PAN Foundation launches obesity copay fund to expand treatment access

The PAN Foundation has established its first copay assistance program specifically designed for patients living with obesity.

The initiative, announced last week, provided eligible underinsured patients with up to $1,000 annually to cover out-of-pocket medication costs associated with obesity treatment.

“At the PAN Foundation, our mission is to accelerate access to care for people living with serious and chronic illnesses through financial assistance, advocacy, and education,” Alan Klein, chief growth and strategy officer, PAN Foundation, told Access Insider.

“Obesity is a chronic disease that affects millions of Americans, while also leading to other health risks, yet high out-of-pocket costs continue to be a significant barrier to treatment. That’s why we launched the first-ever charitable copay assistance fund for obesity to help address this gap in access,” he continued.

According to Klein, funding for the program closed within just one hour, demonstrating overwhelming demand and prompting the foundation to actively seek additional support from the current donor community.

“We hope this fund will be a catalyst for better health outcomes by enabling more patients to start and stay on treatment,” Klein said. “When patients have access to the therapies their providers recommend, they are more likely to adhere to treatment and achieve lasting improvements in their health. More broadly, we are also advocating for systemic solutions that will improve access, such as through expanded Medicare coverage.”

The launch comes at a time when medication affordability remains a significant obstacle for many Americans. About 54% of adults who have taken GLP-1 drugs—a class of medications approved for obesity treatment—report difficulty affording the cost, with 22% describing it as “very difficult,” the foundation stated, citing research data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).

Even among the insured, about half of patients struggle with the financial burden of these medications, KFF data revealed.

Klein addressed the fund’s $1,000 annual maximum benefit relative to the high cost of treatments. “Out-of-pocket costs for obesity treatments vary widely depending on a patient’s insurance coverage. As a payor of last resort, the PAN Foundation provides financial assistance only to patients who already have insurance coverage for their treatment and who meet our household income threshold. Our support helps reduce the remaining financial burden, making care more accessible for those who might otherwise go without treatment.”

Beyond providing direct financial support, the PAN Foundation is advocating for broader policy changes to improve treatment accessibility. The organization is calling on the CMS to expand coverage for obesity treatments, including FDA-approved GLP-1 medications, for Medicare enrollees.

“We recognize the need is significant, and we are actively exploring ways to serve more patients,” Klein added.

Patients who exhaust their initial funding may apply for additional assistance within the same 12-month period, subject to fund availability, according to the foundation.

Health complications due to obesity include heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, high blood cholesterol, and certain types of cancer, affecting more than 100 million people in the US, the foundation noted.

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