Pfizer Inc. is unveiling a new program that will let people who have lost their jobs and health insurance keep taking some widely prescribed Pfizer medications for free for up to one year.
More than 70 of its prescription drugs will be provided at no cost regardless of prior income,
who lost jobs since Jan. 1st, 2009 and have been on the Pfizer drug for three months or more. Applicants will have to sign a statement that they are suffering financial hardship and provide
a "pink slip" or similar employer notice. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 31st, 2009
with medication provided for up to 12 months after approval--or until the person becomes insured again. Patients can call a toll-free number, 866-706-2400 to sign up and those whose drugs are not included in the program will be referred to other company aid programs. Starting July 1st, 2009, patients can also apply through the website, www.PfizerHelpfulAnswers.com, which has information about other Pfizer aid programs.
Check out websites such as www.medtipster.com which provides price comparisons. Type in the
drug, dosage and your zip code to find pharmacies that carry the generic equivalent of a medicine
at a discount, often for $4 or less.
Call your County Health Department as many offer free contraceptives or other medicines!
Su Familia
National Hispanic Family Health Helpline
1501 16th Street
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 1-866-783-2645 OR 202-387-5000
The Medicine Program
P.O. Box 1089
Poplar Bluff, MO 63902
Phone: 1-866-694-3893
Prescription Assistance M-F 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Provides assistance to patients who cannot afford their prescription medication by helping
qualified individuals to enroll in existing patient assistance programs that provide medicine
free-of-charge. Individuals must meet sponsoring program criteria.
Note: Medicine is sent to the patient's physician for prescribing.
Needy Meds
PO Box 219
Gloucester, MA 01931
Do not phone, use email only!
Sharing the Care/Pfizer Prescription Help
Phone: 1-800-984-1500 OR 800-717-6005
Pfizer program helps pay for 8 medicines, Cardura/Diflucan/Glucotrol XL/Norvasc/
Procardia XL/ Zithromax/Zoloft and Zyrtec for people without insurance.
Merck Patient Assistance Program
One Merck Drive
PO Box 100
Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-0100
Phone: 800-727-5400
Provides medicine free of charge to eligible individuals, primarily the uninsured, who,
without our assistance could not afford Merck medicines.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK Access)
PO Box 52046
Phoenix, AZ 85072-2046
Phone: 888-825-5249
"GSK For You" features information on patient assistance programs from other resources too.
Lilly Answers
Phone: 877-RX-LILLY OR 877-795-4559
Allows Medicare recipients with no other Rx coverage to pay only $12 a month for each Lilly prescription if income is below $18,000 per year (single) or $24,000 per year (couple).
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Phone: 800-277-2254
Provides assistance to patients experiencing financial hardship who have no third-party
insurance coverage for their medicines.
Ortho Biotech Products
Patients must meet financial and other program specific criteria to be eligible for assistance.
Pharmacia Corporation
Phone: 877-744-5675
Purdue Pharma
Provides free medication to people who otherwise cannot afford their medications.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Phone: 800-736-0003
Provides temporary assistance to qualifying patients with a financial hardship who generally
have no private prescription drug insurance and are not enrolled in a prescription drug coverage
plan through Medicaid or any other federal, state or local health program.
Most pharmaceutical companies have programs for low-income and underinsured individuals, whereby they ship free prescription drugs either right to your door or to your doctor's office.
Simply ask your pharmacist for the name of the MANUFACTURER for your prescription medications.
Then call the toll-free number for that company and ask for that company's PATIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. You must NOT be on Medicaid or Medicare to qualify.
One program, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) is run by Merck and a few other pharmaceutical companies and is endorsed by Montel Williams who appears in their ads. The PPA has helped more than 2.5 million uninsured and underinsured patients in 2006, including Americans from all 50 states. They now have the "Help is Here Express" program that features two buses crisscrossing the country, signing up people who need help with their prescription drug costs. They are stopping in hundreds of large urban areas and small country towns to raise awareness and help educate patients about the importance of these assistance programs. With just one phone call or a visit to their Website, patients can gain access to programs that pay for more than 2,500 brand name and generic medicines, which treat a wide variety of diseases and medical conditions.
World Medical Relief Prescription Assistance
11745 Rosa Parks Blvd.
Detroit MI 48206-1270
Phone: 313-866-5333
For persons in Wayne, Oakland & Macomb counties age 18 and older who do not have prescription
drug coverage and meet income levels below and are not currently enrolled in Medicaid. Seniors with Medicare Part D may be eligible.
Income guidelines:
One person maximum income cannot exceed $19,000.
Two persons maximum income cannot exceed $31,000. Add $300 per dependent.
Eligible participants will be charged $8.30 per prescription plus a small postage fee. Applications
and medications can be mailed to your home!
Other services available through World Medical Relief include durable medical equipment such as
hospital beds, wheelchairs, shower chairs, walkers, canes; also basic medical and colostomy supplies,
liquid nutrition and incontinent products.
Catholic Social Services
305 Michigan Ave. 10th Floor
Detroit MI 48226
Phone: 313-237-5905
Emergency funds for medication.
CAAHP—Project Bismutha
4171 15 Mile Road
Sterling Heights MI
CAAHP Project Bismutha joined the Chaldean Community Foundation to provide free medical services for uninsured Iraqi Christians. CAAHP is a compassionate group of medical professionals within our community that work to deliver quality donated medical care to Project Bismutha clients
in need.
Project Bismutha is open to adult members of the Metro Detroit Iraqi Christian community who are: Between the ages of 19 and 64 years old
Completely medically uninsured
Meet the financial eligibility guidelines
Not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare
Legal residents of the United States
Available Services include:
Access to discount prescription medication
MedWise
Phone: 1-800-918-3799 OR 313-640-4497
An organization that facilitates the delivery of medications from the drug companies directly to the patient's doctor's office. These drugs are free or nearly free. You DO NOT have to have prescription coverage!
Together Rx Access, LLC
PO Box 9426
Wilmington, DE 19809-9944
Phone: 800-444-4106
Sponsored by 10 pharmaceutical companies. The applicant must not have any type of prescription coverage and not be eligible for Medicare. Must be a legal resident of U.S. Average savings of 25 to
40% on prescriptions. Annual income must be less than $30,000 for an individual and $40,000 for a couple, $50,000 for a family of three, $60,000 for a family of four, $70,000 for a family of five. Families
of six or more OR residents of Alaska and Hawaii should contact Together RX Access at 1-800-444-4106 for household income information.
Wayne County Senior Prescription Savings Program
640 Temple, Suite 370
Detroit MI 48201-2558
To receive a card, call 313-224-0884 (new number!) W.C. Commissioner Burton Leland
If you are a Wayne County resident age 55 and older, and have no other co-pay coverage, then you may qualify for any drug that requires a physician's prescription and a prescription mail-order service with thousands of participating pharmacies nationwide. The program provides 10-50% savings on prescription drugs purchased in this wide network of pharmacies.
AND
All Wayne County residents can now save money on the new Wayne County Discount Prescription Card Program announced Feb. 2009! The discount applies to all medications and can be used in addition to private prescription coverage. The amount saved varies on the particular drug being purchased. The card is free and provides savings of up to 75% on prescription medications with
an average of 30%. The card can also be used to purchase some pet medications that are available at participating pharmacies. There are no income restrictions to qualify and no forms have to be filled out.
The Michigan Retailers Association is offering a new program that would help people save money
on prescription drugs. The FREE RX Card is available and free to everyone--there is no age, income
or other eligibility requirements. Cardholders will be able to receive discounts averaging 35% off
the cost of a prescription, with savings of up to 75% off generic prescriptions. More than 2,000 pharmacies in Michigan--including all major chains and many independents--are participating in
the program. Anyone can obtain a card by visiting the Michigan Retailers Association website
(www.retailers.com) and downloading a card. The website also can be used to locate a nearby participating pharmacy and to determine the discounted price.
Macomb County Senior Prescription Program
21885 Dunham Road
Clinton Twp., MI 48036
Phone: 586-469-6313
For all Macomb County residents and their dependents who have no presciption coverage and
who enroll and receive a card. Helps by giving discounts on retail prices to individuals who
purchase their prescriptions. Average discount is 30%.
MiRX (Michigan Prescription Drug Discount Card)
Phone: 866-755-6479
Offers discounts of 20% off drug costs for people without prescription drug coverage with
annual income below $27,930 for one, $37,470 for 2, $47,010 for 3, $56,550 for 4.
Oakland County Prescription Program
Phone: 866-731-7213
All ages, age 60 & over regardless of income, if age 59 and under. Annual fee of $14.00 per
person, $20.00 per family.
AND
Oakland County Prescription Relief
Phone: 866-378-4686
For low-income individuals with no prescription coverage if you make less than $19,000 a year
or $31,000 per family. $8.00 per prescription.
MiRx Prescription Savings Program
MiRx Enrollment
PO Box 30412
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: 866-755-6479
The Michigan RX Card which offers discount prescriptions, is now available FREE to anyone regardless of age or income. People with insurance can use the program if they are high deductibles OR they are in need of non-formulary drugs that insurance plans do not cover. Seniors citizens on Medicare Part D also can benefit from this card during the "gap period," known as the "doughnut hole". Every major pharmacy accepts the program, with Kmart being the preferred pharmacy. There are more than 1,800 pharmacies throughout Michigan that participate in the program. A complete list of the locations can be found at the above website. The Michigan RX Card also works with nonprofit organizations who help people with prescription costs.
MiChild is a health care program administered by the Michigan Department of Community Health.
It is for the low-income uninsured childdren of Michigan's working families.
AZ Medicine & Me
Phone: 800-AZandME
For people in Medicare Part D, you will pay no more than $25 for a typical 30-day supply of each AstraZeneca medicine. There is no cost to sign up. Call to see if you qualify.
Veterans Programs
Phone: 877-222-8387
Michigan Parkinson Foundation
30400 Telegraph Road Suite 150
Bingham Farms, MI 48025
Phone: 800-852-9781 OR 248-433-1011
A Medication Assistance Program that is offered by the Michigan Parkinson Foundation. Pays up
to $500 per year for Parkinson's-related medications for those who do not currently have prescription coverage.
American Kidney Foundation
6110 Executive Blvd. #1010
Rockville MD 20852
Phone: 800-638-8299
Provides pharmacy help to patients with kidney problems.
National Kidney Foundation of Michigan
State Office:
1169 Oak Valley Dr.
Ann Arbor MI 48108
Phone: 800-482-1455
AND
1900 E. Jefferson #222
Detroit MI 48207
Phone: 313-259-1514
AND
411 E. 3rd Street #2
Flint MI 48503
Phone: 810-232-0522 OR 810-232-0533
Provides drug bank and should be used after all other resources have been exhausted. The
foundation will pay $750 toward the cost of medications for people with kidney disease who
do not have insurance coverage.
Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan
1921 W. Michigan Ave.
Ypsilanti MI 48197
Phone: 800-482-3041
Helps people who have hemophilia find resources to pay for their medications.
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
PO Box 1968
55 Kenosia Avenue
Danbury CT 06813-1968
Phone: 800-999-6673 (voice mail only) OR 203-744-0100
If you have any kind of rare condition at all, check this website as they cover many types of
conditions!
Michigan HIV/AIDS Drug Assistance Program
109 Michigan Avenue, 9th floor
Lansing, MI 48913
Phone: 517-241-5911 OR 888-826-6565
Provides assistance in paying for certain HIV related medications for people who meet eligibility
criteria. Call for details.
AIDS Partnership of Michigan
2751 E. Jefferson Suite 301
Detroit MI 48207
Phone: 313-446-9800 OR 800-515-3434
Prescription help among many other services.
Myasthenia Gravis Association
5523 E. Nine Mile Road
Southfield MI
Phone: 586-755-9100
Provides mail-order medication for the drugs Mestinon and Prednisone for people diagnosed
with Myasthenia Gravis.
Lupus Alliance
26507 Harper Ave.
St. Clair Shores MI 48081
Phone: 586-775-8310 OR 800-705-6677
Provides one-time emergency assistance to members of the alliance that have been diagnosed
with Lupus. $25 per year. Subsidized counseling for people with lupus and their families along
with on-site counseling services and provides crisis intervention. Assists with resources for the underinsured. Resources for medical equipment loans.
Crown Pharmacy
24401 Plymouth Rd.
Redford MI 48239
Phone: 313-532-DRUG (3532)
Crown Pharmacy works collaboratively with area AIDS service organizations to provide access to HIV/AIDS-related medications. Also provides statewide UPS delivery of prescriptions, free of charge.
Crossroads of Michigan--Main Office
2424 West Grand Blvd.
Detroit MI 48208
Phone: 313-831-2787
OR
Crossroads of Michigan--East Office
14641 E. Jefferson Ave.
Detroit MI 48215
Phone: 313-822-4441
Prescription assistance.
NOTE:
Meijer stores offer some antibiotics, Meformin (for diabetics) and pre-natal vitamins FREE!
Any Walmart or Sam's Club and Target Pharmacies! Will provide up to a 30-day supply of generic
drugs on the current list of covered drugs for $4 per prescription fill or refill--it must be picked up
Kroger has now started selling $4 generic prescription drugs at its Michigan pharmacies also!
or by calling 877-479-5478.
Also, Walmart offers a VERY large variety of generic drugs that cost only $4 a prescription vs. $10
a prescription at other chain drugstores......check the list at www.walmart.com under "pharmacy".
RX Outreach offers a 90 day supply of 125 different medications for $20, $30, and $40 and often prescriptions not available in other pharmacy programs are available here. Go to www.RXOutreach.com for more information OR call 800-769-3880.
generic savings calculator, plus a list of drugs nearing their patent expiration date.
ALSO
Some drug companies are now offering high-value coupon savings on their websites if you
regularly take a prescribed medicine that does not have a generic!
For example, if you take Lipitor, type into your search engine "Lipitor" which will take you to the company website and while there, you will see where you can sign up to get a year's worth of coupon savings of $10 per month off your prescription co-pay! This would mean a yearly savings of $120 for just one person! Several other drug companies are doing the same, so it would be well worth your time to check ALL your prescribed medicines this way!
Even medications that you take occasionally may be offering the same type of offer--for example,
Patient Services Incorporated
PO Box 1602
Midlothian, VA 23113
Phone: 800-366-7741
Helps with prescription co-pays as well as health premiums for chronic illnesses.
The Healthwell Foundation
PO Box 4150
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Phone: 800-65-8416
Helps with out-of-pocket expenses such as co-pays.
Patient Access Network Foundation
PO Box 221858
Charlotte NC 28222
Phone: 866-316-PANF (7263)
Helps with out-of-pocket expenses for 20 different chronic diseases.
CANCERCARE
275 Seventh Avenue Floor 22
New York City, NY 10001
Phone: 800-813-4673
Offers financial help for those with cancer of all ages. Also prescription help!
Patient Advocate Foundation's CO-PAY RELIEF Program
421 Butler Farm Road
Hampton VA 23666
Phone: 866-512-3861
The Patient Advocate Fondation (PAF) Co-Pay Relief Program (FPR) currently provides direct
financial support for pharmaceutical co-payments to insured patients, including Medicare Part D beneficiaries, who financially and medically qualify. The Co-Pay Relief Program provides financial assistance to eligible patients who are being treated for breast, lung, colon, kidney, prostate, pancreatic, and head/neck cancers, malignant brain tumor, lymphoma, diabetes, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome (and other pre-leukemia diseases), osteoporosis, Hepatitis C, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoma, selected autoimmune disorders, chronic pain, chemo-induced anemia and chemo-induced neutropenia.
AND
Patient Advocate Foundation MedCare Line
Colorectal Care Line (CCL)
421 Butler Farm Road
Hampton VA 23666
Phone: 866-657-8634
PAF's Colorectal Care Line is a division of its MedCare Line, which is staffed by a team of nurses and professional case managers who provide individualized clinical case management services at no charge to patients in need. CCL assists patients who have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer and are seeking treatment education and access to care by helping patients interpret insurance policies, launch successful appeals for treatment denials, assist with accessing available state, local and national resources, providing educational resources and researching clinical trials. There is also a Colorectal CareLine Financial Assistance Fund. This fund will provide one-time grants in the amount of $400.00 to eligible colorectal patients who need support with the cost of gas, parking, tolls, and/or public transportation associated with their treatment.
AIDS Treatment Data Network (ATDN)
National Phone: 800-734-7104
Michigan Phone: 888-826-6565 OR 313-456-1678
Caring Voice Coalition Road
8249 Meadowbridge
Mechanicsville VA 23116
Phone: 804-427-6488 OR 888-267-1440
Offers financial resources for insurance premiums, medications, and Medicare co-pay assistance for
the following diseases: Huntington's Disease (HD), Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Defiency (Alpha-1), Chronic Granulomatous Disease
(CGD).
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Financial assistance and other resources for people with cancer.
American Cancer Society
Phone: 800-ACS-2345
Some local offices offer prescription assistance among other assistance.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Single Patient Investigational New Drug Program
Patients who are not eligible for a clinical trial and who are in an immediate medical crisis may be
able to receive drugs that are not yet FDA-approved. Your doctor would have to apply to the FDA
for permission to use the drug, an approval known as a Single Patient IND for Compassionate or Emergency Use. The FDA usually responds to an application within 24 to 48 hours.
HOLLYROD FOUNDATION
9250 Wilshire Blvd. Suite LL15
Beverly Hills CA 90212
Phone: 866-HOLLYROD OR 866-465-5976 OR 310-385-1590
Provides assistance in obtaining medications OR obtaining treatments and therapies not covered
by insurance. Also assistance obtaining adaptive equipment. Primarily for those with Parkinson's disease.
MS LifeLines Access Made Simple Program
Phone: 877-447-3243
You may be eligible to receive 1 full year of Rebif (interferon beta-1a) for little or no cost (no more
than $50 a month), regardless of my financial status.
