Help with Medications

As we sit back and watch Washington talk about reforming health care and the drug companies raising their princesses. Families losing what little health care converge they do due to layoffs and companies downsizing. It has become a real worry for middle class and low income families across the country. According to the 2007 U.S. Census Bureau there were 45.7 million uninsured Americans. Over ¾ of those that are without have major health problems.

For those Americans who have no health insurance having to make hard choices, between talking medications as the doctor prescribed it or skipping doses or not getting the prescription filled at all.

There is help out there for low-income patients may be able to get their medications for free by providing documentation to charitable programs run by pharmaceutical companies. In the U.S. the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association publishes a director of medication assistance programs. Doctors can get a copy of the PMA's official guide by calling 800-PMA-INFO. Alternatively, you or our doctor can call the company that makes your medication directly to find out about its indigent patient program.

3M pharmaceuticals (800)328-0255
Allergan Prescription (800)347-4500
Atza Pharmaceuticals 415-962-4243
Amgen (800)272-9376
Berlex (800)488-3247
Boehringer Ingieheim 203-798-4131
Bristol Myers Squibb (800)736-0003
Burroughs-Wellcome (800)722-9294
Ciba_Geigy Patient Support Program (800)257-3273
Eli-Lilly 317-276-2950
Genetech (800)879-4747
Glaxo (800)452-7677
Hoechst-Roussel (800)776-5463
Hoffman-Larouche (800)526-6367
Ici-Stuart 302-886-2231
Immunex Corp (800)321-2231
Janssen (800)253-3682
Johnson and Johnson (800)447-3437
Knoll (800)526-0710
Lederie (800)526-7870
Lilly Cares Program (800)545-6962
Marion Merrel Dow (800)362-7466
McNeil Pharmaceuticals (800)682-6532
Merck Human Health (800)672-6372
Miles (800)998-9180
Ortho Pharmaceuticals (800)682-6532
Parker-Davis 202-540-2000
Pfizer Indigent Patient Program (800)646-4455
Pharmacia (800)795-9759
Proctor & Gamble (800)448-4878
Phone-Poulence Rorer 610-454-8298
Roche Labs (800)285-4484
Roxana Labs (800)274-8651
Sandoz (800)937-6673
Sanofi Winthrop (800)446-6267
Schering Labs (800)521-7157
Searie (800)542-2526
Serono 617-982-9000
SmithKline Access to Care Program (800)546-0420 (patient requests only) 215-751-5722 physician requests only
Solvay Patient Assistance Program (800)788-9277
Survanta Lifeline (800)922-3255
Syntex Labs (800)822-8255
UpJohn Co. (800)242-7014
Wyeth-Ayerst 703-706-5933
Zeneca Pharmaceuticals (800)424-3720

An Organization called Medicine Program can help you and your doctor apply to indigent patient programs. Call them at (573)778-1118, email at help@themedicineprogram.com or see their web site at www.themedicineprogram.com

Most of these programs require that you have no insurance coverage for out patient prescription drugs, that purchasing the medication at its retail price would be a hardship for you due to your income and/or expenses, and that you do not qualify for a government or third party program that can pay for the prescriptions.

Another source for free medications is your physician's sample cabinet. All you have to do is ask, and hope that the pharmaceutical rep has paid a recent visit. Samples can help tide you over rough patches, but you can't rely on getting them monthly.