In these uncertain economic times, the number of people unable to afford their medications is getting higher and higher.
Many fixed- and low-income people find it an increasingly difficult task to pay for the medications they need to stay healthy. In many cases, it’s a choice between medicine and other necessities, such as food and heat.
The post “Financial Help with Prescription Medications,” written on July 7, 2008, has received a thorough rewriting with important new information. Since it was originally written, I have found several very helpful online sites that give information and application help for low- or no-cost medication programs sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies.
The post gives the details that you need to help you or a person you know to find programs that will help pay for medications. The topics discussed are:
- Eligibility for prescription help
- Online assistance with prescription medications from the pharmaceutical companies
- Assistance with prescription medications from the pharmaceutical companies by telephone
- Medicare Rx extra help
- The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
- Samples from your doctor
- Reducing the cost: Mail-order and online medications
- Reducing the cost: Comparisons of pharmacy costs
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Hi Mike,
One of my most disturbing discoveries during my graduate psychotherapy training was realizing how many people on fixed or limited income halve their prescription medication to make it last longer.
I think countries like India which tightly control medication costs have the right idea.
Robert Johnson (founder of Johnson and Johnson) was a great leader because he believed that pharmaceutical companies were about helping people first, and profit second. It’s really a very capitalistic idea – though to our ears now it seems revolutionary.
Enjoy your posts.
Alec
Alec Satin’s last blog post..How To Track Your Job Search Contacts With Highrise
Thanks for the comment, Alec!
Although we often vilify the pharmaceutical companies, they do help people with no- or low-cost drugs. However, with all the paperwork that has to be done, I wonder how many people take advantage of it?
One thing I left out was the help available through Medicare for people who can’t afford their drugs. I’m thinking that I might go back and add it in, just for the sake of completeness.
Johnson’s “revolutionary” idea of helping people first often gets buried under stockholders’ demands for short-term profit, unfortunately. What a different world it would be if every company were to take his idea seriously!
As a single mom I can relate with having pay out of pocket for medical expenses. Just recently I have started to use these programs from the drug manufactures and I can tell you they help out more than I thought they would.
Excellent post Mike! This is such an important issue. I’m fortunate in that I don’t currently take any medications but I know this will change as I get older.
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Most people hear about the PPA programs think it is great until they try to get enrolled. As mentioned the paperwork is too involved for a lot of people. Company name is a new company that assist people in need, by doing all the paperwork and get them enrolled and then (the other problem) keep them enrolled. Their cost is low, $12 per medication per month with a one time $20 application fee, if qualified. I do marketing for the company, and I can tell you profit is not the main focus of the company. People can see if they qualify on the website for free, then complete the application for free. A patient advocate will contact the person.
Editor’s note: In keeping with the comment policy of this blog, I have removed the name of the company and website links. I regret doing this since the company seems like it is doing a great service. I recommend that you search on Google for “prescription assistance.” The company — and others like it — will appear both in the advertising links to the right and in the search results.
@Denise, thank you for your comment, and thank you for dropping by. It’s really good to hear from someone who is actually using the pharmaceutical companies’ program.
@Kim, Thank you for the compliments. I, too, am fortunate that I have excellent insurance and have not had to struggle to pay for drugs. But just the copays cost my family $600 a month! I can only hope that these difficult financial times will not change my situation so that I need the information in this post.