New Type 2 diabetes fund opens

The PAN Foundation today opened a new financial assistance program for people living with Type 2 diabetes, providing up to $3,100 per year for eligible patients. 

Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes, is a chronic disease that causes high blood glucose when the pancreas can’t produce enough insulin, or the body can’t use insulin effectively.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that about 37 million people in the U.S. are living with diabetes, and of that population, more than 90 percent have Type 2. Diabetes is the most expensive chronic condition in the U.S., accounting for $1 of every $4 spent on healthcare costs, according to the American Diabetes Association. 

“The CDC estimates that one in three Americans will develop diabetes in their lifetimes, and there is no cure,” said PAN President and CEO Kevin L. Hagan. “For those living with diabetes, treatment must be managed daily, and treatment comes with a high out-of-pocket cost. We are grateful to be able to offer this support to those living with this chronic disease, thanks to the support of our generous donors.” 

Patients who qualify are eligible to receive $3,100 per year in financial assistance to pay for the deductibles, copays, and coinsurance costs associated with their treatment for Type 2 diabetes.  

Eligibility requirements 
To get financial assistance for Type 2 diabetes, patients must:   

• Be getting treatment for Type 2 diabetes. 
• 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 doctor’s appointments and pharmacy visits. Check your eligibility to learn more.

Get free application support for 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 log in to their patient portal account to see if they are eligible for free application assistance from the Extra Help program.

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 living with 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.