If you are uninsured, unemployed, or on a fixed income and need prescription medicines, chances are you are concerned about how to get your medications without breaking the bank. This is where prescription drug assistance programs come in. Prescription drug assistance programs provide a way for you to get the medication you need at little or no cost. There are several organizations whose websites offer valuable information about these programs.
- RxAssist (rxassist.org) has a patient center where people who need assistance getting medications can search a database to find a prescription drug assistance program. Patients can search by drug name or by the name of the company that makes the drug. RxAssist also provides a state-by-state listing of programs; site users should note that some programs are only for seniors.
- The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (pparx.org) provides information on nearly 500 prescription drug assistance programs in the U.S. Most patients are able to get their drugs free or almost free of charge. Resources that are available on the organization’s website include a listing of free and low-cost health clinics, a list of Medicaid programs and a list of savings cards that can be used to get prescription discounts.
- NeedyMeds (needymeds.org) offers patients a discount card that can save them up to 80% on prescriptions. The group’s website also contains links to prescription assistance programs along with disease-based assistance programs for people with conditions such as asthma or cancer.
- RxHope (rxhope.org) is a website where patients and caregivers can research available prescription drug assistance programs. They can also sign up for a prescription discount card. RxHope allows users to search by drug or drug company name, and provides links to a number of pharmaceutical companies that sponsor their own drug assistance programs.