Patient Access Network Foundation uses the following criteria to
determine eligibility for assistance:
1. You have to be insured and your insurance has to cover the
medication for which you are seeking assistance.
2. The medication you take must fight the disease directly.
3. You have to be a US resident.
4. Your income must fall below 400% of the Federal Poverty
Level.
Click
here
for the Federal Poverty Guidelines
applications for new and renewal patients are accepted and
grants are immediately allocated.
Gaucher (pronounced go-shay) disease is an inherited genetic
condition that causes fatty deposits to build up in certain organs
and bones. In healthy people, the enzyme glucocerebrosidase
(pronounced gloo-ko-ser-e-bro-sy-daze) helps the body to break down
a certain type of fat molecule (glucocerebroside). People with
Gaucher disease do not have enough of this enzyme. As a result,
cells fill up with the undigested fat. These cells are referred to
as Gaucher cells.
Gaucher disease can cause a wide variety of symptoms. Gaucher
cells typically build up in different parts of the body, primarily
the liver, spleen and bone marrow (leading to many skeletal
complications). The disease's bone-related symptoms can be
particularly painful and debilitating, impairing a patient's
mobility. In addition, children and adolescents with Gaucher's
disease may experience a delay in growth and development.
Accumulation of Gaucher cells may cause spleen and liver
enlargement, anemia, and a number of other signs and symptoms. In
rare cases, the brain and nervous system are affected.
Private insurance and Medicare are the most common types of
health coverage for patients with Gaucher's disease. Both have
co-payments that can present difficulties for patients. For example,
Medicare does not have a cap on coinsurance in certain health care
settings. Also, private insurance coverage can vary. 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 may be able to provide assistance with these patient
cost-sharing requirements.
