Have you ever experienced discrimination due to your chronic illness? When in this situation, did you ever felt like you didn’t know who you could turn to for help? You’re not alone.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 60% of American adults live with a chronic disease and 40% have a minimum of two chronic illnesses. In spite of federal legislation and grassroots inclusivity initiatives, people with chronic, incurable, and/or long-term diseases are facing increased levels of discrimination across the country due to their disease.

Thankfully, organizations, like the Chronic Disease Coalition, are here to help through action, advocacy, and awareness for Americans with chronic health conditions. This not-for-profit organization was founded in 2015 and is made up of patients, family members, advocacy groups, healthcare providers, and medical professionals.

What they do

The Chronic Disease Coalition helps patients fight against discriminatory, harmful, illegal, and unfair policies and practices in three main areas: in school, at work, and with health insurance companies. Some of the principal issues they strive to combat include:

• step therapy (or “fail first”) requirements;
• premium assistance bans;
• drug price tiers;
• co-pay assistance bans;
• limited networks; and
• nonmedical switching.

For a complete list, with descriptions of each, visit the Chronic Disease Coalition “Get the Facts” page.

Raising awareness for disease discrimination

While the Chronic Disease Coalition partners with other organizations all around the U.S., they have a unique partnership program for people living with chronic conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. 

These ambassadors have volunteered to share their personal experiences in an effort to:

• raise awareness for chronic diseases and illnesses;
• demonstrate the impact of these diseases on patients and their families; and
• bring to light the legal, medical, social, and professional challenges they face daily.

As the organization’s motto states, “Chronic disease patients deserve the same access to health care as anyone else. Together we can protect patients’ rights.”

*Chronic Disease Coalition.