Glioblastoma Multiforme/Anaplastic Astrocytoma and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Funds Now Open
Glioblastoma Multiforme/Anaplastic Astrocytoma and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Funds Now Open
GERMANTOWN, Md. - January 23, 2019 - The HealthWell Foundation®, an independent non-profit that provides a financial lifeline for inadequately insured Americans, has re-opened two oncology funds to provide financial assistance to patients living with Glioblastoma Multiforme/Anaplastic Astrocytoma and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Both funds were previously closed in 2012 due to exhausted funding.
About the Glioblastoma Multiforme/Anaplastic Astrocytoma (GBM/AA) Fund
Through the GBM/AA Fund, HealthWell will provide up to $4,000 in copayment or premium assistance to eligible patients who have household incomes up to 500% of the federal poverty level.
Any tumor that arises from the glial, or supportive tissue, of the brain is called a “glioma.” One type of glioma is the astrocytoma. Astrocytomas are named after astrocytes, the star-shaped cells from which they grow. Glioblastoma or glioblastoma multiforme is the highest grade glioma (grade IV) tumor, is the most malignant form of astrocytoma, and is synonymous with a grade IV glioma.
According to the American Brain Tumor Association, an anaplastic astrocytoma is a grade III tumor. These rare tumors require more aggressive treatment than benign pilocytic astrocytoma. Anaplastic Astrocytomas tend to have tentacle-like projections that grow into surrounding tissue, making them difficult to completely remove during surgery.
About the Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) Fund
Through the NHL Fund, HealthWell will provide up to $8,100 in copayment or premium assistance to Medicare patients living with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma who have annual household incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level.
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL or lymphoma) accounts for approximately 4 percent of all cancers in the United States. NHL is a cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body’s immune system. Lymphoma affects the body’s lymph system, part of the immune system that helps fight infections and some other diseases. NHL effects both adults and children and can occur at any age. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 74,200 people will be diagnosed in the United States in 2019, and approximately 19,900 will die from NHL.
Alan Klein, Chief Development Officer at HealthWell Foundation, commented on the re-openings, “As we continue to strengthen our presence in the oncology arena, it is a privilege to be able to offer patients living with GBM or NHL a financial lifeline to meet their out-of-pocket costs for life-changing, sometimes life-saving, medical treatments. We are thankful that our dedicated donors recognize the undue financial hardship these patients face in treating their disease and are honored to re-open the funds in both indications.”
Mr. Klein continued, “It is always a difficult decision, and one we do not take lightly, when we have to turn grant applicants away because we no longer have funding for a specific disease area. We are always gratified when we can re-open funds to these deserving individuals to ease the financial burden they are facing. We look forward to assisting patients through the re-opened funds and are thankful to our donors who continue to help us carry out our mission.”
To determine eligibility and apply for financial assistance, visit HealthWell’s Glioblastoma Multiforme/Anaplastic Astrocytoma andNon-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma fund pages. To learn how you can support these 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 405,000 underinsured patients in more than 65 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.
