Meet the HealthWell Foundation

The HealthWell Foundation is a nationally recognized, independent non-profit organization dedicated to improving access to health care for America’s underinsured. 

What does your organization do?

When health insurance is not enough, we fill the gap by assisting with copays, premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. In 2023, we awarded more than $1 billion in grants to more than 200,000 patients through our program. Since awarding our first grant in 2004, HealthWell has provided over $4.1 billion in financial assistance to more than 930,000 patients to assist with out-of-pocket costs for life-changing, often lifesaving, medical treatments they would otherwise forgo due to cost.

We provide financial assistance to help with:

• Prescription copays
• Health insurance premiums, deductibles and coinsurance
• Pediatric treatment costs  
• Travel costs
• Behavioral health services

Tell us your organization’s origin story.

HealthWell was founded in 2003 with the mission to reduce financial barriers to care for underinsured patients with chronic or life-altering diseases. Over the past 20 years, we’ve been able to help over 930,000 patients access the care they need through over $4.1 billion in grants. Our vision is to ensure that no patient goes without health care because they cannot afford it.

What do you like most about being an organization located in Frederick County?

HealthWell loves to give back to the place we call home. Here are some highlights from 2023: 

• HWF Direct employees volunteer every month at the Frederick Rescue Mission, assisting with lunch service and food bank distribution. 
• For the first time, we also participated in the Frederick Community Health Fair, an annual event that provides attendees with free health screenings, vaccines, and information. 
• In October 2023, we were honored to be recognized as a major Frederick County employer, playing a vital role in the thriving Frederick community, by the Frederick County Office of Economic Development.  

What makes HealthWell unique?

HealthWell is one of only nine charitable patient assistance programs in the United States, and we are one of only a few organizations who are allowed to provide medication copayment assistance to Medicare patients.

What do you want your organization to be known for?

When health insurance is not enough, we fill the gap by assisting with copays, premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses for essential treatments and medications.

How can the community support you?

Visit https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/donate/ to donate today. Your tax-deductible donation is put to work immediately to assist patients in need. 

What do you do best? 

HealthWell is ranked #23 on the 2023 Forbes list of America’s Top 100 Charities and was for its fundraising efficiency. 100 percent of every dollar donated goes directly to patient grants and services.

Is there anything else exciting about your business that you want the Chamber membership to know about? 

HealthWell is proud to be a recognized resource for the White House Cancer Moonshot initiative to “end cancer as we know it.” As part of our ongoing commitment to assist oncology patients, in 2024 HealthWell Foundation will:

• Provide more than $300 million to underinsured oncology patients to offset out-of-pocket medication costs. The financial support will enable patients to adhere to prescribed treatment regimens and improve their survival.
• Begin to provide financial assistance to qualified clinical trial patients to address disparities in participation in oncology clinical trials.
• Support oncology caregivers through a new fund to help individuals with certain out-of-pocket financial needs, seeding $500,000 for the program and encouraging additional donations from corporate and individual donors.

Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.