patient advocacy groups, the foundation strives to create a more equitable healthcare system.

“We are educating people about Medicare reforms that have already taken place and two important reforms that go into effect January 1, 2025. The first reform is the Medicare Part D Cap, which means that people with Medicare Part D coverage won’t pay more than $2,000 in out-of-pocket costs for their prescription medications for the calendar year,” Niles said. “The second reform that takes effect is the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which will allow people to spread their prescription costs over the calendar year.”

Through its dedicated efforts, the PAN Foundation continues to make a significant difference in the lives of many patients, helping them navigate the complexities of the healthcare system. For more information on grant assistance, finding a disease fund, and ways to support the foundation’s mission, go to panfoundation.org.

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