New pemphigus vulgaris fund opens

The PAN Foundation today opened a new financial assistance program for people living with pemphigus vulgaris, providing up to $6,600 per year for eligible patients. 

Pemphigus vulgaris is a rare autoimmune disorder of the skin, which involves blistering and sores of the skin and mucous membranes. About three in every 100,000 people in the U.S. are living with pemphigus vulgaris, according to the Merck Manual.  

“We are proud to launch this new fund, offering support to those affected by this rare and chronic disease. Pemphigus vulgaris can be life-threatening if left untreated, and our hope is that PAN’s financial support will make sure more people will be able to access the care they need,” said PAN President and CEO Kevin L. Hagan. “We are grateful that with the support of our donors, we are able to allow those affected to focus on managing their health, rather than worrying about the price of their care.

Patients who qualify are eligible to receive $6,600 per year in financial assistance to pay for the deductibles, copays, and coinsurance costs associated with their treatment for pemphigus vulgaris.  

Eligibility requirements 

To get financial assistance for pemphigus vulgaris, patients must:   

• Be getting treatment for pemphigus vulgaris. 
• Have Medicare health insurance that covers the qualifying medication or product.  
• Have an income that falls at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level.  

How to apply 

Patients or caregivers applying on their behalf can apply for assistance using the PAN Foundation’s online patient portal. To apply on behalf of a patient, providers can use the provider portal, while pharmacists can use the pharmacy portal. A series of how-to guides are also available for the patient portal, including common tasks like creating an account and applying for assistance online.

Other patient support services at PAN 

Apply for transportation assistance 

PAN grant recipients may also qualify for transportation assistance to allow them to get to and from activities that improve their overall health outcomes, including healthcare services, social connection and support, and healthy and nutritious food. Check your eligibility to learn more. 

Learn more about the federal Extra Help program 

The Extra Help program—also known as the Low-Income Subsidy program—is administered by the Social Security Administration and was designed to assist people with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs. Thousands of Medicare beneficiaries—many of whom are PAN grant recipients—may qualify for state or federal assistance from the program but don’t know that they are eligible. Patients can visit PAN’s Extra Help education hub to learn more.

Connect with a patient support organization 

People with serious health conditions—and their families and caregivers—need support beyond financial assistance. We partner with more than 20 leading patient advocacy groups to connect people to communities that can offer support with the complex physical, emotional, and practical realities of life-threatening, chronic, and rare diseases. 

About the PAN Foundation 
The PAN Foundation is an independent, national 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to helping federally and commercially insured people living with life-threatening, chronic, and rare diseases with the out-of-pocket costs for their prescribed medications.  

Since 2004, we have provided more than 1 million underinsured patients with $4 billion in financial assistance. Partnering with generous donors, healthcare providers, and pharmacies, we provide the underinsured population access to the healthcare treatments they need to best manage their conditions and focus on improving their quality of life. Learn more at panfoundation.org.