Article
Free or Very Low Cost Drugs May be Available
Prescription Drug Assistance Programs for Those in Need
As the cost of health insurance seems to go out of sight, and more and more Americans find themselves uninsured, the cost of life saving prescription drugs continues to be the final financial blow for many. Imagine not having health insurance, as 41 million American find themselves, and being diagnosed with a chronic and life threatening illness.
The question becomes, where do you turn for help. The obvious programs such as Medicare and state Medicaid programs are available for many. But what if you don’t qualify? One glimmer of hope may be the Patient Assistance Programs that many of the pharmaceutical companies participate in.
Let’s take a look at what programs are available.
Medicare
For those who qualify for Medicare, the Medicare Part D drug benefit became available on January 1, 2006. This program offers a small prescription benefit to eligible seniors. Medicare Part D coverage, the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit is offered by many different providers, with various premiums and deductibles. A good place to start researching this coverage is at www.medicare.gov.
While the research to determine which program may be best for you can be over whelming, your local pharmacist may be able to help you figure out which plan is best for your situation. It is important to know if the drugs that you need are covered under the plan you are enrolling for.
Medicaid
Every state offers some type of health insurance coverage for low-income residents and their families. While each state offers some coverage for prescription medications, you may have a “spend down” or not qualify every month. It is best to call your local Medicaid office to determine your eligibility.
State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIPS)
This program may sound familiar because Congress and President Bush are arguing over funding of this program as this article is being written. The SCHIPS program is designed to provide limited coverage for all children based in part on the income of the parents.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
This wonderful organization helps uninsured people by bringing together the pharmaceutical industry, the caregivers and the patients in order to help the patient get the medicine they need. Through this organization qualified patients have access to over 475 patient assistance programs offering free drugs or low cost alternative programs. They can be reached at 1-888-477-2669, or www.pparx.org.
Discount Prescription Drug Cards
Searching the web for discount prescription cards, you will find that there are many card programs to choose from. The basic premise for all of them is the same. These cards offer you access to negotiated discounts are participating pharmacies throughout the country. They are not insurance and require you to pay cash for your medications or supplies at the time of purchase.
It is not necessary to pay an annual fee for a card program such as this, look for a company that provides the card for free. You probably won’t save any additional money at the drug store if you pay an enrollment fee, so save your money.
The drug stores are happy to accept these card programs, because they know that you’ll probably be buying other items while you’re there. Click Here to Print Our Free Card
Disease Specific Organizations
Most diseases that affect a large population have a national organization that supports people suffering from a specific disease. The national organization is there to help educate people about the disease, raise money for research and to lobby both state and federal politicians to fund research and state mandated insurance programs designed to help its members.
Try an internet search for your specific disease. Several good contacts will undoubtedly pop up. A quick email to the organization may give you the avenue you need to locate free or very low cost medications.
As prescription drugs become more expensive and out of reach for more and more Americans, it is important to know where to look for help. The list provided above is designed to provide a brief overview of the basic programs available.
Please feel free to contact us at discountmeds4you.com if you have any additional questions or comments.
Jeff Meese is the owner of DiscountMeds4You.com and previously founded Preferred Rx of Ohio, a national mail order diabetic supply company. He has participated as a research volunteer in diabetes research programs for over 18 years and has been a regular contributor on Golden Opportunities, a weekly syndicated television show.
Contact: Jeff Meese
DiscountMeds4You
866-933-2434
http://www.discountmeds4you.com
