Financial assistance for chronic illness: a guide to your options

August 25, 2026 | 10 min read Financial assistance

No one should have to feel ill day after day. Living with a chronic illness is a constant struggle, and managing your disease can mean missing out on important events with friends and family. Added to this is the stress of high out-of-pocket medical expenses, which can mean foregoing the treatment you need. Yet, no matter your situation, know that you are not alone.

There are numerous sources of relief, including financial assistance for chronic conditions and a variety of in-person and online support initiatives. Here, we explore resources for managing chronic illnesses that provide the help you need to get back to living your best life.

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The high costs of chronic illness

Managing a chronic illness can be expensive, and often, insurance plans will not cover the total cost of treatment. Take a look at a few statistics you should know about the cost of chronic illnesses and the financial impact it has on lives:

According to a 2025 CDC analysis, three in four U.S. adults have at least one chronic condition, and over half have two or more.
According to NIH’s 2025 autoimmune disease strategic plan, autoimmune diseases affect an estimated 5 to 8 percent of the U.S. population, and women face these conditions far more often than men.
The American Diabetes Association found that the total cost of diabetes in the U.S. reached $412.9 billion in 2022, made up of $306.6 billion in direct medical costs and $106.3 billion in indirect costs. Direct medical costs tied to diabetes rose 7 percent between 2017 and 2022.
Many people with chronic illnesses cut back on their medication because of the cost. A March 2026 KFF poll found that four in ten adults skipped doses, cut pills in half, or used an over-the-counter drug instead of filling a prescription in the past year, up from about a third in 2025.
A 2022 KFF survey also found that 41 percent of adults, or roughly 100 million people, carried medical or dental debt, with about 12 percent owing $10,000 or more.

The emotional challenges of having a chronic illness

Living with a chronic illness can have a significant impact on a person’s emotions and physical well-being. Managing the daily challenges and uncertainty of a long-term health condition can lead to various emotional responses.

Anxiety can arise from the unpredictability of symptoms and the impact they have on daily life.
Depression can set in when people struggle to deal with their illness and the limitations it places on their personal and professional lives.
The physical symptoms amplify the emotional impact and the disruption an illness can have on a person’s sense of identity and normalcy.

Coping with a chronic illness requires a person to adjust to new emotions as they go through feelings of grief for their former life and acceptance of their new reality. Support networks, mental health resources, and taking care of oneself are essential to address the emotional challenges that come with chronic illnesses.

Financial assistance resources for chronic illness

Whether you or your loved one is living with Lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, or another chronic illness, know that there are ways to find the help you need, such as fibromyalgia financial assistance. The following resources help those with a chronic disease find relief.

Emergency financial help for chronic illness

Need help right away? Two options have no waiting period. A GoFundMe fundraiser lets supporters give as soon as you share it. There’s no eligibility review. The NeedyMeds discount card works the same way for prescription costs. You can use it at participating pharmacies right away, with no application needed.

For faster program access, BenefitsCheckUp matches you with options in minutes. State pharmaceutical assistance programs also tend to move faster than federal ones. For more emergency options beyond chronic illness resources, see our complete guide to emergency financial assistance.

Nonprofit organizations and charities that provide financial assistance

There are many charities that offer help, including financial assistance for autoimmune diseases, genetic disorders, rare diseases, and other chronic illnesses. Some are disease-specific, while other programs will help with any qualifying medical expense. Each patient assistance program has its own application process and set of eligibility criteria. Below are just a few charities that offer help:

Hope Charities provides counseling and financial assistance for patients and families, with a focus on bleeding disorders like hemophilia. Reach out directly to confirm your condition qualifies and to see current award amounts.
If you need help with prescription costs or insurance copays, the National Organization for Rare Disorders may partially or fully cover the cost, with programs covering a wide range of rare and chronic diseases.
Another charity that supplements health insurance, the HealthWell Foundation, provides financial assistance for premiums and deductibles, copays, pediatric treatment costs, and treatment-related travel costs. For patients focused on a single condition, HealthWell also runs a dedicated lupus financial assistance fund, among several others.
The Coalition Against Pediatric Pain offers financial resources to families and children dealing with chronic illnesses. The organization helps patients secure medical equipment and therapy not covered by insurance.
Accessia Health offers four types of financial assistance: travel, medical expenses, insurance premiums, and medication copays. Travel expenses are limited to $500 per year. Contact Accessia Health directly to confirm current award amounts.

Health care and treatment support programs

Participating in a clinical research trial may be a suitable option, depending on the nature of the trial and your specific condition. Before participating in any trial, consult with your doctor. Below is a list of resources for finding chronic illness research trials:

CenterWatch manages a database for volunteer clinical trials, with opportunities around the world.
Supported by the US National Library of Medicine, ClinicalTrials.gov is another database of publicly and privately funded trials.
The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center offers a variety of trials at its research hospital in Maryland.
ResearchMatch helps to connect interested volunteers with research studies and clinical trials across the country.

Prescription assistance programs

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 4,200 drug products got more expensive between January 2022 and January 2023. On average, prices rose 15.2 percent, about $590 more per drug.

But there are a few assistance programs that can help lessen the financial burden for the underinsured:

Good Days, formerly known as the Chronic Disease Fund, is dedicated to helping those in poverty access medical treatment for their illness. Its financial assistance covers medical expenses where insurance falls short.
RxHope works directly with pharmaceutical companies to help low-income patients get low-cost medications. A physician must complete the application on the patient’s behalf.
NeedyMeds provides an up to 80 percent discount card for prescription drugs without income, insurance, age, or residency requirements.

Government grants and programs for chronic illness assistance

Some government resources are available to help those living with a chronic illness, whether you need broad support or something like Crohn’s disease financial assistance, although eligibility requirements are typically strict. Below is a list of resources and programs that may be able to help you:

Run by the National Council on Aging, BenefitsCheckUp quickly connects older adults with local medical assistance programs, including Medicare.
Many states and the U.S. Virgin Islands have State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs to help pay for prescription costs, drug plan premiums, and other drug expenses.
If you lose your job for any reason, COBRA lets you keep your health insurance. You can continue your employer’s plan for 18 to 36 months. You’ll need to pay the full premium yourself, though.
You may also qualify for Social Security disability benefits. This applies if your chronic disease has kept you from working for at least a year.

Find chronic illness support groups

You don’t have to do this alone. There are many support groups that exist to help those living with a chronic illness. Participating in a support group can connect you with a community of people empathetic to your situation and help you find local resources you need to manage your disease, like doctors or caregivers. Check out a few support group options below:

The Center for Chronic Illness offers free, virtual support groups for people living with chronic illness across the United States and beyond.
Psychology Today manages a chronic illness support group database that helps connect you with a support group no matter where you live.
Find a local community through Meetup, which hosts multiple chronic illness support groups around the world.

5 tips on how to find the best support group for you

Finding the right chronic illness support group matters if you’re looking for empathy, understanding, and shared experience. Here are some tips to help you locate one:

Consult with your healthcare providers or therapists for information on local or online support groups specializing in your condition or offering general support for chronic illnesses.
Find support groups for chronic illnesses on platforms like Facebook and Reddit by searching for relevant keywords and joining groups where individuals provide mutual support.
Ask patient communities of individuals facing similar health challenges for personal recommendations.
Ensure the support group has active and attentive moderators for a safe and respectful environment.
Evaluate group dynamics by observing discussions in different groups, and look for a supportive atmosphere that fits your needs.

How crowdfunding can help

Crowdfunding is a great option for those who need chronic disease funding right away, and it can act as your own chronic illness relief fund. It lets you reach your community directly, with no eligibility requirements or application process, whether you’re raising money to pay medical bills or cover other costs tied to your care. Transaction fees, including credit and debit charges, apply. Use these medical fundraising tips to make sure your fundraiser is a success:

Tell your story through your fundraiser. Only share details you’re comfortable with, and make a connection with your donors by sharing how their donation will make an impact.
Consider ways of fundraising without social media, such as reaching out to donors in person.
Host a fundraising event as another way to connect personally with donors and your local community.
Send thank-you messages to your donors, along with an update. A simple message can go a long way in expressing gratitude, and donors will appreciate knowing how their funds have been effectively used.
To ask for additional donations outside of social media, plan events, such as a yard sale, a car wash, or a bake sale, with your community.

How to start a GoFundMe for chronic illness costs

Living with a chronic illness means costs continue long after one hospital stay or a single round of treatment. Frame your fundraiser around this ongoing reality. Describe your condition and how the illness shapes your daily life, including your ability to work. Then name exactly what the funds will cover: co-pays, specialist appointments, medications, home care, or income lost during flare-ups. Share only the medical details you feel comfortable making public.

Share your fundraiser with close friends and family first, then expand to a wider audience. Those early donations build social proof and give other potential donors a reason to join in. Keep your fundraiser updated as your situation changes. Donors who feel connected to your story are the ones most likely to give again and pass your fundraiser along to their own networks.

For more on managing these costs, read our guide to paying medical bills.

Find help for your chronic illness when you need it most

Medical crowdfunding can help relieve the financial burden of chronic illness and provide emotional support from your community in your time of need. Countless medical fundraisers are started on GoFundMe every day. If medical costs are only part of the picture, our guide on how to get help with bills covers other everyday expenses too.

Medical costs don’t have to hold you back. Focus on getting the help you need. Transaction fees, including credit and debit charges, apply.

Start a medical fundraiser