FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Health Insurance Premium Grants from The Assistance Fund Now Available for Eligible Individuals Who Have Lost Coverage Due to Coronavirus-related Job Loss
ORLANDO, Fla., April 27, 2020—In response to the unprecedented national crisis of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), The Assistance Fund (TAF), an independent charitable patient assistance organization that helps patients and families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs, today launched a new COVID-19 Health Insurance Assistance Program for eligible individuals who have experienced a disruption in their coverage due to the pandemic.
“We all have a role to play during this crisis, from staying home to washing our hands. TAF is stepping up to the plate by recommitting our unwavering support for people living with life-threatening, chronic, and rare diseases,” said Mark McGreevy, President and CEO of The Assistance Fund. “By launching our COVID-19 Health Insurance Assistance Program, the message to our patients is clear: We are in this together.”
Nearly 27 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits during this crisis, many of whom are now uninsured. For people living with life-threatening, chronic, and rare diseases, this is a time of both health and financial anxiety. Studies show a higher infection rate, and higher levels of hospitalization, for people living with underlying health conditions. This population relies on health insurance coverage to access critical treatment. Those who have been affected by COVID-19-related job loss now must navigate barriers to obtain coverage from COBRA or insurance exchanges, where the average out-of-pocket cost is more than $450 a month.²
The COVID-19 Health Insurance Assistance Program will provide immediate financial support for this community with grants of up to $2,500 to help individuals secure health insurance for the remainder of 2020. Applicants will be required to submit verification of insurance and proof of economic hardship.
Eligible applicants must be actively enrolled or have been enrolled in a TAF copay program in 2020; must have filed a claim in 2020; must not be currently enrolled in a TAF financial assistance program; and must meet the following additional criteria:
- Applicant must be a legal resident of the United States or a US territory, and fall within household-income and household-size financial guidelines based upon the Federal Poverty Level.
- Applicant’s insurance coverage must have been impacted by a COVID-19-related job loss.
- Applicant must have secured or be in the process of securing replacement insurance (or must be paying directly for continuation of existing insurance).
- Applicant must submit a complete program application that includes the patient’s attestation.
To learn more, visit tafcares.org/covidprogram or call (877) 330-2684 to speak with a Patient Advocate. For updates and resources on TAF operations during the coronavirus pandemic, visit: tafcares.org/coronavirusupdates.
A list of all the programs available from The Assistance Fund can be found on the website tafcares.org.
About The Assistance Fund
The Assistance Fund is an independent charitable patient assistance organization that helps patients and families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs by providing financial assistance for their copayments, coinsurance, deductibles and other health-related expenses. The Assistance Fund currently manages nearly 70 programs – each of which covers the FDA-approved medications that treat a specific disease. Since its founding in 2009, The Assistance Fund has helped more than 100,000 adults and children access the medicines they need to stay healthy or manage a chronic condition. To learn more about The Assistance Fund, or for information on how to donate, please visit tafcares.org.
Media Contact
Margaret Figley
Director of Communications
margaret.figley@tafcares.org
¹ “US weekly jobless claims hit 4.4 million, bringing 5-week total to more than 26 million.” CNBC. (April 23, 2020). Retrieved from: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/23/weekly-jobless-claims.html
² “Average Marketplace Premiums by Metal Tier, 2018-2020.” Kaiser Family Foundation. (April 17, 2020). Retrieved from: https://www.kff.org/health-reform/state-indicator/average-marketplace-premiums-by-metal-tier/