Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs - Free or Low Cost Medications

Having a tough time stretching your budget to pay for expensive medications? A Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Program may help.

• Several drug companies provide prescription medicines at low cost or free of charge to doctors with needy patients.
• Companies that provides this kind of assistance have their own rules to participate.

America's pharmaceutical research companies sponsor the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPARx).

• This program helps uninsured and low income Americans.
• It has information about programs that provide prescription medicines free or at a reduced cost.
• You give a list of your prescription medications, your basic information and your current drug coverage.
• The system can tell you what patient assistance program you may be eligible for, and how to apply.
• There are many different programs and a large number of medications available.
• You can access the service - free of charge - by visiting the PPARx website at www.pparx.org.

To apply for one or more of these programs, you must work with your doctor.

• You need to provide your doctor with information required by each Patient Assistance Program that covers a medicine you need.
• Your doctor needs to:
  • Sign your application form
  • Add prescription information or an actual prescription
  • And sometimes mailing or faxing the application on your behalf.
• If you meet the program's requirements, the company will either send the medicine to your doctor's office or directly to your home.
• Some programs mail you a pharmacy card that you can use to get your free or low cost medicines at your local pharmacy.

There are many programs and each has its own rules for eligibility.

• Some programs require that a patient's income be below federal poverty guidelines.
• Others determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis.
• You may find that you are eligible for some programs but not others.
• You should ask your doctor to help you apply to all programs that provide assistance for the medicines you take, especially the ones that cost more.
• If PPARx does not have a program for the medicine you need, check with the manufacturer of the drug to see if they have a Patient Assistance Program.
• You should request an application and information on eligibility requirements
• You need to work with your doctor to file the application and receive the medicine.

Remember, the PPARx is a free service.

• There are other companies that offer to connect you to the same programs and charge you money.
• Some of these programs may use the PPARx name.
• The service offered directly through the Partnership for Prescription Assistance is offered completely free of charge.

For more information go to: www.pparx.org