Medications can be really expensive, especially for those who do not have a high income. There are some people who may obtain government assistance for their medications, but not everyone qualifies for that program. Many people fall through the cracks, making too much for government help, but not enough to pay for the high prices of prescriptions. The good news is there is financial help for buying medications.
Americans pay some of the highest prices for medications in the world. There are medications for some conditions that cost $100,000 per year or more. This is often more than most people make per year, and is a price tag that very few people could afford. Whether you need expensive prescription drugs or ones that are more affordable, getting financial help to ease the burden of paying for them can make a world of difference for many people.
Programs that Help with Buying Medications
The goal for many people is to get help paying for medications, or to find a way to get the cost reduced. Both options will essentially provide financial help for buying medications and make them easier for people to afford. There are numerous programs and options you can turn to in order to ease the financial burden for the prescriptions you need. Be sure to reach out to all the program that seem to be a good fit for your situation, as that is the best way to get the help you need.
Doctors – Most doctors have access to many free samples of medications. Sometimes they may be able to provide the person with samples for months or years. These samples are the same product as the one being purchased, but they are allowed to give them out for free. Check to see if the doctor has any free samples of the medications that you need, which will save you a lot of money. Most doctor’s offices are happy to help their patients find financial help to buy their medications.
Drug Manufacturers – Contact the manufacturer of the medications you need to see if they can provide financial help with purchasing their products. Many of them will provide you with a discount, offer coupons, and even give you free samples. They are usually willing to do this, but many people do not realize it, so they never reach out to inquire about it.
Medicaid – This is the program that is provided by the federal government that will provide financial help for buying medications. Those who qualify for the program will be able to get free medications, as well as help paying for other medical services, including doctor visits, hospital stays, eye doctor appointments, dentist appointments, and more. To qualify for the program, you have to meet the low income guidelines and be a citizen or legal non-citizen. There is no limit on how long you can get help through this program. As long as you continue to meet the requirements you can receive the assistance. This program is available around the country. You can apply for it online or in person at your local social services office. To get more information and apply for the program, click here.
Pharmacies – When you take your prescription to the pharmacy, or while picking it up, ask them for financial help for buying the medications. The pharmacists often know of programs that will help you pay for the prescriptions. They may even have discount cards on hand that they will use on your behalf. Most of them are very helpful in trying to find ways to help consumers save money on their medications. Let them know you need financial help and see what they can do. You can also call around to some pharmacies and compare medication prices at each one, letting them know you need financial help to purchase it. They may be willing to provide you with a lower price to help you out. Also, be sure to ask if there is a generic option for the medication you need. The generic ones are usually much more affordable.
Drug Programs – There are discount drug programs that are available that you can join. They are available through programs such as Good Rx. They are free to join and will provide you with a card you can show when you go to the pharmacy to purchase your medications. The card will provide you with a discount on your purchase. There are no fees to use the card and they are available to anyone. You should learn more about the Good Rx program and others like it to see which one is ideal for you to join. To get more information about the program, click here.
211 – This number, which is a program provided by the organization called United Way, is a free referral service. You can call this number to let them know the type of assistance you need and they will use their database to find you local programs they can refer you to. The program is free to use and available to everyone in the country. To get more information about the program, click here.
Health Departments – There are health departments around the country. Contact your local health department to ask if they can provide financial help for buying medications. They may be able to help you get the medications for free or a reduced cost. They have access to many programs and will often provide people with medications directly. You won’t know the depth of their resources and what they can do to help until you contact them to inquire about it.
In addition to these options, consider asking around to see if others may know of programs in your community that can help. Family and friends, as well as churches, may know of programs or be willing to provide financial help for buying medications. The more people who know you are looking for options to help you, the better off you will be, because someone will likely know of a resource that can help.
