Great Lakes Chapter


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Below you will find information on a variety of patient resource topics such as:

  • Free Website Creation Assistance
  • Financial Counseling and Planning Assistance

  • Links to Patient Assistance Resources Available Through MGFA

   

MGFA is partners with CaringBridge to offer free, easy-to-create Web sites that help connect friends and family!

Friends and families stay connected with CaringBridge

 

Today, families are spread across the country as well as around the world.  It can be hard to stay connected with family and friends who want to know how you are doing, or perhaps, want to know how a loved one is coping with a new treatment or how they are recovering from surgery.  Sometimes it may just take too much precious energy to let everyone know that you are doing OK.

 

MGFA has partnered with CaringBridge to help patients stay connected with family and friends during a health crisis, treatment and recovery.

 

Founded in 1997, CaringBridge is a free, non-profit web service that now connects over 15 million people each year.  The service is always free, private and personalized, and it takes just a few moments to set up your own CaringBridge website.  CaringBridge is a national voluntary health agency and, like MGFA,  a member of the National Health Council.  Its mission is to bring together a global community of care powered by the love of family and friends in an easy, accessible and private way.

 

It is easy to set up your own website – simply visit http://www.caringbridge.org/myasthenia and follow the simple steps.

 

Keeping in touch with loved ones during difficult times is important – 
together we are stronger.

 

 

Financial Counseling and Planning Assistance

How can MGFA help me with my Financial Planning?

MGFA and the Foundation for Financial Service

Professionals have created a partnership that provides access to free, sound and practical financial advice to members of myasthenia gravis community. These services are offered by the Financial Education Partners (FEP) program, a national initiative supported by the Foundation for Financial Service Professionals, the charitable arm of the Society of Financial Service Professionals (SFSP).

What is Financial Counseling and Planning?

Financial planning and counseling includes:

• Insurance analysis, claims assistance

• Basic budgeting and bill paying strategies

• Credit card management

• Employee benefits analysis: retirement planning, medical plans, disability coverage and life insurance.

• Retirement planning: analysis of adequacy and tax effectiveness

• Estate planning: strategies to maximize inheritances

• Legal planning: wills, special needs trusts, living trusts, etc.

• Pros and cons of various financial instruments

What FEP cannot do:

FEP is not a source of emergency funding, loans or cash assistance. It does not specialize in public assistance programs (except Social Security and Medicare) and is unable to assist in referring clients to these programs. Participants should not expect an FEP volunteer advisor to act as their long-term financial advisor.

Are the FEP volunteers trying to sell anything?

Absolutely not. As volunteer advisors, members of SFSP are providing information on a totally pro bono basis under the program. FEP volunteer advisors participate in the program because they want to share their financial knowledge with those who are in need. FEP volunteer advisors have the capacity to help with purchase of a financial product but that is not their purpose in participating in FEP.

How can I arrange a meeting with the FEP Volunteer in my area?

To take advantage of this benefit you must first contact your chapter or the chapter serving your area. Requests can only be considered for enrollment in the FEP program if endorsed by a chapter. And remember this is a no-cost benefit through your MGFA membership.

What is the Society of Financial Service Professionals?

Founded in 1928, the Society of Financial Service Professionals is a professional association whose members have broad exposure to all aspects of financial planning and their professional network gives them ready access to members who have strengths in different areas of expertise. Many MG patients and their families have special financial planning needs and partnering with FEP allows access to financial and health benefit counseling.

FEP is providing service to members of:

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

American Cancer Society

Habitat for Humanity

Visit http://www.myasthenia.org/pe_patientresources.cfm for resources to assist with:

· Patient and prescription assistance

· Prescription discount cards

· Free clinics

· Connection to local resources

· Job assistance

· Education

· Medicare

· Social Security

· Navigating state and federal programs

· Medical ID Jewelry and Devices

· Emergency medical transport (national organizations)

· Patient support links - listserv/e-mail list

· Free Web site setup

Great Lakes Chapter Medication Assistance Program

The Patient Medication Service Fund is designed to provide prescription assistance to individuals diagnosed with MG. This fund only covers medications used to treat MG. Assistance may be granted to cover co-pays, coverage gaps, and/or partial or full price on prescriptions. Coverage is not granted to cover premiums or deductibles. Application is valid for one year, after which point an updated application may be required.

Application