Practical Strategies for Living with Autoimmune Disease and Chronic Illness
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- RxAssist
- Can help you learn about ways to use pharmaceutical company programs and other resources to help reduce your medication costs
- Healthwell Foundation (P: 800-675-8416)
- Provide financial assistance to adults and children to cover the cost of prescription drug coinsurance, copayments, deductibles, health insurance premiums and other selected out-of-pocket health care costs.
- 211 (P: 211)
- Whether it’s help paying your bills, finding resources for caregivers, or just needing someone to listen, 211 is only a call away.
- Patient Advocate Foundation (P: 800-532-5274; Co-pay relief program: 866-512-2861)
- Provides case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life threatening and debilitating illnesses.
- GoodRx
- A free mobile app and website that helps Americans save millions of dollars every month by finding them the lowest prescription prices in their neighborhood.
- Accessia Health (P: 800-366-7741)
- Offer financial assistance for health insurance premiums, medication copayments, travel, and other essential medical expenses to individuals of all ages with qualifying household income and diagnosed chronic medical conditions.
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (P: 617-249-7300)
- Provide patient assistance programs to help individuals living with rare diseases obtain medication, receive financial help with insurance premiums and co-pays, get diagnostic testing assistance, receive travel assistance for clinical trials or consultation with disease specialists, provide caregiver respite, offer support during emergencies, gain knowledge about rare diseases, and connect with other patient assistance programs.
- My Good Days (P: 877-968-7233)
- Offer copay assistance, travel assistance, monthly medical insurance premium assistance, and diagnostic testing assistance.
- The Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation (P: 866-316-7263)
- Offer financial assistance to help people with serious illnesses afford their out-of-pocket treatment costs
- National Organization for Rare Disorders: 203-744-0100; Patient service: 800-999-6673
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH, HHS: 301-592-8573
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, HHS: 866-284-4107
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), NIH, HHS: 301-49504484; Toll-Free: 877-226-4267
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), NIH, HHS: 800-352-9424
- Office of Women’s Health: 1-800-994-9662
Our Recommendations
Autoimmune Disease Podcasts
Top-notch podcasts on nutrition, finding community, mind-body medicine, and more.
Books We Love
Essential reading for understanding autoimmune disease and the body, chronic illness memoirs, practical guides, cookbooks, and children’s books, as well as other books of interest.
Helpful Apps
A brief list of our favorite, simple,
and practical mobile apps to help manage life with chronic illness.
Autoimmune & Chronic Illness Toolkit
Includes journal templates, resource lists, guidance for doctor appointments, tips on communication, and many more tools to support and empower you throughout your experience.
Doctors who Diagnose & Treat Autoimmune Disease
Medical specialists typically familiar with autoimmunity and the specific autoimmune diseases they often diagnose and treat.
Autoimmune Basics
Learn more about autoimmune disease and how it is diagnosed.
My Autoimmune Story
Heather’s Story: The Hurt and Healing
Bárbara’s Story: The Invisibility of Continuity
Erika’s Story: Still Me
Find the Support You Need
Autoimmune Disease & Chronic Illness Related Support Groups
Connect with others, share experiences, and join virtual or local communities for support.
Resources for Healthcare Providers
In an exclusive interview, Dr. Drossman and Johannah Ruddy, M.Ed., authors of the Gut Feelings series, discuss how healthcare providers can better communicate with patients when it comes to autoimmune diseases in order to improve patient satisfaction and overall healthcare experience.
