When money is tight, do you pay for rent, food, or your prescription medications? No one should have to make such a difficult decision. You shouldn’t suffer because you can’t afford your prescription medications. Well, now you don’t have to. The United States Government offers incentives to hundreds of pharmaceutical companies who offer Patient Assistance Programs (PAP). PAP provides low income and uninsured Americans free prescription drugs with no strings attached.
Is it too good to be true? Like any program, each PAP has its own application process, guidelines, and medications they offer. Some people find it challenging to obtain prescription help through PAP. The approval process can be overwhelming and keeping up with the amount of medication, refills, and reapplying can be a full-time job.
Here are some helpful resources that include the different PAP, medications offered through PAP, and applications that must be signed by a physician.
Sources:
http://www.pparx.org/prescription_assistance_programs
http://www.needymeds.org/indices/pap.shtml
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm134215.htm
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I have never heard of PAP, but I'm glad something is finally being done about medication costs. It is hard for part-time workers to have insurance benifits through their job, this program seems like it would help people get their prescriptions and stay healthy. I would like to know more, this program might be a solution for me.
ReplyDeleteI worked in an assisted living for 2 years and i know the family members of residents were paying a fortune for the medications their parents were on. Most of the residents do take multiple medications. The high cost of medications affects people in all inviroments and stages of life. It is nice to see that people are becoming more aware and trying to find a solution.
ReplyDeletePAP can be a wonderful program. Unlike alot of companies out there, they are here to help. The only down side is the extra effort, which I'm sure is worth it compared to not taking mugh needed medications. Needymeds.org is another wonderful organization you could try as well. We would love to hear any suscess you may have through any of these companies.
ReplyDeleteI am a Senior Citizen that was not aware that
ReplyDeletethere is so much help available for obtaining
needed medications. This site was very helpful.
My husband had a heart attack last year and is
now on five different medications. Two of his
prescriptions have a copay of over $200. This
can be a problem for people living on a fixed
income. Your site provided a lot of great information.
The PAP programs are a great thing to many people that surely need the assistance, but these programs should not be allowed to become another welfare system. I realize everyone needs assistance sometime, but they also need to pick themselves up and move on. As your blog suggest, these plans also are loaded with bureaucratic red tape that makes it very hard for some individuals to get through the system in order to receive the help they so badly need. This country was founded by people with clear and passionate dreams of a strong and free society, and it has become a society of welfare and handouts with less and less freedoms. I will absolutely help anyone within my ability to help that is truly in need of help. I think we should all be a little more caring towards our fellow man. Maybe these programs will give them a lift up when needed, but also offer guidance to assist the less than fortunate to stand on their own two feet and move on to better themselves.
ReplyDeleteVery useful information. Was unaware of PAP. Will be very useful to share with friends as family.
ReplyDeleteWow I think I will let everyone I know about this, so that they can be aware of it. Everybody goes through hard times and medications are very expensive so this is great info!
ReplyDeleteMarilyn, I wish the best for your husband. My dad had triple bypass years ago, and I still remember my parents being faced with the problem on how to afford their medications.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, thank you for such a candid response. I think too often people are afriad of offending others when we speak against people who take advantage of systems set in place to help those who truly need it. Our nation as a whole is reaching a pivital point with universal healthcare, and extending services to those without. Where do you stand on this issue?