Patient Advocate Foundation, Inc.

I'm so grateful for the amazing supports and resources that Patient Advocate Foundation had provided to me this past year, during my cancer journey!
It is comforting to know there is a Foundation like Patient Advocate out there who is willing to assist people in such times of uncertainty, that you don't have to go through this alone!
Without this assistance, it would be very difficult for me to pay my insurance premium, dental insurance, my utilities, medications co-pay, Medications over the counter, doctor's copay and even buy foods. In general, this financial support gave me piece of mind and I was able to just concentrate on my treatment and the sides effects of the medications!
When I first contacted Patient Advocate Foundation for help, I was so impressed to learn of their commitment to providing the best quality services! I really admire the work staff are doing with this non profit Foundation, and their efforts to serve affected people like me, making a big difference.
Overall, the Patient Advocate Foundation has exceeded my expectations!
therefore, I have no reservation to recommend Patient Advocate Foundation to anyone in need of supports and resources.
Serge P 46

I WAS UNABLE TO GET MY DISABILITY BENEFITS REACTIVATED AND A PAF REPRESENTATIVE GOT ON RHE LINE AND STRAIGHTEN EVERYTHING OUT AND NOW MY BENEFITS ARE SLAYEDTO BE RESTORED PRETTY SOON!!!!!!!

Patient Advocate Foundation is one of the most commendable, relevant, significantly-important safety net organizations in existence. Everyone sings their praises, and it's obvious why - PAF was created from the heart, for all the right reasons, with grit and passion, and it continues today in the names of over 1 million people they have supported through disease hardship.

The service was prompt and friendly!
Very helpful in assisting us

As PAF's video partner, we're truly inspired by the profound impact PAF has on both patients and caregivers.

The Oklahoma Transportation Financial Aid Fund was a huge help in funding my transportation costs between OKC and Tulsa. The fund was a huge boost since my costs per day was about $35 per/day. Thanks again for the fund and hopefully it will be available to help other Oklahomans in the future.

“I am a Service Coordinator in an affordable housing community. I am currently working with a resident who has been denied medical care due to his inability to pay. Case manager Jackie has been extremely helpful with sending resources we can reach out to for help. Thank you!”

“We all know the stress of cancer is overwhelming to say the least. My family is enduring much and the financial aspect is a huge burden. We thank God for PAF and the kind people who have chosen to work at helping others. The staff and the givers that make this possible are truly God-sent. Small miracles make this huge benefit possible. Thank you all & may God bless you!”

This is often an overlooked resource, and many people have never even heard of it. If you're fortunate enough to reside in an area covered by this program or if funding is available for your illness, seize the opportunity to access something that genuinely aids individuals like myself who grapple with monthly financial struggles. Having recently lost Medicaid coverage, which was covering my Medicare Premium, due to the passing of my spouse, I suddenly found myself above the threshold for assistance and now have to bear the burden of paying for my Medicare Premium along with the loss of their income. Life is already challenging, and tending to one's own well-being feels like a full-time occupation. When I share how effortless it was to enroll and file a claim, I, too, initially questioned its legitimacy because everything flowed seamlessly. Their customer support team is remarkably friendly and helpful, serving as a beacon of hope to those in need and without the resources to pay some of the costs that having insurance still brings. . Although I'm currently navigating tough times, I am confident that brighter days lie ahead. Nevertheless, I want to express my deep appreciation for organizations like PAF and Co-Pay Relief, who are truly incredible and provide invaluable assistance to people like me. Thank you!

“My mother suffered from pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and an autoimmune disorder … Patient Advocate Foundation stepped in with co-pay relief, and our lovely mother lived a number of good, long, healthy years until her very last couple waning days. We are forever grateful.
Thank you.”

I’d like to express my gratitude to Beth - case manager and Patient Advocate Foundation for making this happen.

Beth has been very helpful and patient during the process. She’s been following up with me for almost 3 months to finally get us approved for the fund.

Thank you PAF for this meaningful grant that helps people in need.

Once again, thank you for all your help.

“I would like to sincerely express my gratitude for the amazing work and dedication Wendy Kurtz has provided me … she recently helped me with travel assistance for a needed surgery, and she called and emailed during/after to make sure that I was okay. That is just one of the many circumstances that I have experienced where she was supportive, compassionate, professional, and helpful … her ability to work through difficult challenges and advocacy is impressive and shows exceptional critical thinking skills and a true dedication to your foundation. I'm grateful to have her as my case manager.”

I am a proud scholarship recipient from PAF! They were fantastic to work with and so supportive of my goals. I am now a family nurse practitioner thanks to their support!

This organization helped me with college costs and allowed me to become a nurse serving others the way I was cared for when I was sick with cancer. I feel so fortunate to have been a recipient of their scholarship and grateful to the donors for their support.

I would like to say how thankful I am for this program because without it I wouldn’t be able to get my diabetes medication because I am on a fixed income and would have to go without it. Thank you for all the support and help your giving

I have had such a wonderful experience with PAF. Our case manager, Shauna, has been so helpful with assisting both of my parents. Navigating insurance and financial assistance eligibility can be super overwhelming. However, Shauna has walked us through every step. I can't say enough good things about PAF!

For over 15 years I have referred friends and coworkers to the services that PAF offers. In all instances, they have been able to guide them thru the maze of insurance bureaucracy and help them receive some positive results. The staff has been very professional and they always follow up with you to confirm that there is a closure to the case. It is nice to find an organization that really wants to help.

Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) makes such a big impact on a vulnerable portion of our population, people who find hardships on their healthcare journeys. Through working with PAF leadership on reports and marketing materials I witness firsthand the care they have for both their employees and the people they serve from the top down. This year, PAF put a major focus on health equity by releasing an Equity Value Statement that drives the Foundation towards eliminating barriers in healthcare and their workplace. They followed that statement up by investing in an online resource specifically developed for our Spanish-speaking population. I've had the opportunity to read and hear actual patient stories about the positive change PAF has brought to patients and their families in their times of need and am so proud to be associated with such an organization.

The Patient Advocate Foundation was a huge help to me. Thanks to their grant, I would not have been able to afford the expensive treatments for my cystic fibrosis, for which I am periodically hospitalized. Living on a fixed income is a real challenge with a disease, for which the drugs cost well in excess of $1,000 a month.

I am so thankful for the foundation. I am unemployed due to long covid which has caused my rheumatoid arthritis to have major flare ups. The foundation has Blessed me with help with medication and insurance reimbursements.

My name is Amy Branham, n I live with cystic fibrosis n MS N had Thyroid cancer n take 75 pills a day . I live at Fairmont. WV n My docs told me I am the only ONE lives in the USA that lives with both. I am lucky to be alive. I am good I live each day to the fullest. N I used to work in the medical field. No kids I am a ARMYWIFE, Dog Mom. If anyone out there that reads my story contact me at bigirlwv30@yahoo.com. thank you
Amy Branham.

Rebecca Biers was very helpful. She helped me negotiate my husband's hospital bills. She was so patient since we had to play phone tag many times. We were able to pay some off and are waiting to negotiate the others. I am much less stressed because of her help. I love this organization and will recommend it to everyone. She is also going to help my husband find insurance on the marketplace during open enrollment. Thank you so much for this service!!

co-Pay has provided me with help to treat my MM with thnaks.

“This financial aid from PAF has been a real blessing to me & my wife in taking care of so many expenses due to my heart valve surgery. The ease of the application process & the personal help I got when I called in was excellent! I am humbled & grateful & my heart is smiling from your thoughtfulness & gift. I will always treasure what you have done for myself and others.”
Pastor Jerry McClain

“Rebecca was amazingly helpful and knowledgeable in this field. She was able to help me understand a lot about my case and finances. I truly appreciated the follow up phone calls she was so pleasant to speak with and very sweet. I wish I could give her 3 dozen roses. She's just that awesome. I appreciate the donna foundation for the financial assistance as well every little bit helps, and I have a lot of medical bills that I can barely afford to pay. I’m the only person working and trying to pay anything other than my household bills is very stressful. Treatment in my life is needed so that I can get better, but I also don't want to have to make a choice between treatment and feeding my family. Huge hugs to you all. Thanks again.”

PAF has allowed me to continue onto my dreams. After a life changing diagnoses, the medical bills stacked and my dream was dwindling. Being a recipient of this scholarship, I can proudly say my dreams are back on track. Everyone I interacted with was interested in me and my story which made me feel like I could do anything. Thank you PAF.

Awesome nonprofit. I am a cancer survivor (brain cancer) trying to beat the odds and pursue a higher education despite adversity. PAF supported my education for two years, and I cannot thank them enough for their generosity!

Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) is a remarkable non-profit organization. I have the honor of working with PAF and I get to see the impact stories from patients they serve. The case managers are devoted to each patient case they receive and work tirelessly to make sure the patient gets the medical care and financial support they need. PAF also offers digital and printed educational resources and materials, a Co-Pay Relief program and so much more.

Andrea is an angel! One month after I lost my job, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was terrified because my COBRA payments were being subsidized by my employer for three months. Had I not gone to PAF and Andrea, I would have had to go from paying $159/month for gold-level health insurance to $879/month. Andrea helped me receive $26,600 in assistance to cover premiums, co-pays, deductibles, and meds. I am sooooo grateful because I didn’t know what I was going to do. When I get back on my feet and get another job, I am going to pay it forward and donate to PAF!!!!

“Having an autoimmune disease is terrifying. Even though there is help with doctors, you still feel alone and scared of what the next right move is. Having an advocate helps with that unsure feeling of is this normal? It almost feels like you're their main concern in their life and they will research and try to help.”
-Heather Louk

I am VERY grateful for the financial support the Patient Advocate Foundation has provided for my medication for Multiple Sclerosis! There is no question that without their help I would not be able to take the medication prescribed by my doctor. What a wonderful, wonderful organization! Many blessings!

PAF came to my aide and only continues to do so as I try to navigate through so much paperwork with insurance. My Advocate even calls and emails to check in with me. PAF provides a safe haven for when I am ready to call it quits!! Just to have my Advocate on the other line talking with people has really changed the tone to the voice on the other end of the line.

Having recently been diagnosed with a terminal, rapidly progressing disease and promoting my early retirement, my family and I were in dire need of my SSDI benefits under the new law S.578 (signed December 22, 2020). This new law waives the 5 month waiting period for people with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) My claim fell through the cracks and I was not processed under the new law. Bridget Williams worked diligently to help me receive my benefits immediately, thus, reversing the incorrect processing of my claim. Bridget spoke with myself and numerous folks at the SSA at the federal, state and local offices multiple times a week for numerous weeks in order to help me resolve the administrations’ mistake.
Thank you so much Bridget and Patients Advocate Foundation! These benefits are a blessing now.

Working with Shauna Hatfield reduced the stress we felt over the cost of medications while living on a limited budget. Shauna is knowledgeable, personable and empathetic and definitely helped relieve the stress and anxiety we had dealing with expenses!

One of the hardest things about being a college student with disabilities is that it feels like you constantly have to prove that you can succeed in school, especially in a demanding path like pre-med. Not only does the PAF scholarship help me financially, but it reminds me everyday that someone believes in me and my goals. PAF’s support means the world to me and my family as well as the chronic illness community. I was lucky enough to speak at PAF’s event in February, 2019 as a scholarship recipient and the support for students like me was overwhelming. I’ve had a challenging undergrad so far because of my health and moments like the PAF event give me the support I need to keep going.

GREAT mission, GREAT team! the CLOZTALK team is honored to call this org a partner & promote its good work!

CLOZTALK team
>> Jonny Imerman, co-founder

I want to say that sunshine cures many ailments; please try it and see. Its almost to easy but do it for you not for me. xo

My name is Siraj Belahouel, I am 19 years old, and I am in college. I have been diagnosed with cancer on March 20, 2020. During a time where the world was entering the phase of corona virus or most commonly know as COVID-19. It was almost 3 quarters towards the end of the school year. I was at school during that time. I was a healthy man with a bright future. I was also a soccer player so I was athletic and in good shape. Until I started experiencing cancer symptoms. The symptoms were fatigue, laziness, strong headaches, lack of appetite, and dizziness. I wasn’t real myself, my behavior started to change. I started dreading going to school and to work. I started sleeping in class because I used to be so fatigued. Even though I had slept 8 hours during the night. I was abnormal. Then one day my mom was giving me a haircut, as she was giving me the haircut she noticed two bumps on my head. Then she asked me “Siraj, did you fall on your head or did you get hit on the head?” I said “ no”. Then she said “then where did these two bumps come from?” I said “I don’t know” then we immediately went to the duke emergency room. They did an MRI of my skull and they found that there was a tumor. Under the pictures of the MRI it looked like it was meningioma benign tumor. So I had an operation on my skull where I had a big chunk of the tumor removed, which was about 15 cm of tumor. But they could not take everything out, because some of it was stuck to a vein in the brain and it was risky to take it out. After they took the pathology out they tested it and they found out that it was not a meningioma. It was a rare kind of spindle cell sarcoma. Spindle cells are aggressive cells that rapidly reproduce. I am the only one in the country with this type of cancer. So I had to go through cancer treatment. Which was a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. It was 5 weeks of radiation and 6 months of chemotherapy. And we’re hoping we can kill the tumor with that. It’s been a long journey to this points. I had to endure a lot of hardships. I had to go through a 7 round chemotherapy treatment and right now I’m on the last round. Chemotherapy comes with bad symptoms like nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, and esophagus sores. It would be hard for me to eat and drink. After the 3rd round of chemotherapy I was also diagnosed with Corona. So I had to quarantine in my room for 15 days. And I had to experience corona symptoms with chemotherapy symptoms. So it was long hard journey. I had to deal with all the pain. It was a physical, emotional, and mental warfare. After the 3rd round of chemotherapy I had to experience a cycle of hypomania where I was acting crazy and abnormal. I started thinking about big projects like freeing Palestine, and helping poor countries get through their conflicts. I wasn’t thinking right. I was acting crazy. And now I’m at the end of the tunnel of all this. And I’m happy I got through this because this has taught me a valuable lesson, and that is “a fight is never a fight until there is resistance, until there is something to overcome”. I am overcoming this and after this fight nothing will ever stop me from accomplishing my goals. And that is the end of a great story. The story of a cancer champion.

Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) is a one-of-a-kind organization that I've had the opportunity to collaborate with. We've recently worked closely to design a virtual Facebook Live event to educate key stakeholders. I've seen firsthand the commitment PAF devotes to its patients through the meaningful educational content and collateral we've produced together.

My firm, Howell Creative Group has had the privilege of supporting Patient Advocate Foundation for almost ten years. We’ve partnered with PAF to develop meaningful public-facing digital and print collateral designed to educate multiple stakeholders and audiences about PAF’s mission. From leadership to staff, the PAF team supports patients and their families during - and after - times of health challenges. PAF is a strong, well run organization that has never lost sight of the need to approach each of their constituents as individuals, always tailoring their care with genuine compassion as well as superior expertise.

As an enduring team member at PAF, I am aware of the organizations impactful mission and meaningful, personal approach to assistance. Although I had hoped my family would never need PAF’s services, we unpredictably found ourselves in need after my brother lost his battle with a chronic disease.

PAF’s Case Manager gracefully discussed the circumstances surrounding the loss with my sister in-law and dove in to help review EOB’s, find assistance with hospital bills, enroll children for survivor benefits, review policies and more. Knowing PAF was researching and assisting with things we never would have thought of, was such a pleasing comfort to me and the family.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone at PAF for what they do daily to serve one patient at a time!

I am grateful to the Copay Relief Program of the Patient Advocate Foundation for the financial help we got during my wife's breast cancer treatment. Beside the money, that was also another evidence that we were not alone in this fight.
Thank you so much for your help and keep up your excellent work! All the best.

PAF helped our family through an enormous amount of out of state medical bills. We were totally lost and not even sure who to ask for help or what to google. PAF walked us through it all and explained things so well. A wonderful ally!

“Ms. Bridget at PAF was warm, caring and very sympathetic with hearing my concerns… She also was proactive with seeing if we needed any other services going forward. We all need a “Bridget” all of us are facing some sort of new adjustments in life and having people like her on the other end of that phone with a warm tone and compassionate heart can move you to your next blessing. God bless you and all that you do.”

Life can change in a moment’s notice and throw you into a whirlwind of emotions in a short time when you are diagnosed with CANCER. This battle started two years ago to my husband, and it is still a battle he is fighting today. His numbers should be zero, but they are not yet. Each time he goes for blood work I hold my breath and pray.

I remember sitting in the Doctor’s office, when the Dr. entered the room and sat down in his chair and said, well it is cancer (just like that). I was scared for my husband!

We were not sure what to do next or even sure where to go or what to expect. Shock sat in, and I felt frozen. I remember leaving the office, but I do not remember a word the Doctor had said. I called my friend to tell her about it, and she told me to contact Patient Advocate Foundation. I thought “no” we have insurance and his Doctor will tell us what we need to know. When we went to the Dr. it was not so easy…

I knew we needed more answers and turned to Patient Advocate Foundation for help. When I spoke with a representative of Patient Advocate Foundation, I could not believe how quickly they were able to assist us. They provided educational information about his diagnosis, as well as patient support programs. We felt like we were more prepared for dealing with the CANCER. The information they gave us helped us to understand the treatment process and what to expect during the process. They sent us so many wonderful pamphlets filled with information and answers to questions we should ask about and answers to things we had not even thought about.

Cancer is so scary! The help we received was amazing. The follow up conversations were invaluable. Patient Advocate Foundation was a God Send, and the folks who answer those phones are Angels. God Bless them all.

I LOVE Patient Advocate Foundation and all who are involved with it. Amazing people!

-Becki

The Covid virus created an unprecedented situation which has made it very hard to clearly understand what my furloughed husband’s right to FMLA protection is. The uncertainty about which action to take was creating great added stress to his recent cancer diagnosis. The patient advocate agent I spoke with took the time to understand my husband’s personal situation and clearly cared. While she personally did not know the answer she escalated our query. She got back to me within hours with a very clear cut answer explaining what his rights are in this unprecedented situation created by Covid. Knowing how to proceed has lifted the stress from our shoulders and allowed us to concentrate on his treatment and getting well. Until reaching out to the Patient Advocate Foundation all other organizations contacted had given us equivocal answers that left us with the same doubts and fears about what to do! I can’t praise the Patient Advocate Foundation and its people enough and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their caring concern, thoroughness and excellent, informed help.
-Denise

“The help this foundation is making available to patients like me who have Multiple Myeloma is absolutely amazing. I don't know how I would have managed without your help in the past and recently with the Covid-19 grant. I am forever grateful - I can't thank you folks enough for all your help. I love you guys so much. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.” Connie Wardlow

“I would like to thank PAF and my case worker Ms. Sandra for her assistance. She explained every program I was eligible for in detail. She was so helpful and her response to help me was very quick with a follow-up call as well.”

I am nearing the end of the last semester of my first year of college in a few weeks. I just wanted to thank the Patient Advocate Foundation for all your help and generosity as it has helped me get by this year successfully. Throughout my first year of college, I have discovered new passions, hobbies, obtained research opportunities, and made new friends that all could not have been possible without the generosity of the Patient Advocate Foundation. I cannot thank you enough for all that you have done for me and my future!

Thank you so much for your compassion and for your help while I'm at my lowest. I'm a breast cancer patient who has been through 5 months of chemo, a mastectomy, and will soon begin several weeks of daily radiation. You all are truly beautiful people. I pray The Patient Advocate Foundation and all who work/volunteer there are blessed beyond measure for the good they do for others.

“I have been in a total panic, stress and depressive state not being able to afford the medications I need to live." Without your help I would be in serious troubles. It is sad to said but the truth is I had intended not to suffer with or from this illness but to end it. So, without your help I wouldn't be writing this. I don't know if this mean anything to anyone else but me. The stress of knowing what would happen without the medication was too much. The impact on my life is that I am still alive. You have given me more time to think about life. Thank you,

Thank you so much for the grant! You have no idea how much it helped me. I was also granted financial assistance through my oncology facility which is wonderful but to have some assistance with everyday expenses was extremely helpful. Your representatives were extremely nice and I recall being grateful to tears several times while talking to them. Not once was I ever made to feel like I was begging for assistance that I didn’t deserve, for that I am beyond thankful. Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your kindness!! ❤️❤️❤️

These are some "unsung heroes!" The Patient Advocate Foundation rep was a huge help; tactfully and knowledgeably appealing to my insurance provider to reconsider their decision to decline coverage of my costly hospital visit.
Without the help of a kind and brilliant PAF team member, I would've had no clue as to how to approach this dilemma. Their efforts, insights, and experience proved to be incredibly helpful, and I am extremely grateful!!!

Sincerely,
Steve Carlisle

I was introduced to Patient Advocate Foundation by an energetic speaker in a meeting about collaborative efforts to make a difference in 2016. I signed up as a volunteer and then my family had a devastating crisis experience. In October 2017, my husband developed pulmonary overload and subsequent complications that required dialysis for end stage Kidney disease. I was impressed that I was assigned a case manager to help me navigate his care and needs. I was referred to our local resources and I continue be a part of the PAF community as a volunteer and also a recipient of navigated care for my husband.

PAF guided us through an insurance nightmare. The stress level was unbelievable. Our PAF Case Manager, Tammy Niece guided us through it as well as the care my husband was seeking for life-saving treatment. Talking with her, was always empathetic and caring. Within a 3 month period, PAF had resolved the insane issue with our insurance company. Today, my husband has celebrated his 1 year anniversary of being in remission from stage 4 cancer. When we saw his CT scan, initially thought it was bad news. We had never seen a clean scan, ever, in over 20 years. To have insurance reversed their decision and my husband to be in remission from cancer we had been told there were no more treatments available. PAF CHANGED OUR LIVES FOREVER! Tammy our case manager is an earth angel. We will always feel a heap of gratitude towards PAF! THANK YOU!
- Tom and Liz

I owe so much to the Patient Advocate Foundation. After undergoing a bone marrow transplant as a teen, money was tight. Years of medical bills kept my family from being able to save money for college. PAF's "Scholarships for Survivors" Program has enabled me to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse so I can pay forward what I have been given. PAF has helped me and countless other college students who have dealt with life-threatening illnesses through this program. The staff at PAF go above and beyond and are always ready to help in anyway they can. They are there for patients when they have no one else to turn to. I am truly grateful for all that PAF does for patients in need and for students like myself. -C. Newsom

My first year of veterinary school was a lot less stressful thanks to Patient Advocate Foundation. This past year I moved to a new state, got through a very heavy curriculum, and managed my chronic illness, all while being away from family and friends. My career choice requires me to incur in a lot of debt, and my schedule makes it impossible for me to work throughout my schooling. To top it all off, I have to budget for additional expenses for treatments and medications. I am extremely grateful to Patient Advocate Foundation because I was able to cover the cost associated with living with my chronic illness, which gave me the time and peace of mind to focus on my education. They have been wonderful throughout the whole process, and I cannot thank them enough!
Sincerely,
Natalia Amaral

"Without the assistance received from PAF's CO-PAY RELIEF I would not have been able to afford the medication necessary to fight the Multiple Myeloma and to maintain the remission status I have achieved. I am in remission after having a stem cell transplant in November 2018 and remain on a maintenance drug. Because of the continued assistance provided by CO-PAY RELIEF my life is almost back to normal. Thank you for the assistance you make available. It can make a difference between life and death for many patients. "

PAF saved my life. I was underinsured with a $25K cap when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. PAF helped me negotiate bills with medical providers so I ended up with very little medical debt. Thank you PAF.
J S Hodges

As a chronic pain sufferer due to trigeminal neuralgia, type two, the best treatment as far is medical ( meaning expensive pharmaceuticals). This nonprofit organization really stepped up and helped me at a time of great need! Actually, the need is ongoing but the area of pain was fully subscribed; now I see it is not listed as an area of service. How distressing if understandable given the controversy whipped up over pain medication! At any rate, this nonprofit is first class!

In the summer of 2011 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and underwent surgery. I then had to face the daunting prospect of "chemo" with the worry of cost above my Medicare Advantage plan. I applied to Patient Advocate Foundation for co-pay assistance. The process was fast, efficient, smooth and culminated in a 12 month grant to aid in my treatment.

It was great to be able to focus on the medical aspects of my condition with out the additional worry of finance! My experience with this caring foundation was very positive.

Thank You,

Marvelle Smith

I was the recipient of generous financial assistance from Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) in the treatment of osteoporosis. My prescription medication was a very expensive daily injection medication over a two-year period. I was awarded $3,000 by PAF for each of those years. The staff at PAF handled the payment of invoices directly in an efficient manner was always most kind in my contacts with them. I am truly impressed with the services of PAF and will always be grateful for their assistance.

April 18, 2013

I am, most sincerely, just one of the “many” Presidents of Patient Advocate Foundation, and Cheryl Nowell Fan Club.. In addition to walking me through my first bout with Colon Cancer bills and medical confusion, PAF (through Cheryl Nowell) also helped me a second time through the same after my treatments for small bowel cancer. What PAF did for me, was to take the confusing state of mind that I or anyone else would be in after such medical trauma, and help it make to make some sense. The end result, from BOTH times, was that ALL of my medical bills (except one) were written off. This state does not just happen---it is through incredibly diligent work and a caring heart, which PAF exhibited to the nth degree—and way beyond. I cannot possible put into mere words the gratitude I feel for this organization, which helps ALL people through different kinds of “medical and mental” trauma. I most highly recommend PAF to anyone who needs a sincerely caring voice and heart on the other end of the telephone, during such confusing and trying times. Thank You PAF! All of you are WONDERFUL!!

Sincerely from the bottom of my heart,
Bonnie West

I would recommend the Co-Pay Relief program because it’s a quick, simplified process with a staff that truly cares. When you are sick and down you don’t need nor can you deal with the stress of the huge financial burden our medical system throws and you. It’s really nice to work with a group of professionals who make you feel like you are a part of their family and really want to help. I am grateful to the PAF/Co-Pay Relief Program and the staff who have given me a chance to finish my treatment. I am also grateful for the donors who support this program which helped me and has helped so many others. Thank you all very much for your excellent work and for being such kind and caring people.

Try to understand the feeling and dismay when you are informed that the problem you are facing has no cure and that a certain program, if successful,will prolong your life. Then, you discover the costs of this program, knowing that you do not have the funds nor are able to raise the necessary funds to begin the program.
That is what happened to me 3 months ago.
Fortunately for me, I was able to access information on my PC and discovered Patient Advocate Foundation and their helpful and compassionate people who really cared. The Foundation has been so very helpful and because of their decision to help, I am being treated and improving.
Without the Foundation's help, I would not be able to receive the necessary treatments and my life expectancy would be cut short, and I would not be able to write this review.

After I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2008 I began to pay my huge co-pays for medications. It became unbearable. I was introduced to PAF by my PCP and filled application. The Co-Pay Assistance Program helped me to stay on. With cancer treatment so expensive I could not survive without the help of PAF. I greatly appreciate their help and hope they will continue to provide assistance to cancer survivors. Victor Sloosky, Ashton, MD

I am a 54 year old breast cancer survivor. PAF really saved me at the hospital. The co-pays were crazy and thanks to PAF I can hold my head up high because I paid off Virtua Hospital Voorhess, NJ. I don't know what I could have done without them but the professionalism of the staff was a big help since I paid with them directly. Thank you to all who got me through the taxotere and carboplatin (the chemo that makes you lose your hair). Better days are coming since my hair is growing back now. Since PAF absorbed the costs after Medicare which I pay myself, I am not losing anything. Thank you friends. Sincerely, Debbie Kidd-Beswick.

My wife was diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (a rare form of sarcoma) in September of 2009. We belonged to an employer sponsored health maintenance organization (HMO) which has very strict rules about going out of network. It became evident that the expertise available within the HMO was insufficient to treat my wife's type of cancer. Only a handful of experts in treating this type of cancer were available, all requiring travel to get to. In July of 2010 my wife and I attended a support group function and Patient Advocate Foundation had a couselor and display at the meeting. It was here that I met Laurel, a counselor with the Patient Advocate Foundation. Laurel took me under her wing and provided every assistance I would need to fight the HMO for a referral outside of the HMO network.

When I made the initial request on behalf of my wife for a referral, the request was denied. We had to go through the entire appeals process and were denied each time, which I am told, happens with some frequency. In my state, after the appeals process with the insurance company is exhausted, there can be an appeal for an external review. When I requested the external review, the HMO capitulated and granted the referral to the ouside expert.

Laurel was behind me 100% and provided letters and backing to whether the appeals process with the HMO. Without the assistance and encouragement of the Patient Advocate Foundation, and specifically our wonderful counselor, Laurel, we may have never been granted the referral.

I know that the Patient Advocate Foundation helps out in many areas to support and advocate for paients as they struggle for treatment, payment assistance and approvals. Having been through this, I can tell you that it is very important to have someone help you advocate just to get noticed in the medical/insurance system.

I highly recommend Patient Advocate Foundation. My wife and I had a successful outcome with their assistance. I believe they will go to great lengths to provide any assistance they can and is within their means to provide.

I started my initial contact with the Patient Advocate Foundation in November of 2011 when I found out that I needed to have a surgery for a gastrointestinal issue. I am without insurance and have been for quite some time and the surgery that I needed to have was done by a doctor almost 3 hours away. The surgery was very expensive and in my initial contacts with the hospital and the company who makes the device that I needed to get to have the surgery I failed at getting financial assistance approval.

After an online search for patient services I stumbled upon PAF and was able to get a case manager within a week. The case managers communication was always consistent and when communication was needed with an outside person she was always on conference with me, it made it much easier to deal with.

It took almost a year with phone calls between us and the hospital, my doctor and the company who makes the device, but I was finally able to have the surgery. Prior to the surgery, my case manager was able to assist me with finding transportation and housing. I owe everything to PAF for sticking with me through this long process that seemed like would never get resolved and for following up with me to make sure everything was good to go.

My name is Patricia Adkins and I am 27 year old cancer survivor! Last year (2012) I became a client with PAF after I was diagnosed with a rare cancer. My case manager , Tanya Walker was and still is fabulous!!! Tanya and I share a special bond in that we are both nurses. I knew that the person on the other end of the phone truly understood what I was going through. Tanya helped me navigate through the ever changing insurance world, checking on claims to see what their status was, and she explained what would happen next, as far as what I would have to pay once everything settled out and how long it may take for claims to actually finish filing. A year later I can say without a doubt I couldn't have done it without her. It was so comforting to know that I had someone else in my corner paying attention to all the "yucky" stuff so I could focus on recovery! Thanks Tanya! you rock!

I am a patient volunteer with the Patient Advocate Foundation and do guest speaking on occasion. If it were not for PAF, I would not be able to do so. I have been in the battle against cancer since 1999 and in 2006 came up against my most challenging battle. I am currently fighting Stage IV Colon Cancer and found myself getting deeper and deeper in debt with patient copays until I came in contact with the Patient Advocate Foundation.
Their patient assistance program has been very helpful in my battle against cancer, as it gives me one less thing to worry about. If I had to keep worrying about the terrible debt of copays, I would have given up my fight 4 years ago. Thanks to the Patient Advocate Foundation, I can continue my battle, and still receive assistance with my copays.

My wife is a cancer patient incurring monthly medical costs, excluding the physicians's charge, in the amount of $8,000. or more on average. We live on Social Security benefits and have no pension income. We have very minimal 401 K income.
All during 2012, we were of the belief that Co-Pay Relief would provide assistance toward some of the medical expenses based upon contact with them by mail, telephone, and personal contact at the doctor's office with their representative. At one point we were assured that there was $5,000. "in her account".
She has now (3/12/2013) received a letter stating that, "your award has been rescinded and your account has been closed at this time". The reason given was that "there had not been any activity on your account in 120-Days despite our attempts to encourage expenditure submissions". The truth of the matter is that the monthly payment we make, via check, is given directly to Co-Pay Reliefs' employee at the doctor's office.
We are told that on August 8, 2013, we could re-apply in that same letter.

I begin to question the legitimacy of this charity!

These are the most evasive and duplicitous people with whom I ever dealt.

Robert Niersbach

I applied for copay assistance from this organization by following all of the instructions that were provided. I tried numerous times to get a hold of them, but their phone lines were either closed or nobody answered. I sent a few emails that were never acknowledged, then I receive a notice explaining that the fund I applied for was full. This seems like some sort of scheme as the average person can't get through the process and they wont return my calls or emails. Looks like I am not the only one having this problem.

I have had a similar experience to the previous review. I submitted an application, sent in required documents, then waited to hear back. No one contacted me for a month, so I called in. The lines are always busy, and any emails I send asking about my application status are not returned. This agency really needs to polish up its communication with patients.

I have been trying to contact the representative I was assigned to for several weeks. When I call he is never available. I asked to be assigned to another person and was treated rudely.