New fund offers financial support to Parkinson’s patients on Medicare
Healthwell Foundation awarding grants up to $4K for treatment costs
The Healthwell Foundation — a U.S. nonprofit seeking to improve healthcare access for underinsured patients — has launched a fund to help Medicare beneficiaries with Parkinson’s disease cover the costs of treatment.
Eligible individuals undergoing treatment for Parkinson’s in the U.S. can apply online for a grant of up to $4,000. Grant recipients can use the money to offset copays for more than 80 eligible prescription drugs. The funds can also help pay Medicare Part B premium assistance, which covers doctor’s visits and outpatient care.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program in the U.S. for people age 65 or older, and individuals with certain disabilities.
“Treatment and management of Parkinson’s disease is expensive, oftentimes much more than a person on Medicare can afford,” John L. Lehr, president and CEO of the Parkinson’s Foundation, another nonprofit aiming to improve patient care, said in a Healthwell Foundation press release. “Yet, the inability to stay on a treatment regimen because of cost is not a viable option for someone living with [Parkinson’s disease].”
To qualify for the new program, applicants must have Medicare coverage and a household income no greater than five times the federal poverty level. Healthwell noted on its website that this amount is set at $15,650 for a single person in 2025, with adjustments based on household size and the cost of living in certain areas.
New fund for Medicare recipients is specific to Parkinson’s patients
Many medications used to treat Parkinson’s need to be taken on a regular schedule to maintain stable levels in the body and ensure consistent symptom control. Irregular dosing can lead to a loss of effectiveness, worsening of symptoms, or unpredictable on and off periods in which the medication’s benefits fluctuate.
“Missing even a single dose of medication can be temporarily debilitating and can drastically impact a person’s quality of life,” Lehr said. “We commend the Healthwell Foundation for understanding the financial challenges [Parkinson’s disease] patients encounter in managing their condition and the importance of adhering to a proper treatment regimen.”
The new fund aims to help people avoid missing doses by easing the financial burden of paying for treatment, according to Healthwell, which administers similar funds covering more than 90 disease areas.
We are excited to launch this dedicated fund to ensure that those living with [Parkinson’s disease] have access to life-changing treatments and medications that enable them to maintain a better quality of life. … [Parkinson’s medications] are costly and beyond reach for many, especially for those on Medicare.
Since its founding in 2003, Healthwell has given more than 1.8 million grants to patients who would otherwise be unable to afford treatment. Altogether, the nonprofit has granted more than $4.8 billion in total financial support.
Previously, people with Parkinson’s could receive aid through the foundation’s Movement Disorders Fund, but that has since closed. This fund is specific to Parkinson’s patients.
“We are excited to launch this dedicated fund to ensure that those living with [Parkinson’s disease] have access to life-changing treatments and medications that enable them to maintain a better quality of life,” said Michael S. Heimall, president and CEO of the Healthwell Foundation. Heimall noted that Parkinson’s medications “are costly and beyond reach for many, especially for those on Medicare.”
“We … are proud to be able to provide the financial resources [people with Parkinson’s] need to adhere to treatment without the worry and anxiety of how to pay for it,” Heimall said.
Additionally, patients who meet Medicare and income requirements and also need care for psychosis, a nonmotor symptom of Parkinson’s, may be eligible for the Neurocognitive Disease with Psychosis Fund, another Healthwell offering.
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