HealthWell Foundation

What HealthWell Foundation does

HealthWell Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Germantown, Maryland, that provides financial assistance to underinsured Americans living with chronic or life-altering diseases. The organization's core product is direct monetary grants covering copays, deductibles, premiums, and other out-of-pocket costs, structured as disease-specific funds opened with donor support. Since inception it has awarded $5.2B+ in grants and assisted 1.39M+ patients, with $1.1B+ in grants issued in 2025 alone and 263,900+ active grants at the time of reporting.

The operating model is a two-sided donation-and-distribution platform. On the funding side, donations are solicited primarily from pharmaceutical manufacturers, biotech companies, and foundations, with 100% of donated dollars reported as flowing to patient grants (administrative costs are funded separately). On the distribution side, beneficiaries access the program through a Salesforce-based portal infrastructure, a dedicated patient mobile application launched in August 2024, an HWF ASSIST chatbot introduced in 2025, a high-volume call center handling 556,800+ calls per year at a 92% capture rate, and contracted distribution through the HWF Direct white-label service (active since 2018 with clients including Hope Charities and the New York State cystic fibrosis program).

The regulatory foundation is a favorable OIG Advisory Opinion permitting pharmaceutical manufacturer donations to flow through copay assistance programs, which is the structural basis for the entire revenue model. The organization maintains disease-fund expansion (most recently a Bronchiectasis Fund opened in December 2025 and an ACA Marketplace Premium Assistance Fund in 2025), a board composed of former Acting Surgeon General, Mass General oncologists, and senior executives from Amgen, Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, and former FDA/NIH officials, and external recognition including Forbes #17 top charity, Charity Navigator 4-star, and Candid Platinum transparency status.

Name

HealthWell Foundation

Legal name

HealthWell Foundation

Website

https://healthwellfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HealthWell Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides copay, deductible, and premium assistance grants to underinsured Americans with chronic or life-altering diseases, funded primarily by pharmaceutical manufacturer donations and distributed via disease-specific funds, a Salesforce-based portal, mobile app, chatbot, and call center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Patient Assistance

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health Program Grants Management & Administration (HLAJALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF), Chronic Disease & Health Promotion Program Funding (HLAJALAJ), Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

Keywords

• Charitable patient assistance
• Copay foundation programs
• Premium and deductible assistance
• Underinsured disease funds
• Nonprofit health grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Germantown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor Contributions: HealthWell receives contributions from pharmaceutical manufacturers, biotech companies, foundations, and other health care organizations. The foundation is entirely independent and not controlled or influenced by donors. As a 501(c)(3), donations are tax-deductible. 100% of every dollar donated goes directly to patient grants and services.
2. Administrative Cost Coverage: Administrative and fundraising costs are financed separately by HealthWell, meaning 100% of donations go directly to patient grants and services. Administrative costs are covered through separate operational funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

HealthWell Foundation operates a portfolio of disease-specific Disease Funds that provide financial assistance — covering copays, health insurance premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, pediatric treatment costs, travel costs and out-of-pocket expenses — to underinsured Americans living with chronic or life-altering diseases. Grants are administered free of charge to patients through online portals (Patient, Provider, Pharmacy), a mobile app, an AI chatbot and a cloud-based contact center, and 100% of every donated dollar is directed to patient grants and services.

Product overview

HealthWell Foundation is a charitable patient assistance foundation offering a portfolio of disease-specific financial assistance programs. The core offering consists of Disease Funds providing copayment, premium, deductible and out-of-pocket expense assistance for underinsured patients. The foundation operates multiple Salesforce-based portals (Patient, Provider, Pharmacy) for grant management, supplemented by a Patient Mobile App and HWF ASSIST chatbot for self-service. Additional tools include Real-Time Fund Alerts, Federal Poverty Level Calculator, and Medication Lookup. The HWF Direct contact center subsidiary provides phone-based support, handling over 40,500 callers monthly. 100% of donations go directly to patient grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HWF Direct: Wholly-owned subsidiary contact center providing compassionate, compliant customer service for HealthWell patient assistance programs, located in Frederick, MD.

Products and services

• Disease Funds
• Patient Mobile App
• HWF ASSIST Chatbot
• ACA Marketplace Insurance Premium Assistance Fund
• Bronchiectasis Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,390,000 patients helped since 2004
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and featured.

• Hope CharitiescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018HWF Direct contracts with Hope Charities to administer their patient assistance programs, extending HealthWell's reach and operational capacity.
• New York State's Adult Cystic Fibrosis Assistance ProgramcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018HWF Direct contracted to administer New York State's Adult Cystic Fibrosis Assistance Program, expanding services to state-specific patient populations.
• Blood Cancer UnitedfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in Real World Health Care blog content. Partnership focused on blood cancer awareness and patient support.
• Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of AmericafeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner organization in Real World Health Care blog content.
• ALS AssociationfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in Real World Health Care blog content, collaboration on ALS awareness and patient support.
• American Academy of Physician AssociatesfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in Real World Health Care blog content.
• NCPA FoundationfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in Real World Health Care blog content, collaboration on pharmacy patient advocacy.
• Caregiver Action NetworkfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in Real World Health Care blog content.
• Counterforce HealthfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in Real World Health Care blog content.
• Undue Medical DebtfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in Real World Health Care blog content focused on medical debt issues.
• NeedyMedsfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in Real World Health Care blog content.
• Dollar ForfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in Real World Health Care blog content.
• Association of Oncology Social WorkfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in Real World Health Care blog content.
• Cancer Support CommunityfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in Real World Health Care blog content, collaboration on cancer patient support programs.
• American Association of Psychiatric PharmacistsfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in Real World Health Care blog content.
• The Kids Mental Health FoundationfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in Real World Health Care blog content.
• National Shattering Silence CoalitionfeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in Real World Health Care blog content.
• CaringBridgefeaturedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in Real World Health Care blog content.
• Cancer Support CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPanelist in Financial Toxicity & Patient Navigation Webinar Series. Sally Werner, CEO of Cancer Support Community, serves as panelist discussing financial navigation solutions.
• National Association of Medication Access & Patient AdvocacycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPanelist in Financial Toxicity & Patient Navigation Webinar Series. Melissa Paige, President, participates as expert on patient access programs.
• Triage CancercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPanelist in webinar series. Joanna Fawzy Doran, CEO, provided expertise on cancer-related legal issues.
• American Cancer SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Arif Kamal, Chief Patient Officer, served as panelist in webinar series discussing patient support and navigation services.
• NaVectis GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDan Sherman, Founder and President, serves as panelist in webinar series. His financial navigation program has been adopted by over 100 hospitals nationwide.
• Sona Pharmacy + CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTori Watkins, Pharmacist-in-charge, serves as panelist discussing clinical pharmacy services and patient access.
• AsembiacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthWell to moderate panel and exhibit at Asembia's AXS26 Summit, a major specialty pharmacy conference.
• Healthcare Advocate SummitcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthWell serves as Presenting Sponsor for the 2025 Healthcare Advocate Summit and hosts panel sessions.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Peers

• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society:

Direct peers

• PAN Foundation: The largest direct competitor to HealthWell — an independent 501(c)(3) copay/insurance premium/coinsurance assistance foundation serving underinsured patients across a similar disease portfolio and relying on the same pharma/biotech donor base. Audrey Quartey, HealthWell's Director of External Relations, previously served over 6 years as Senior Manager of Provider Relations at PAN Foundation, evidencing direct overlap.
• The Assistance Fund: Independent 501(c)(3) copay assistance foundation providing financial aid for underinsured patients with chronic and life-altering conditions, operating a near-identical disease-fund, donor-funded model with similar eligibility rules (income up to a multiple of FPL, US-only).
• Good Days (formerly Chronic Disease Fund): Independent nonprofit providing copay assistance and travel/ancillary support for underinsured patients with chronic, life-altering diseases — same revenue model (pharma/biotech donations), same regulatory exposure to the OIG framework, and same patient eligibility construct as HealthWell.
• Patient Advocate Foundation: National 501(c)(3) providing case management, financial aid funds, and direct financial assistance to underinsured patients — overlapping patient population (underinsured Americans) and overlapping copay/premium/deductible assistance programs with HealthWell.
• CancerCare: National 501(c)(3) providing limited financial assistance (copay, transportation, home care) to cancer patients — directly comparable to HealthWell's cancer disease funds, which represent a major portion of its portfolio (500,000+ cancer patients served milestone).

Emerging players

• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD): Federation of voluntary health organizations that administers its own rare-disease copay and premium assistance programs. Overlaps with HealthWell in rare-disease funds (e.g., the HealthWell portfolio lists ALS, porphyrias, hyperoxaluria) and competes for similar pharma donors and rare-disease patient populations.
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: Disease-specific voluntary health organization operating its own Compass and copay assistance programs for CF patients — overlapping with HealthWell's CF Vitamins/Supplements and CF Treatments funds, and a key alumni network (HealthWell COO Fred Larbi previously managed CF Foundation's copay program).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HealthWellOrg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/healthwellfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/HealthWellFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healthwell-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/healthwellfoundation

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HealthWell Foundation