Help with Paying for Medications
Paying for medications can be difficult. This is especially true if you are on several medicines, have no prescription coverage, or currently fall in the Medicare Part D coverage gap or “donut hole”. There are several types of programs that might help.
Patient assistance programs are a good place to start. They can provide a comprehensive look at your needs based on income, insurance, specific medication and pharmaceutical manufacturer, diseases and geographical location.
Discount medication cards provide discounts on generic and brand name medications usually for those without prescription insurance.
Low-cost generic medication programs are offered by Express Scripts and local retailers including Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens and Safeway. These medications can cost as low as $4 per 30-day and $10 to $20 per 90-day supply.
www.NeedyMeds.org is a non-profit organization that assists people to find information on medicine and healthcare assistance programs. This web site also lists discount medication cards that are available.
www.pparx.org (1-888-4PPA-NOW, 1-888-477-2669) Partnership for Prescription Assistance provides information on more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs including more than 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.
www.RxAssist.org (1-401-729-3284) is a patient assistance program run by the pharmaceutical companies to help reduce medication costs and provide free medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medications.
www.togetherrxaccess.com (1-800-444-4106) This is a free prescription-savings card for people who do not have any prescription drug coverage. This program is sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies. People can save on brand-name and generic prescription medications.
Pharmaceutical companies offer a variety of patient assistance programs.
www.gsk-access.com (1-866-518-4357) GlaxoSmithKline
www.merckhelps.com/uninsured (1-800-727-5400) Merck
www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com (1-866-776-3700) Pfizer
LOW-COST GENERIC MEDICATION PROGRAMS
www.rxoutreach.com (1-800-769-3880) This program is run by the Express Scripts Specialty Distribution Services, Inc. which is a mail order pharmacy which offers prescription medicines to uninsured individuals or those with limited prescription drug coverage.
Some retail chains offer generic medications at $4 for 30-day supply and $10 for 90-day supply with no eligibility restrictions. In addition to the retailers listed below, also check Walgreens and Saveway.
