HealthWell starts fund to support oncology caregivers

The HealthWell Foundation has launched the Oncology Caregiver Behavioral Health Fund to provide copayment assistance to support the needs of caregivers of oncology patients.

The nonprofit organization based in Germantown, MD, which provides financial assistance for America’s underinsured, said the fund is part of its commitment to the White House Cancer Moonshot initiative.

HealthWell will provide up to $2,000 in copayment assistance through the fund for prescription drugs, counseling services, as well as psychotherapy, and transportation costs to caregivers in need of treatment or management of behavioral issues related to providing care for cancer patients, according to the foundation.

“HealthWell has always placed great emphasis on mental health and has launched several behavioral health funds to address mental health issues across in a variety of areas, including Cancer-Related Behavioral Health and our Emergency/Medical Workers Behavioral Health Fund,” Shela Halper, chief foundation program officer, HealthWell Foundation, told Access Insider.

“In alignment with our participation in the White House Cancer Moonshot, in September 2023, HealthWell committed to supporting oncology caregivers by helping them with out-of-pocket costs associated with the treatment and management of behavioral health issues resulting from their role as an in-home oncology caregiver and launched the Oncology Caregiver Behavioral Health Fund in September 2024.”

High healthcare costs and inadequate insurance have burdened many U.S. households, leading to delayed or skipped care and limited access to services. In 2022, the National Health Interview Survey shared that 28% of adults (1 out of 4) reported foregone health care as a result of cost.

“HealthWell understands that a cancer diagnosis brings a host of challenges, not only for the patient but also for loved ones who are caring for them. Addressing oncology caregivers’ mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, burnout, and isolation is an integral part of ensuring their well-being, so they can continue to carry out their caregiving responsibilities. Our new fund will help oncology family caregivers access and stay on treatment as prescribed without the added burden of worrying about how they will pay for it,” Halper said.

To be eligible for the grant, recipients should have annual household incomes up to 500% of the federal poverty level and be a family member providing care to a cancer patient with an active HealthWell grant, according to the foundation.

According to a new survey, conducted by CaringBridge, more than 60% of caregivers find caregiving stressful, with over 30% feeling heavy financial strain. CaringBridge, a nonprofit health platform that provides support for caregivers, is an alliance partner with the HealthWell Foundation.

“CaringBridge will ensure that the HealthWell Foundation Oncology Caregiver Behavioral Health Fund and all its other funds for 90 plus disease states, are known to CaringBridge family caregivers and care recipients who are underinsured and reside in the U.S.,” Tia Newcomer, CaringBridge CEO, told Access Insider.

“We will do this initially through our platform communications and then integrate this into the CaringBridge experience under ‘ways to help,’” she said.

1 million patients

In July, HealthWell reached a milestone by providing financial assistance to 1 million patients who couldn’t afford critical medical treatments.

David L. Knowlton, HealthWell Foundation board chair, who commented on the achievement, said, “While we are humbled that we have been able to provide one million underinsured Americans with critical support, we anxiously await the day when our nation’s health care system is transformed, and our services are no longer needed.”

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