Prescription Drugs: Free and Low Cost Options. Discount Pharmacies.

Prescription Drugs:
Free and Low Cost Options

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance ...."brings together America’s pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that’s right for them. Many will get them free or nearly free. Its mission is to increase awareness of patient assistance programs and boost enrollment of those who are eligible....  offers a single point of access to more than 275 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies."

Access the Partnership for Prescription Assistance  at their website or by phoning toll-free 1-888-477-2669.

Here are links to some representative Patient Assistance programs:

AstraZeneca Patient Assistance Program  "...  to provide AstraZeneca medications free of charge to low-income patients who do not have prescription coverage, do not qualify for government-funded programs, and do not have the means to pay for the medications themselves. Patients enroll annually and, if approved for the program, receive free medication delivered right to their door."

"Uninsured patients of all ages, who are US citizens with a valid Social Security number, with an annual income below $18,000 per individual or $24,000 for couples, and who meet the requirements of the AstraZeneca Foundation may be eligible for this program...."

GlaxoSmithKine Healthcare Savings "... There are many programs available to help-over 475-including more than 180 from companies like ours.^..."

You can take control of the cost of your medicines by following some basic tips.

Prescription savings programs

There are many discount prescription drug programs available—in fact, there are more programs for people under 65 than ever before, and seniors can get coverage for medicines under Medicare Part D.

We offer many of our medicines free or nearly free, if you qualify for help. We also offer savings coupons for some medicines.

You have no prescription plan? Do you qualify for Medicare? There are many programs available from drug companies, nonprofit organizations, and the government.

Lilly Patient Assistance Programs    "... Lilly Cares assists uninsured patients with incomes less than 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.... LillyMedicareAnswers is a patient assistance program that provides eligible Medicare recipients access to affordable medications outside of their Medicare Part D plan...."

National Organization for Rare Disorder  NORD  "...Since 1987, NORD has administered medication assistance programs to assist uninsured or under-insured individuals in securing life-saving or life-sustaining medications. In addition to the estimated 50 million Americans who have no health insurance, an increasing number of insured individuals have policies that do not reimburse for prescription drugs. Others have policies with low annual caps on prescription drug expenditures."

"NORD works closely with humanitarian-minded pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to ensure that certain vital medications are available to those individuals whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to pay for their prescribed medications."

Pfizer has a Free Medicine Program for Newly Unemployed Americans. See also how Pfizer is Helping Improve Public Health Care.

The Merck Prescription Discount Program ".... More than 45 million people in America do not have health coverage, and many more do not have prescription drug coverage. If this includes you, you can get discounts on many Merck drugs starting today. The Merck Prescription Discount Program offers savings of 15 to 20 percent off your Merck medicines, regardless of age or income.

There Are 2 Ways to Save:
Start saving at least 10 percent today on your Merck prescriptions by presenting the Merck Instant Savings Certificate to your pharmacist.*

Enjoy even greater savings — 15 to 20 percent — when you enroll in the Merck Prescription Discount Program.

. Patients also can print out Instant Savings Certificates at www.merckuninsured.com.

Below are other advocacy groups. Many of these are also free or have minimal $4 or $5 processing fees. TheLivingWeb.net does not endorse any of these sources, so "buyer beware."

Groups and Free Information

Access to Benefits Coalition

Rx Assist

Rx Outreach is a new Patient Assistance Program that provides qualified low-income individuals and families with access to generic versions of brand name medications.

Free Medicine  A patient advocate helping patients nationwide of all ages get free or low cost prescription drugs. Over 17 million prescriptions provided in 2004. Find out if you qualify for our program.

Free Medicine Foundation Helping patients nationwide of all ages get free or low cost prescriptions.

Free Medicine Program

Drug Assistance Programs from Pharmaceutical Companies 

How to Find the Prescription Drug You Need

Look up the drug name in the alphabetical listing below or in the Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs compiled by the member companies of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Researchers of America.

Please be aware that pharmaceutical manufacturers' names and programs can change and new prescription drugs are frequently added. 

If a particular prescription drug you are using is not listed in the Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs, just ask your pharmacist or physician for the name of the manufacturer of that drug and their phone number. It's certainly worth a small effort on your part to find out if there is a patient assistance program and if you qualify for it.

How to Proceed

1. Phone the pharmaceutical manufacturer and ask them if they have a patient assistance program. NOTE: If they don't respond to the name "patient assistance program", you might give them the following alternative names by which these programs are sometimes referred:

• reimbursement program
• indigent patient program
• compassionate care program
• medical needs program

2. Ask the representative what the requirements are to participate in their program. Some companies require that you have a limited income or no insurance coverage, while others require only that you get a doctor's referral. 

3. If you qualify for a particular program, speak with your doctor's office and let them know. In most cases you will need your physician to request your participation in a program by a phone call or letter from your doctor.

4.  Should your doctor refuse to call or does not believe the program will work, contact the drug company or companies yourself and find out about the application process. While you will still need a doctor to fill out the application, you can at least get the forms, and then encourage your doctor to complete them. 

You can also take a look at the RxHope website.  This site is directed toward physicians and health care providers and it might be a good "third party" way to introduce this idea to your physician and could help overcome any objections your physician or health care provider initially may have. There is a convenient online application form which your physician or health care provider can fill out... and which will make their participation in these programs a lot easier.

If your doctor still refuses, as a last resort it's possible that you can find another doctor who will be willing to accommodate you and your needs.

5.  Ask the pharmaceutical company how you will receive the prescription drugs, and how you can get refills. It is the policy of most companies to send the medications directly to your physician. However, there have been reports of occasional delays in receiving the drugs.  It's best to find out ahead of time what the drug company's shipping policy and schedule is and what you or your doctor should do if there's a problem or delay.

RxHope.com: The Heart of The Pharmaceutical Industry

"Please note that the use of RxHope.com is limited to Prescriber offices and certain Patient Advocate Organizations." 

RxHope.com The Heart of the Pharmaceutical Industry provides Patient Prescribers and Health Care Providers with patient assistance request form  

"The Pharmaceutical Industry is committed to ensuring that everyone who needs prescription medications is able to receive them.

"RxHope.com can help prescribers obtain these medications for their patients when the patient is unable to afford them and does not have access to prescription insurance or government-funded programs.

"Best of all, this service is FAST, SIMPLE, and FREE. The procedure for applying for these medications is as simple as entering your request on the “Patient Assistance Request Form”. Once completed, your request is sent directly to the pharmaceutical company for processing. That’s it. No more forms to complete, no red tape; no dead-end phone calls.
 

Ask Your Doctor for Free Samples Many manufacturers send doctors free samples to give to their patients. Ask your physician if he or she has any samples of the drugs that you have been prescribed.

Medicaid can be a Source of Free and Low Cost Prescription Drugs. 

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

 Here are Medicaid offices:

Alabama	Alaska	Arizona	Arkansas	California
Colorado	Connecticut	Delaware	District of Columbia	Florida
Georgia	Hawaii	Idaho	Illinois	Indiana
Iowa	Kansas	Kentucky	Louisiana	Maine
Maryland	Massachusetts	Michigan	Minnesota	Mississippi
Missouri	Montana	Nebraska	Nevada	New Hampshire
New Jersey	New Mexico	New York	North Carolina	North Dakota
Ohio	Oklahoma	Oregon	Pennsylvania	Rhode Island
South Carolina	South Dakota	Tennessee	Texas	Utah
Vermont	Virginia	Washington	West Virginia	Wisconsin
Wyoming

Discount Online Pharmacies and Discount Cards

AffordableRx

Doctor Solve

Drug Place

Endless Meds

  Quality Prescription Drugs

Medical Discounts Internationa

USA Medication

People's Choice Prescription Plan

Additional places to look for assistance in finding free and low cost prescription drugs.

• Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder
   
• State Medicaid programs
   
• State programs for seniors, disabled or low-income 
   
• City, county & community programs (check your local phone book) or search Google.com.
   
• Drug Discount Cards, some of which are designed for seniors
   
• Federal programs for military personnel or veterans

Have Diabetic Supplies Delivered to Your Home for FREE or at a Greatly Reduced Cost If You Qualify

Liberty Medical

National Diabetic Pharmacies

Nipro

Also see:

AARP Advocacy Program
 

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