Disease fund FAQs 

What does open or closed mean on a fund?

Open or closed refers to the fund status, in terms of whether it is accepting applications or not.

A fund is open when there is available funding. You can apply for a grant when your fund is open, and you meet eligibility requirements.

A fund is closed when there is currently no available funding to award to patients. When funding is received, TotalAssist will open the fund, and we will notify anyone who has signed up to be notified when the fund is opened.

Is there a wait list?

No. The TotalAssist program does not use wait lists. Grants are awarded on a first come, first served basis. You can sign up for fund open notifications to get notified when a fund opens.

Guaranteed award and maximum award

Approved applicants are guaranteed to receive their fund’s guaranteed award amount of grant funding. The maximum award includes both guaranteed and non-guaranteed funding and represents the highest total amount a grantee may receive within their 12-month eligibility period, starting from the date of approval. Learn more about guaranteed and maximum award amounts

What is a health equity fund?

Some of the TotalAssist funds have “health equity” in the title. TotalAssist Health Equity Funds offer financial help to eligible patients living in areas identified as having increased social and financial needs, as well as higher rates of some diseases and chronic conditions. Eligibility for a health equity fund is determined in part by the zip code of your home address.

Related: About health equity funds

What are eligibility criteria?

Every TotalAssist fund has requirements that applicants must meet to be eligible for the fund. These requirements are listed in a checklist on each fund page. In addition, they are included in the quick eligibility checker tool on the fund page. The quick eligibility checker tool can help you determine if you meet the eligibility requirements by answering a few short questions.

Related: Eligibility requirements

Please note: the quick eligibility checker tool is not an official pre-screening or grant application. When you start an application online, or if you apply by phone, applicants must complete an eligibility pre-screen.

What does Federal Poverty Level (FPL) mean?

The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is an income measure set annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It factors in household size and annual income, as well as state or territory location.

Related: Federal Poverty Level (FPL) guidelines

What does “adjusted for Cost of Living Index” mean?

The Cost of Living Index (COLI) is a way to know the cost of living in a zip code relative to a national average. The COLI looks at the price of many different living expenses, from food to housing. The average cost of living across all zip codes is assigned at 100 (representing 100 percent). Zip codes vary in a range above or below 100. For example, a zip code might have a COLI of 105, or 105% of the national average; this means the cost of living is about 5% above the national average. COLI is updated every few years.

What are approved medications?

Every disease fund has a list of approved medications (or treatments or services) associated with the condition or disease. Patient Advocate Foundation covers all the prescription medications for each diagnosis, including generic or bioequivalent drugs, that meet any of the following criteria: FDA-approved, listed in official compendia, and/or listed in published evidence-based or clinical guidelines. Covered services vary based on fund.

Related: What if my medication isn’t listed as approved?

Why are diagnosis codes listed on funds?

We list diagnosis codes, or ICD-10 codes, with disease funds as a quick reference for providers and pharmacies helping patients with TotalAssist grants. Most TotalAssist funds have a list of associated diagnosis codes, but not all. These codes are a common international language between healthcare providers, hospitals and clinics, and insurance companies that describe a medical diagnosis.