Patient Support Programs

Patient Assistance

NOTE: Program funding is heavily dependent on the availability of funds.

Our ‘Strive to Thrive’ Philosophy

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, quality of life (QoL) is a measurement of the standard of health, comfort, and happiness experienced by an individual or group. At Sickle Cell Foundation of MN, we recognize that meeting our “basic” needs is part of our survival and “thriving” moves us beyond basic needs and allows us to improve our overall lived experiences as well as our quality of life, which ultimately leads to improved health outcomes. When we don’t strive to thrive, we only survive; and “survival” is simply not good enough!

Through our holistic approach to improving quality of life, SickleCellMN provides many opportunities for education and community engagement. We also offer one-on-one and group support as well as limited financial assistance with some household and medical-related expenses.

As a small not-for-profit organization, we rely on the generosity of our program partners, sponsors, and donors, therefore, availability of some resources may be impacted by budgetary or funding limitations.

Patient Assistance Overview

Sickle Cell Foundation of MN provides intermittent access to our financial assistance programs as a means to assist families by supplementing the needs of individuals living with or caring for a child with sickle cell disease in the state of Minnesota. If you are not a resident of MN, we encourage you to reach out to one of the local sickle cell community-based organizations in your city or state.

Please note that the Patient Financial Assistance Program (PFA) is meant to supplement the needs of your household and may not prevent eviction, foreclosure or disconnection of critical services.

If you are in an emergency situation or are at-risk of immediate eviction or service disconnection, please contact 211UnitedWay to discuss other emergency assistance options.

*** Submit assistance request form(s) below ***

 SCD Education Support

Education is one of our key pillars and our goal is to assist with challenges in accessing educational resources and opportunities. Contact us to learn more or request assistance:

  • General education planning (IHP, IEP & 504 Plans)

  • Backpacks & School supplies

  • Nurse/Administrator Education

  • School Meals

  • Post-secondary Assistance (micro-grants)

SCD Resource Care Packages

Ensure you have resources to assist on your journey ahead. Contact us to receive:

  • New/late Diagnosis Care Package (ages 0-8)

  • Young Adult Transition Care Package (ages 18-22)

  • College/Post-secondary Care Package (18+)

 Warrior Wings Burial Assistance

The loss of a loved one with sickle cell disease is never easy! Sickle Cell Foundation of MN recognizes your loss and is available to provide grief & loss resources as well as small burial assistance grants. If you’ve recently lost your child, spouse or partner we invite you to contact us for community support.

Treatment Assistance

Our ‘TAP into Care’ Program assists patients who are without or in between insurance coverage, purchase penicillin and various other disease modifying medications that support their medical care plan. We also provide co-pay assistance for costs associated with mental health visits, physical therapy, chiropractic services, and other select non-medicinal therapies and services that provide holistic disease management support.

NOTE: We apologize, however, we are unable to assist with costs associated with pain medications.

NOTE: Transportation assistance through the Foundation is for non-emergency, pre-scheduled appointments and requires sufficient notice.

Assistance may be delayed if your request is not received in a timely manner.

Transportation Assistance

Getting to your scheduled appointments is a critical part of improving health outcomes and overall quality of life. If transportation is a major barrier, we may be able to help connect you with medical transportation, parking passes or other alternative resources that help ensure you can get to where you need to be when you need to be there.

Nonemergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Services:

If you or your child are an enrolled Medicare member, you can arrange for transportation as a one-way or round trip within the 30- or 60-mile limit criteria (30 miles for a trip to a primary care provider or 60 miles for a trip to a specialty care provider). If you live within three-fourths of a mile of a public transit route and your appointment is within three-fourths of a mile of a public transit route, and it is an appropriate mode of transportation for them, you may be required to use public transportation. You must request your ride at least 3-5 days in advance!

For more information on NEMT eligibility and services, click here.

Request a medical ride online through MTM Link or 866-467-1724.

Apply for Non-Emergency Assistance

Our patient support program (PSP) for persons living with or caring for a child (<18) with sickle cell disease are only a few clicks away.

Click each step to get started.

STEP 1: Read and sign the Patient Support Agreement

click here

STEP 2: Complete our Patient Support Application

STEP 3: Someone from our CHAT Team will contact you in 7-10 business days

*As a small state-based non-profit patient advocacy organization, we receive very limited funding, therefore, we rely on the generosity of our donors and partners. If buttons are not active, there are no assistance funds available at the time and we encourage you to check back the following month

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