Great Free Medication Program (for people)

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I am involved in a free medication program. I asked if I could let others know about it and they sent me application forms. This program is run by the pharmaceutical companies not by the government. It was established by volunteers dedicated to assisting individuals of all ages who are regularly required to take prescription medication but lack adequate income to fill their prescriptions each month. The drug companies themselves set up the income guidelines and they range from below the poverty level up to $50,000 annually. If anyone is interested in this program I would be happy to send you a brochure if you send me a stamped self-addressed legal size envelope. e-mail me and I will send you my address. For an example, I am a diabetic and take a daily medication that cost $87 per month from the least expensive pharmacy around. I get my medication directly from the drug company 90 days at a time for free. It has been a life saver for me. I have decided that this would be my ministry, letting people know about this wonderful program.

-- Janice in Maine (kenjan@pivot.net), March 19, 2002

Answers

Hi Janice, Presently, the drug cost is not an issue for me. Who knows what the future will bring and there are some people that could use such a program in some groups which I am a member. Respect you efforts to make others aware of the program.

-- ken (you@surfbest.net), March 19, 2002.

Janice, is this for people on insulin or do they allow for tablets? Does this include postage? Any other particulars would be helpful. I'm also diabetic. Thanks.

-- Hank (hsnrs@att.net), March 19, 2002.

How about medications that are inhaled ( combivent, atrivent, arivia, ect.. ) also how about theo-dur and other blood/heart meds. My father in law takes about 10 pills per day plus breathing treatments and inhalers. Cost $1800.00 per month $400 out of pocket.

-- Kristean Thompson (pigalena_babe@yahoo.com), March 19, 2002.

This is part of what I do for a living. You can do this generally with the help of your physician's office. You apply directly to the pharmacuetical company for the patient assistance programs. If you do not have prescription insurance and you qualify financially you may get medications free or low cost. Here is the website to check out which company has which medications available. It is www.rxassist.org/search.cfm. At this point you will search you begin your search and then once found may download the application form if available or your physician's office may have to call. In any event you will then need to fill it out with the help of your doc. After submitted you may need to wait up to a month to get the medication. This is not good for short term medication only for maintenance medications, insulin is a good one, cholesterol medication, etc. Good luck with it.

-- Michele (gcsaanens@aol.com), March 19, 2002.

The only problem with your way of dealing with free medications is that most of the doctors (at least around here) are not familiar with these programs. The only way they can help out their patients is with a couple of free samples. This program deals with the doctor and the pharmaceutical company. It makes everything so much more simple for people who are already under enough stress with not being able to afford their medications. The program I am involved with does the searches for you and handles the majority of the paperwork. Once you send them the initial application they send you a packet with another very simple form that you forward to your Doctor. The doctor signs it and sends it along with a prescription in a pre-addressed envelope. The company then sends 90 day supplies at a time directly to your doctor. It is so simple, easy and stress free. The whole process takes 3-4 weeks initially and when you need a renewal only a week or so.

-- Janice in Maine (kenjan@pivot.net), March 19, 2002.


My mother has alzheimer's disease and requires a medication (aricept) that goes for $140 for a month's supply. At a caregiver's site that I visit someone mentioned the website http://www.needymeds.com. It was a godsend as now her medication is absolutely free. A 90 day supply is sent directly to her doctor. This site is an information source for patient assistance programs and other programs that help people obtain health supplies and equipment. I found the best way to manuever the site was to go directly to the drug list and continue from that point as suggested by the specific program. The program mother is enrolled in is wonderful. After the initial paperwork (very minimal) she was assigned a case #. All I have to do to get subsequent 90 day supplies is call a number about 3 weeks before her pills run out - give them the case # and they send the pills directly to her doctor. The doctor's office calls me and I pick up the pills. As to why you don't recognize my name... I've been a frequent visitor to this site in the few months since I first found it but never "spoke up" before. I will introduce myself in a new thread. I hope that this information is helpful to some. CindyRose

-- cindy dries (crdries@software.rockwell.com), March 20, 2002.

http://www.themedicineprogram.com

Great program. My girlfriend gets her chemo medication for free through the help of this organization.

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), March 20, 2002.


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