Anemia is when there is a low amount of oxygen-carrying substance (hemoglobin) found in red blood cells. Symptoms such as weakness, pale skin, and general tiredness result when the amount of hemoglobin drops below the amount that is needed to supply the body with enough oxygen. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anemia affects approximately 3.4 million Americans, people of all ages and from all walks of life.

Anemia can come from blood loss or bleeding, or from high destruction of red blood cells or low production of red blood cells. Types of anemia include iron deficiency anemia, folic acid deficiency anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, hemolytic anemia, among others. Each type of anemia is treated differently.

This program focuses on the needs of patients whose anemia is due to the effects of serious disease or the side effects of medication used to treat the disease.

Private insurance and Medicare are the most common types of health coverage for patients with anemia. Both can sometimes present difficulties for patients who need medicine. For example, Medicare does not have a cap on the costs of coinsurance in certain health care settings. Also, the amount of private insurance coverage can vary a lot, leaving many patients with very high copayments and out-of-pocket maximums that are hard to reach. As a result, low-to-moderate income beneficiaries are often unable to afford the out-of-pocket costs associated with their prescriptions. The Patient Access Network Foundation may be able to provide assistance with cost-sharing requirements for these patients.