ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Assistance Fund, an independent charitable patient assistance foundation that helps patients and families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs, today announced the launch of a program to provide financial support to patients with myasthenia gravis. The new fund will assist individuals with out-of-pocket medical expenses associated with their condition and treatment, including premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance and incidental medical expenses.
“Highly effective treatment options for myasthenia gravis are available, allowing individuals with the condition to lead full and relatively comfortable lives,” said Mark P. McGreevy, President, The Assistance Fund. “However, these therapies can be a significant expense for families. We are excited to provide much-needed financial support through our new myasthenia gravis fund so that patients can access treatments and improve their quality of life.”
Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that causes muscle weakness after periods of activity. Muscles affected may include those that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expressions, talking, breathing and neck and limb movements, among others. Men and women of all ages are affected by this disorder; the most commonly affected groups are young adult women and older men. Up to twenty percent of individuals with myasthenia gravis experience one or more myasthenic crises in their lifetime, where the muscles that control breathing weaken significantly, requiring the use of a ventilator. There is no known cure, but existing therapies have been shown to reduce muscle weakness, greatly improving quality of life.1
“Perhaps there is nothing more frustrating for patients with a life altering disease like myasthenia gravis (MG) than knowing that there are treatments that can help, but not being able to afford them,” said Nancy Law, chief executive officer for the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA), who herself has had MG for more than 20 years. “We at MGFA are grateful that The Assistance Fund will be able to help many patients with copays, deductibles, health insurance premiums and other medical expenses – allowing them to pursue optimal care without undue financial burden.”
To learn more or determine eligibility for financial support, individuals should visit tafcares.org or call (855) 845-7608 to speak with a patient advocate.
A list of all the funds available at The Assistance Fund can be found on the website tafcares.org.
About The Assistance Fund
The Assistance Fund is an independent charitable patient assistance foundation 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 more than 30 funds – 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 43,000 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.
1 References “Myasthenia Gravis Fact Sheet.” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Health. 2017, November. Retrieved from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Myasthenia-Gravis-Fact-Sheet.
