Alan J. Balch, PhD, CEO, Patient Advocate Foundation | Incoming Executive Chairman, Board of Directors, Patient Advocate Foundation
Kevin L. Hagan, President and CEO, PAN Foundation | Incoming CEO, Patient Advocate Foundation
As patients nationwide face rising barriers to care, growing affordability challenges, and a weakened healthcare safety net, the need for support has never been greater. That’s why we’re excited to announce a strategic merger between Patient Advocate Foundation and the PAN Foundation, creating the nation’s most comprehensive nonprofit dedicated to helping patients navigate, access, and afford their care.
Over a combined 50 years, we have helped 3.8 million patients access and navigate care, granted over $7 billion in financial assistance, and provided personalized case management support to over 350,000 patients. By uniting for patients, we’re making it easier for them to get financial help, navigate the healthcare system, and overcome barriers to treatment. All in a single place, reducing the complexity of the process for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
A merger that meets the moment
Our recent cross-sectional survey of Medicare patients who received assistance from Patient Advocate Foundation or the PAN Foundation in 2025 found most have seen a slight or significant increase in their costs associated with healthcare insurance premiums (71%), direct care from providers (59%), and prescription medications (58%) over the past 12 months. And if costs were to increase, 53% reported being somewhat or very likely to skip, reduce, or stop taking medications. Separate polling found 86% of insured Americans want policymakers to prioritize healthcare affordability, reporting out-of-pocket prescription and health insurance premiums costs as their top affordability concerns.
The increase in affordability challenges among Americans is also reflected in the fact that we saw a 15% increase in enrollments in 2025 to our financial assistance programs. And new analysis finds that among Medicare enrollees the abandonment rate from patients on high-cost therapies drops from 58% among those with no foundation support to only 5% among those with foundation support. Clearly, the need for charitable foundation support is growing, and the impact we can have on medication adherence and access to care is profound.
Making life easier for patients
As a combined organization we are bringing all our current programs and resources into one place, including our financial assistance funds, personalized case management services, award-winning education, patient advocacy and engagement programs, rigorous research, health equity initiatives, and community engagement work.
By providing a single, trusted destination for people seeking support, regardless of insurance status, age, income, or diagnosis, we are making it easier for patients and families to get the support they need, when they need it.
What this means for patients enrolled in our financial assistance
We are committed to a seamless transition. We will continue to offer our current financial assistance programming (PAF’s Co-Pay Relief Program and PAN’s financial assistance programs) to new and existing patients through June 2026. Patients currently enrolled in these programs will continue to access their services through their current organization, with no changes to their grants.
Starting in July, we’ll launch a unified financial assistance program, known as TotalAssist, the most patient-centered program in the charitable assistance sector, that will be available for all new and renewal enrollments. Meanwhile, we’ll continue supporting existing patients from PAF’s Co-Pay Relief Program and PAN’s financial assistance programs through the end of their award periods.
Introducing our TotalAssist program
Under TotalAssist, we will offer over 130 disease-specific financial assistance funds for chronic and rare conditions, creating the nation’s largest portfolio of financial assistance programs. This includes over 20 health equity funds that specifically support communities with significant social and financial needs.
Through TotalAssist, we’re putting the power back in the hands of patients, allowing them to use their grant for a comprehensive set of needs, including:
- Medication copay, coinsurance, and deductibles
- Health insurance premiums
- Office visit charges the day of treatment
- Administrative charges related to treatment
This is designed to meet patients’ real-world needs and reduce their financial barriers to care. TotalAssist will also help simplify the patient journey by providing enrollments on a first-come, first-served basis (no wait lists), providing real-time fund notifications, offering dedicated patient support, a six-month lookback period, and providing easy-to-use self-service portals, instant eligibility decisions, and timely claims processing.
What’s next for Patient Advocate Foundation
We’re focused on continuing to seamlessly and compliantly serve patients from across the country through our respective programs and services. At the same time, we are thoughtfully preparing for the launch of TotalAssist later this summer—which will be the most patient-centered program in the sector.
With more people struggling to pay for care and basic needs, manage chronic illness, and navigate our complex healthcare system, we know we are needed now more than ever.
And we’re excited about what’s to come. As a combined foundation, we look forward to expanding services, simplifying access, and reaching millions more Americans facing the growing healthcare access and affordability crisis. You can learn more about our strategic merger and follow ongoing updates at Uniting.PatientAdvocate.org.