Here's help for the high cost of prescription drugs.

Fortunately, many public and private resources are available to help people who have or have had cancer manage their medication costs. Some of these provide options for purchasing drugs at discounted prices. Others help patients who cannot afford any part of their medication costs. Through extensive interviews with pharmacists, drug companies, and associations, and through research on the Internet, we’ve compiled the following list of programs:

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Web site: www.pparx.com
Phone: 1-888-477-2669

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance program is a collaboration of drug companies, doctors, health care providers, and organizations helping patients without prescription coverage find drug assistance programs that are right for them. The Partnership’s Web site offers access to more than 475 public and private drug and nutritional supplement assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by drug companies.  

To find programs right for you, fill out the confidential online form. After your answers are quickly compared to each of the requirements for the different programs, you will be able to see a list of programs that might be helpful to you. From here, you can download each program’s application and instructions for applying.

Your doctor or nurse can also use the Web site to find programs for you and then complete the necessary application forms for you and send them by email or fax.

NeedyMeds
Web site: www.needymeds.com
Phone: 215-625-9609

The NeedyMeds Web site provides information on nearly 800 drug assistance programs, including requirements and application forms. It includes some of the same programs as the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, but in a format that might be easier for some patients to use. NeedyMeds is an information clearinghouse and does not help with specific problems or provide individual searches for drug assistance programs.

BenefitsCheckUpRx
Web site: www.benefitscheckup.org

Provided by the National Council on the Aging, BenefitsCheckUpRx is an online resource for people 55 and older who have difficulty paying for their medicines. This resource includes more than 1,500 programs for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Just answer a few questions about your location, income, and medications to have this service find drug assistance programs available to you. The Web site also includes another questionnaire that helps you find programs to assist with rent, property taxes, meals and other needs.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Web site: www.medicare.gov
Phone: 1-800-633-4227 or 1-888-MEDICARE

The Federal government's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Web site identifies available drug assistance programs and can help you pick the right Medicare-approved prescription drug plan (Part D) based on location, income, and drugs you take.

Medicare Access for Patients-Rx (MAPRx)
Web site: www.maprx.info

Medicare Access for Patients-Rx (MAPRx) links you to information about the Medicare Part D Drug Program. It provides answers to frequently asked questions about the Medicare Prescription Drug Program, and has a state-by-state listing of other possible resources and programs.

Together Rx Access Card
Web site: www.together-rxaccess.com
Phone: 1-800-444-4106

The Together Rx Access Card was created to help individuals and families save on brand-name prescription drugs, other prescription products, and a wide range of generic drugs. To be eligible, you must be ineligible for Medicare, have no drug coverage, and have limited income.

HealthWell Foundation
Web site: www.healthwellfoundation.org
Phone: 1-800-675-8416

HealthWell Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization that helps qualified individuals who do not have the ability to pay for prescription drugs, insurance premiums and co-payments, and some other out-of-pocket health care costs. The program serves only those with certain health conditions, which are posted on the Web site. Only certain cancers are included in their coverage.

Patient Advocate Foundation's Co-Pay Relief Assistance Program
Web site: www.copays.org
Phone: 1-866-512-3861

The Patient Advocate Foundation's Co-Pay Relief Assistance Program helps patients who meet certain requirements pay for the prescriptions and treatments they need. This program is available only to individuals with certain medical conditions who also have insurance (including Medicare or Medicaid). Only certain cancers are included in this program.

Patient Services Incorporated
Web site: www.uneedpsi.org
Phone: 1-800-366-7741

Patient Services Incorporated (PSI) is a national, nonprofit organization that helps patients with certain expensive chronic illnesses and their families with health premiums and medicine co-payments to help improve their quality of life. Families requiring help with the high cost of their health insurance premiums or co-payments are assistance help based on the severity of medical and financial need. PSI also helps locate and purchase health insurance coverage. Only a few cancers are included in this program.

Patient Access Network Foundation
Web site: www.patientaccessnetwork.org
Phone: 1-866-316-7263

Patient Access Network Foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps underinsured patients who cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs for their treatment. The program assists patients with certain medical conditions who meet specific financial, insurance, and medical requirements (for instance, the drugs must be covered by the patients' insurance). Only certain cancers are included in this program.

Linking ARMS: Assistance and Resources Made Simple
Web site: www.cancercare.org
Phone: 1-800-813-4673

Provided by the CancerCare, Linking ARMS provides grants of up to $300 a year to low-income, underinsured, women with breast cancer to assist with the costs of certain oral medicines for breast cancer treatment, pain and nausea; lymphedema support and supplies; and durable medical equipment prescribed by a doctor.