The Assistance Fund Offers New Program to Help Hemophilia Patients with Medical Expenses

Hemophilia patients may now benefit from financial assistance for out-of-pocket expenses, health insurance premiums, and incidental medical costs following the launch of a new program from The Assistance Fund (TAF).

Founded in 2009, TAF is an independent nonprofit aimed at helping eligible patients and their families cover costs not paid by insurance, including medication copays, coinsurance, and deductibles, as well as basic healthcare needs.

Patients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents to take advantage of TAF’s financial assistance programs.

Hemophilia is characterized by absent or reduced amounts of clotting factors, which are the proteins needed to stop or control bleeding. As a result, patients may bleed for longer periods following injuries or surgeries and are more susceptible to easy bruising. They may also experience internal bleeding, particularly in the knees, ankles and elbows, which is associated with pain.

Current treatments include replacement therapies — such as Bayer’s Kovaltry and Kogenate — that deliver the deficient clotting factors, either as a preventive measure or as an “on-demand” therapy following injury.

“For people with hemophilia, even routine activities, like going to the dentist, can be daunting,” Mark P. McGreevy, TAF’s president and CEO, said in a press release. “The opening of TAF’s Hemophilia Financial Assistance Program will provide financial support to patients so that they can better afford the treatments they need to help minimize bleeding episodes and improve their quality of life.”

For more details or to determine eligibility for financial assistance, TAF encourages individuals to visit its website or call the hemophilia program phone number at 844-282-5802 to speak with a patient advocate. Online chat is also an option. The application form can be found here.

Currently, TAF has more than 40 funds, each covering medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a specific disease. Examples of covered diseases include asthma, breast cancer, gastric cancer, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and multiple sclerosis. To learn more about available programs, click here.

TAF’s establishment of the new fund follows a recent announcement from Express Scripts on another program to benefit hemophilia patients. The pharmacy benefits services provider has partnered with health advisory firm PinnacleCare to offer patients with hemophilia or other rare disorders access to a second opinion from a specialist care provider. The program also provides assistance with managing treatment costs, among other services.