Do I need health insurance to participate?
No. Health insurance is not required to enroll in a clinical trial. The study sponsor pays for all study-required care: the investigational drug or device, study visits, study labs, study imaging, and any procedures the protocol mandates. People without insurance, those between jobs, and those with high-deductible plans can all participate freely. The one nuance is that if you would normally receive care for your condition anyway — for example, a quarterly A1c check for diabetes — that 'standard of care' visit may still be billed to insurance if you have it, or covered by the sponsor if it's specifically required by the protocol. The informed consent form spells out exactly what's covered. Sites do not turn away qualified participants for lack of insurance. If you are uninsured, you may be eligible to continue receiving the study drug at no cost through an open-label extension or compassionate use program after the trial ends.