Quick Answer: Disease-specific charity funds are independent nonprofits that cover copays, deductibles, insurance premiums, and drug costs for patients with serious illnesses. In 2026, the major organizations include the PAN Foundation (merging into TotalAssist by July 2026), HealthWell Foundation, The Assistance Fund, Good Days, and Patient Advocate Foundation's Co-Pay Relief program. Most require you to have insurance, a household income under 300-500% of the federal poverty level, and a diagnosis covered by an open fund.
Prescription drug costs and medical out-of-pocket expenses push millions of Americans toward financial ruin each year. A $500 monthly copay for a cancer drug or a $2,000 deductible for a specialty infusion can force patients to delay or skip treatment entirely. Disease-specific charity funds exist to close that gap.
These are not government programs. They are independent 501(c)(3) nonprofits funded by donations and, in some cases, by pharmaceutical manufacturers who want their drugs to be accessible. Each fund targets a specific diagnosis or set of diagnoses. If your condition is covered and your income qualifies, you may receive grants of hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year to offset your out-of-pocket costs.
This directory covers the six largest organizations, what they cover, income thresholds, and how to apply in 2026. If you are also uninsured or underinsured, check your eligibility for Medicaid, ACA Marketplace plans, or Medicare at coveredusa.org/screener first. Charity funds almost always require you to have insurance before they will assist with cost-sharing.
What Disease-Specific Charity Funds Actually Cover
Before searching fund by fund, understand what these programs typically pay for:
- Copayments and coinsurance on specialty drugs, biologics, and infusions
- Annual deductibles that apply to the specific medication or treatment
- Insurance premiums (some funds, not all)
- Medicare Part D cost-sharing including the out-of-pocket cap gap before catastrophic coverage kicks in
- Transportation and lodging for treatment travel (select programs)
What they generally do NOT cover: experimental therapies not yet FDA-approved, treatments outside the United States, or costs for patients who are completely uninsured (some exceptions exist for premium assistance).
The Six Major Disease-Specific Charity Fund Organizations in 2026
1. PAN Foundation / TotalAssist (Launching July 1, 2026)
The PAN Foundation and Patient Advocate Foundation announced a strategic merger in March 2026. On July 1, 2026, the combined entity will launch TotalAssist, a unified financial assistance platform that will absorb both organizations' existing disease funds.
At launch, TotalAssist will include over 140 disease-specific and health equity financial assistance funds, covering conditions from cancer and rare diseases to chronic and complex illnesses. Grants will be offered first-come, first-served. The PAN Foundation wait list is no longer accepting new entries as of May 27, 2026.
Key facts:
- Over 140 disease funds at launch
- Historically PAN has provided more than $2.5 billion to over 700,000 underinsured patients since 2004
- Income limits vary by fund, typically 400-500% FPL
- Requires active health insurance
How to access in 2026: Applications will move through patientadvocate.org once TotalAssist launches on July 1, 2026.
2. HealthWell Foundation
The HealthWell Foundation is one of the largest independent charitable patient assistance organizations in the country. It focuses on underinsured patients with chronic or life-altering diseases, helping cover copays, premiums, deductibles, and in some cases travel costs.
Eligibility for HealthWell in 2026:
- You must be diagnosed with a disease that HealthWell currently funds
- You must have active health insurance that covers your medication
- Your treatment must be in the United States
- Your household income must fall within the fund's FPL threshold (see table below)
HealthWell 2026 Income Limits by FPL Tier
| FPL Tier | Household of 1 (approx.) | Household of 4 (approx.) |
|---|
| 300% FPL | $47,880 | $99,000 |
| 400% FPL | $63,840 | $132,000 |
| 500% FPL | $79,800 | $165,000 |
Source: HealthWell Foundation FPL Guidelines and aspe.hhs.gov 2026 federal poverty guidelines. Exact FPL tier varies by individual disease fund.
HealthWell funds can be temporarily closed when they run out of money. Check the current fund status at healthwellfoundation.org/disease-funds before applying. HealthWell will consider a cost-of-living adjustment for residents in high-cost cities or states.
Disease categories HealthWell covers include (not exhaustive): cancer (multiple types), multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, pulmonary arterial hypertension, cardiomyopathy, inflammatory bowel disease, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, rare diseases, and Medicare-specific access funds for many of the same conditions.
3. The Assistance Fund (TAF)
The Assistance Fund operates over 100 disease-specific programs, each of which covers FDA-approved medications for a specific condition. TAF is notable for offering both grant-based assistance and reimbursement-based assistance, depending on the fund.
TAF Eligibility Requirements (2026):
- U.S. resident with active health insurance (government or private)
- Prescription for an FDA-approved treatment for the covered disease
- Treatment must be covered by your health insurance
- Income must fall within the financial need guidelines for the specific fund
- You cannot be simultaneously receiving assistance from another independent charitable patient assistance organization
TAF 2026 Income Limits by Household Size
| Household Size | 400% FPL (2026) | 500% FPL (2026) |
|---|
| 1 | $63,840 | $79,800 |
| 2 | $86,560 | $108,200 |
| 3 | $109,280 | $136,600 |
| 4 | $132,000 | $165,000 |
| 5 | $154,720 | $193,400 |
| 6 | $177,440 | $221,800 |
| Each additional | +$22,720 | +$28,400 |
Income limits based on 2026 federal poverty guidelines published by aspe.hhs.gov. Exact percentage (400% or 500%) depends on the specific TAF disease program.
TAF covers conditions including but not limited to: multiple sclerosis, ALS, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, atopic dermatitis, Crohn's disease, hemophilia, hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, macular degeneration, oncology (multiple types), pulmonary hypertension, rare neuromuscular diseases, and thyroid eye disease.
To check if your disease has an open fund: visit tafcares.org or call (855) 845-3663, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET.
4. Good Days (formerly Chronic Disease Fund)
Good Days focuses on copay assistance and ancillary support (transportation, lodging) for patients with chronic disease, cancer, and other life-altering conditions.
Good Days Eligibility (2026):
- Valid Social Security number
- Active health insurance with at least 50% coverage of the medication
- Prescription for an FDA-approved medication
- Treatment in the United States
- Household income at or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Level
Good Days Income Limits: 500% FPL (2026)
| Household Size | Annual Income Limit |
|---|
| 1 | $79,800 |
| 2 | $108,200 |
| 3 | $136,600 |
| 4 | $165,000 |
| 5 | $193,400 |
| 6 | $221,800 |
| Each additional | +$28,400 |
Based on 2026 FPL guidelines from aspe.hhs.gov.
Good Days covers disease categories including: multiple cancers (liver, metastatic breast, metastatic colorectal, metastatic melanoma, non-small cell lung, pancreatic), multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, multiple myeloma, and other chronic conditions. The full disease list is at mygooddays.org/patients/diseases-covered.
Contact: 877-968-7233
5. Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief (CPR)
Co-Pay Relief is operated by Patient Advocate Foundation and provides direct financial support for pharmaceutical copayments to insured patients, including Medicare Part D beneficiaries. As noted above, CPR is transitioning into the TotalAssist platform as of July 1, 2026.
Co-Pay Relief Income Limits (2026):
| Fund Income Tier | Household of 1 | Household of 2 | Household of 4 |
|---|
| 300% FPL | $47,880 | $64,920 | $99,000 |
| 400% FPL | $63,840 | $86,560 | $132,000 |
Each disease fund carries either a 300% or 400% FPL cap. Cost-of-living index adjustments are available in high-cost areas. Source: copays.org and aspe.hhs.gov 2026 guidelines.
Conditions covered include: asthma, multiple cancer types, chronic pain, cervical cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer, and many others. Check the current fund list at copays.org/funds.
Phone: (866) 512-3861
6. CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation
For patients with cancer specifically, the CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation offers copay grants for many cancer diagnoses. Funding availability shifts by cancer type based on donor support.
Visit cancercare.org for current fund availability and to apply. CancerCare also provides free counseling, support groups, and financial navigation services beyond just copay assistance.
How to Use This Directory: A Step-by-Step Approach
Finding the right fund is not always simple. Funds open and close based on donations. Use this process to maximize your chances of getting help in 2026.
Step 1: Check your insurance status
Almost every disease charity fund requires you to have health insurance. If you are uninsured, start at coveredusa.org/screener to see if you qualify for Medicaid (often free), an ACA plan with subsidies, or Medicare. Getting insured first unlocks access to charity funds.
Step 2: Gather your documents
You will need:
- Diagnosis documentation (ICD-10 code or physician letter)
- Proof of active insurance (insurance card or explanation of benefits)
- Recent tax return or proof of household income
- Prescription or treatment plan from your physician
- Social Security number
- Proof of U.S. residency
Step 3: Use FundFinder
FundFinder is a free web application that searches more than 200 programs from nine charitable foundations simultaneously. Enter your diagnosis and medication to see which funds are currently accepting applications.
Step 4: Apply to multiple organizations
You can apply to multiple independent charity funds as long as each fund's rules permit it. Some funds (notably TAF) prohibit simultaneous assistance from another charitable patient assistance organization. Read each fund's rules carefully.
Step 5: Contact your pharmaceutical manufacturer
In addition to charity funds, most pharmaceutical manufacturers offer their own patient assistance programs for uninsured or underinsured patients. These are separate from independent charity funds and can often be combined with charity fund assistance. Your physician's office or specialty pharmacy can help identify these programs.
Step 6: Re-enroll annually
Most disease fund grants require annual re-enrollment. Set a reminder 60 days before your grant year ends to renew and avoid a coverage gap.
What to Do If Every Fund Is Closed
Funds regularly hit their annual funding caps and close to new applicants mid-year. If your target fund is closed:
- Check back weekly. Funds reopen as new donations arrive.
- Ask your treating physician or specialty pharmacist about manufacturer copay programs. These are often less publicly advertised but can cover the same costs.
- Contact your insurance company's case management department. Many insurers have internal cost-sharing reduction programs for high-cost specialty drugs.
- Ask your pharmacist about 340B pricing if you receive care at a qualifying health center, hospital, or clinic.
- Check whether a generic or biosimilar version of your medication is available, which may dramatically reduce your cost-sharing obligation.
How Disease-Specific Funds Interact With Medicare
Medicare beneficiaries face a particular challenge: commercial copay coupons from manufacturers cannot legally be used by Medicare patients. However, independent charitable patient assistance organizations are permitted to assist Medicare Part D enrollees, provided the program operates under HHS OIG safe harbor guidelines.
HealthWell Foundation, Good Days, TAF, and Patient Advocate Foundation all maintain Medicare-specific disease funds. If you have Medicare and need help with Part D drug costs, look specifically for funds labeled "Medicare Access" or "Medicare Part D" when searching fund databases.
For 2026, the Medicare Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 per year under the Inflation Reduction Act changes. Even with this cap, the $2,100 can represent a major burden for patients on fixed incomes. Charity funds can help cover the gap between your current spending and that cap.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a disease-specific charity fund?
A disease-specific charity fund is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides financial assistance to patients diagnosed with a particular illness or group of illnesses. The funds cover out-of-pocket costs including copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and in some cases insurance premiums. The largest organizations in 2026 include HealthWell Foundation, The Assistance Fund, Good Days, and the newly merged PAN Foundation and Patient Advocate Foundation (TotalAssist platform launching July 1, 2026).
Do I need health insurance to qualify for a disease-specific charity fund?
Yes, in almost all cases. Independent charity funds are designed to cover cost-sharing for insured patients, not to replace insurance entirely. If you are uninsured, check your eligibility for coverage options at coveredusa.org/screener before applying to disease funds. Once you have insurance, return to apply for cost-sharing assistance.
What is the income limit for most disease charity funds?
Most disease-specific charity funds set income limits at 300% to 500% of the federal poverty level (FPL). For a household of one, 400% FPL in 2026 is approximately $63,840. For a household of four, it is approximately $132,000. The exact limit depends on the specific fund and organization. High-cost-of-living areas may qualify for an upward adjustment.
Can I receive assistance from more than one disease fund at the same time?
It depends on the organizations involved. Some, like The Assistance Fund, prohibit simultaneous assistance from another independent charitable patient assistance organization. Others do not have this restriction. You can typically also combine an independent charity fund with manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance, as long as you are not on Medicare when using a manufacturer copay program.
What happens if a fund is closed when I apply?
Funds close when their annual donations are exhausted. You should check back regularly as funds reopen when new donations are received. In the meantime, ask your physician about manufacturer patient assistance programs, explore 340B pricing through qualifying health centers, and contact your insurer's case management team.
Are these programs available to Medicare patients?
Yes. Independent charitable foundations like HealthWell, TAF, Good Days, and Patient Advocate Foundation operate Medicare-specific disease funds that are compliant with OIG safe harbor guidelines. Commercial manufacturer copay programs cannot legally be used by Medicare beneficiaries, but independent charity funds can. Look for funds labeled "Medicare Access" or "Medicare Part D."
How do I find disease-specific funds for rare diseases?
The National Financial Resource Directory at patientadvocate.org is a comprehensive database covering rare and common conditions. The EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases also maintains a financial support resource list at everylifefoundation.org/financial-support. For ultra-rare diseases, the manufacturer is often the primary source of assistance since charity funds need sufficient patient volume to justify a dedicated fund.
When will PAN Foundation's TotalAssist program launch?
The TotalAssist program, a merger of PAN Foundation and Patient Advocate Foundation resources, is scheduled to launch July 1, 2026. As of May 27, 2026, PAN Foundation stopped accepting wait-list applications. Grants through TotalAssist will be offered first-come, first-served through patientadvocate.org.
Get Coverage First, Then Find Fund Assistance
Disease-specific charity funds cover your cost-sharing, but they require insurance in the first place. If you do not currently have health coverage, you may qualify for Medicaid at no cost, an ACA Marketplace plan with subsidies that bring premiums to $0-50 per month, or Medicare if you are 65 or older or have a qualifying disability.
Check your eligibility now at CoveredUSA. It takes 2 minutes.
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