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Patient Assistance Programs

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Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs)

Patient assistance programs are usually sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and provide free or discounted medicines to low-income, uninsured and under-insured people who meet the guidelines. Eligibility criteria are different for every program.

Here are the steps to finding these programs on this website.

1. Look for your medicine.
   PAPs are found through the name of your medicine.
2. Click on Brand Name Drugs.
   Look for your medicine by clicking on its first letter in the alphabet bar. If it is not there, click on the Generic Name Drugs link.
3. Click on the name of the medicine.
   You will then see the program page where you'll find the details of the PAP.
   

   Tips On Using the Program Pages may be helpful.

4. Call the program.
   If you do not exactly fit the program's eligibility criteria, for any reason, the dosage listed is not yours or you have questions, call the program. Some programs will make exceptions and dosages change often.

If your medicine is not on either list, it's not available through a PAP at this time. Here are some things you can do:

• Check back on NeedyMeds regularly.
  The programs change often: drugs are added and dropped, dosages change, new programs sometimes appear.
• Look for PAPs for all your medicines.
  Look for programs for your less-expensive drugs to help your budget.
• Look for other types of assistance.
  • Disease-Based Assistance lists programs that provide a wide range of assistance for the costs of specific health problems.
  • State Programs are government-sponsored programs in each state that provide healthcare assistance.
  • Discount Drug Cards lists four categories of cards that can be used to buy medicine at a discount.

The Federal Poverty Guidelines and Percentages Over the Poverty Guidelines are useful pages when you are looking at the eligibility guidelines of a program.

Tips for Applying to PAPs

• If you have any questions, always call the program.
  Requirements, drugs, dosages, even programs change regularly so it's best to go directly to program for information. If you do not fit the guidelines but cannot afford the medicine, tell the representative. Some companies make hardship exceptions.
• Make it as easy as possible for the doctor's office.
  Fill out as much as you can including the doctor's address and phone number. Highlight the directions for the doctor and where he must sign. Give the doctor's office an addressed and stamped envelope to send in the application or highlight the fax number so it is easy to find.
• Plan ahead so you don't run out of medicine.
  When you send in your application, pay attention to the refill process. Each program is different but it can require a new application which takes time.
• Be neat and complete.
  Some programs are fussy about their applications. If something is unreadable or there is a blank, the application may be denied, which can delay the process of getting your medicine. Put "N/A" or "not applicable" in blanks that you cannot fill out to indicate that you read through the material and didn't just skip it. Make sure all the photocopies you send in are clean and readable.