Covering the Cost of MS: How to Find Financial Assistance

As with many chronic conditions, it’s expensive to manage multiple sclerosis (MS). A recent study from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) found that the average cost of living for someone with MS is $88,487 per year.

A large part of that equation is MS treatment. Currently, more than 20 different disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are used to treat the disease, and without insurance coverage, these medications can have an out-of-pocket cost of anywhere between $60,000 and $100,000 a year.

At least two-thirds of those living with MS are on those drugs, says Cherie Binns, a registered nurse and patient healthcare liaison with the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. In addition to DMTs, many people with MS also take other drugs to help manage symptoms, control flares, and treat complications.