Talk With Your Doctor

If you don’t have insurance, the first thing you should is speak with your doctor if you are having trouble affording your medication. They may be able to provide you with free samples for a period of time. It may also be possible to switch to a less expensive brand-name medication or the generic form of your medication.

Prescription Assistance Programs

Government Prescription Assistance Programs

  • Many states and counties offer prescription assistance programs. Contact your NAMI State Organization and NAMI Affiliate for information about programs in your area.

  • www.needhelppayingbills.com is a website that also lists state and local assistance programs that you may qualify for.

  • Your state’s Medicaid office may have information about prescription assistance and discount programs.

  • If you participate in Medicare Part D and need financial assistance you may be qualified for the federal benefit program called Extra Help. The Medicare Rights Center—1-800-333-4114—can let you know if you qualify.

 

Nonprofit Prescription Assistance Programs

  • NeedyMeds helps people of all ages, with and without insurance, locate Patient Assistance Programs, free/low cost clinics, state programs and offers a free NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card. For more information, you may call their helpline at 800-503-6897.

  • Partnership for Prescription Assistance helps qualifying people without prescription drug coverage get the medication they need for free or nearly free. They offer access to public and private programs, including pharmaceutical company programs.

  • RxAssist helps individuals find information about free and low-cost medication programs and other ways to manage your medication cost through their online Patient Assistance Program Center. They also provide a prescription discount card that patients may be able to use even if they have health insurance coverage.

  • RxHope provides program descriptions and downloadable applications for prescription assistance programs for specific medications.

  • PatientAssistance.com is a nonprofit site that offers money-saving offers such as printable coupons and a searchable database of available patient assistance programs.

  • GoodRx allows you to compare drug prices from pharmacies in your area, including big pharmacy chains, local pharmacies and mail order companies.

 

Pharmaceutical Companies

If you take the brand name version of a medication, the pharmaceutical company that makes that drug may offer payment assistance. 

All of the above information was obtained from NAMI website: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Living-with-a-Mental-Health-Condition/Getting-Help-Paying-for-Medications 

The 340B Drug Pricing Program:

The 340B Program enables covered entities to stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services.

Manufacturers participating in Medicaid agree to provide outpatient drugs to covered entities at significantly reduced prices.

Eligible health care organizations/covered entities are defined in statute and include HRSA-supported health centers and look-alikes, Ryan White clinics and State AIDS Drug Assistance programs, Medicare/Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospitals, children’s hospitals, and other safety net providers. See the full list of eligible organizations/covered entities.

To participate in the 340B Program, eligible organizations/covered entities must register and be enrolled with the 340B program and comply with all 340B Program requirements. Once enrolled, covered entities are assigned a 340B identification number that vendors verify before allowing an organization to purchase 340B discounted drugs. 

Copied from: https://www.hrsa.gov/opa/index.html

Terrence H. Brown, Pharm D