Drug Assistance Programs Can Help!

[icnmgrjill]

We've maintained a list of drug assistance programs on our site for a number of drugs! Please check it out at:

http://www.ic-network.com/drugassistance/

Jill :)

[Dixiefireball]

Thanks Jill for the update I think may people will find this site useful.
sending hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[marym]

Hi,

I'm a 64 year old woman diagnosed with IC, by a urologist, for a little over a year. I recently underwent CA surgery and therefore I cannot have systemic estrogen i.e. pills. I can have localized estrogen i.e. creams. My urologist wants me to have that estrogen cream as dryness and irritation occurr without it. In my case most of the pain is in the urethra. Therefore I need topical estrogen to that area as well as the bladder area, accessed vaginally.

I tried topical Premarin cream and it only casues more pain and irritation. It is the ph and/or the preservatives in it. It could be the mineral oil in it because that has stabalizers in it which have also caused me much pain. Therefore, I need to have estrogen in a neutral base without stabalizers/preservatives. This can be done by compounding pharmacies. I have contacted all the compounding pharmacies in Northern CA and none will bill MediCal as they say MediCal will not pay for any compounded prescriptions. When you are low income and have MediCal this is a problem.

Does anyone have an answer? Have we as a group, or anyone as an individual addressed this problem?

Thanks.

Mary

[Dixiefireball]

is MediCal medicare? if so medicare now offers a RX help. you may also be able to get medicaid if you are low income.
some churches may help you get your medicine also.
please look threw the link above and if you dont see anything there please pm me i will try to help you more.

http://www.ic-network.com/lowincome/

Rhonda

[Michelle in KC]

I've been getting help from drug assistance programs. I am now getting my Detrol LA and my Bextra and my Zoloft free. I encourage anyone to just ask your doctor about them. If he/she does not know about them, get the info and take it back to the office. They should be happy to sign the necessary papers for you. Michelle.

[Dixiefireball]

Very good advice Michelle thank you for shareing this with us.
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[vm]

Mary - Have you talked to MediCal about this or has your doctor spoken to them? Maybe they would make an exception if they understood the reason you need to have the compounded cream????? That the typical cream (non-compounded version) is a medical problem for you?

[shennan]

http://www.rxassist.org/pdfs/state_programs.pdf

go to the bottom of the page...


:)

[shennan]

http://www.ichelp.com/cafeica/Vol04No09.html#1.2

go to the bottom of the page.

[theclownster]

Thanks for reminding us of this information Jill. I am fortunate enough to have prescription insurance and it's getting to the point that I still can not afford my medications. As I am on more and more of them, even with the copay - it's a lot of money. I feel for all of you who are unable to get meds because of lack of coverage. It's a very difficult thing to deal with.
Hopefully the websites listed will be of assistance for all of you.

Hugs~
Jennifer

[Briza]

Even with my prescription drug plan Elmiron was going to cost over $700 a year. Luckily I found out that my insurance program (TASB--Texas Association of School Boards) has a mail order program called Advance PCS for long-term medications that will provide Elmiron for only $200 a year. Very affordable! Be sure to check if your insurance program offers anything like this.
If you belong to TASB, contact AdvancePCS at 1-866-273-5268
or see www.AdvanceRX.com for more information.

[Dixiefireball]

Thanks for sharing this information.

[redmowii]

I work in the medical field and am in charge of trying to get medicine for patients who don't have the money to pay for it. Usually how I go about it is going to a web site.
http://needymeds.com/
It has lots of info. about drugs that you can get directly from the manufacture for free. Usually patients have to meet a certain monitary criteria to be able to recive this kind of assistance. And usually it is the doctors office that has to call the company to start the application process. If you can't find the medicine under the Brand name sometimes you can find it under a genaric name. Also some doctors offices are more willing to try to find this kind of help then others. If you are unable to get assistance anywhere else, you might try bringing it up with your doctor.
redmowii

[Dixiefireball]

Yes i agree that needmeds is a great site and is very helpful.
Thanks for your input it always helps.
Since you work with this and if you have any other ideas on how to help people get there meds for half off or free PLEASE POST IT.
Thanks a million
Rhonda

[kadi]

Hi Jill,
Just wanted to say thank you for putting all this info in one simple location! My local doctor was telling me how sad he was for so many of his patients unable to afford the IC meds & I'm thrilled to be able to give him something that may help!
Kadi

[redmowii]

I thought of another way to get cheaper medicines. Some insurance plans have one pharmacy they contract with. Usually mail order. They require 90 days supply with 3 refills. You can get 3 months worth for one copay. I would call the number on your insurance card and see if they have any programs like this. Sometimes doctors office's know which pharmacy to go through to make meds cheaper for your specific insurance, but don't count on it. I work in one office and we accept probably on the higher side of 300 different plans.
If your insurance doesn't have a mail order pharmacy you can try shopping around. Most pharmacy's each charge a different amount for a specific drug, you can call all of your local pharmacy's and ask how much a perscription would cost. Some pharmacy's also match prices, and some pharmacy's have programs to help people with special monitary needs.
I know sometimes people mail order to Canada for perscriptions, because they are cheaper there. Some doctors are against this though. Canada has a system a lot like the FDA to control what is actually in the medicine, they also do testing like the USA. I know people order to Mexico, but I would not recommend that at all. Mexico doesn't have any system like the FDA to make sure medicines are all the same. You can never be sure what you are getting is what you ordered. If I find any other methods I'll let you all know.
Redmowii

[Dixiefireball]

I want to thank each and everyone of you for helping me get this information together for Jill to make the low income board so it was easier for each person to find easier please everyone remember I try to keep the low income board on the message board updated as offen as poss. if i find something with new funds i post it here on the boards for everyone to see.
There is also help on the low income board for others who are having a hard time making ends meat with help with there power bills houseing phone bills food housing medicine schooling. etc etc.
thanks everyone for helping with these boards.
if you find a link that will help please feel free to post it on the low income board.
Thanks
Rhonda

[Dixiefireball]

Thank you redmowii for your information.
much love sent to you.
Rhonda

[gloriabono68]

WOW i have been freaking out for several weeks now trying to figure out how in the world i was going to get any help with my medicines now that i have no insurance.......i am going to check into some of these sites and see what and how they work.......
thanks for the info
kristi

[marym]

If you have no insurance, you may be eligeable for medicare/mediCal or whatever federal/state assistance there is in your state. Look in the government pages for a listing under Health Services. This is better than drug company help as it covers all perscriptions (at least it does in CA). Or, do both as MediCal does not always cover new drugs or unusual ones. Even if MediCal says it does not cover your drug, appeal it. They will consult your doctor, and many times they will cover it.

Also, look on the home page of IC-network for disability/low income assistance.

Mary M

[lovethesouth]

Dear Marym, I am not sure, but isn't this Premarin gotten from pregnant mares urine? This was on 60 minutes some time ago. I found that the pill even caused me problems and discontinued it. Surely there is something else to take. They have patches now and I believe that, but cannot remember the name, that it is more normal estrogen than premarin.

[K9wife]

yes, Premarin IS from mare urin Pre (progesterone) mar (Mare) in (urine)
PREMARIN
Hmmm....wonder if female horses ever have hot flashes then???!!!??? LOL

[lovethesouth]

Found the word I was looking for - Estradiol.

[JaniceB]

I've also found needymeds.com very helpful. My husband gets his lipitor for free this way. I am in the process of getting my diagnosis, and am looking at getting on some drugs for pain, etc. . so all this info is very, very helpful. Also, always ask for samples. . depending on the drug, your dr may have plenty available - so at least you can get a trial period of the drug for free.
Janice

[JIMY]

I have a Drug Assistance Program, that will help anyone who is spending
more than $100 a month on medications, have no medication
insurance, couple who income is less than $2,000 a month,
a single person who income is less than $1,300 a month, Doctors
can help any patients who is eligible under our programs to get
their medications FREE for 6 months.

[quiltz]

Hi Kadi,
Not sure what the proper way is to add this ....I tried to PM to a couple of people last week but they must be dealing with issues of their own and I received no answer...... so:

This has been a big thing here in the New York area ... advertised on TV with Montel Williams helping to educate people. It looks like lots of individual assistance programs have joined together .... so take a look and please let me know what you find AND if it works for anyone needing help.

http://WWW.pparx.com

Partnership for Prescription Assistance ...

HTH .....Liz

PS:Lucky for me I just got the Medicare part D from AARP ...and so will be able to afford my Elmiron!! :woohoo:
There is also an area on the above site with information about the Medicare programs and which makes it easier for anyone on disability or retired to understand it!!

[amber sevy]

:woohoo: i just wanted to tell everyone that If you are thinking about trying any of the drug programs do it I just got back from being at my sisters house for a week and a letter and my drug card was in the mail. I have been approved for a year of free elmiron and the Duragesic patches. I am so excited I hope that it helps me get this pain under control. :woohoo:

[JaniceB]

Amber
That is great news! I am also getting Elmiron for free and my Vistaril. Its been such a huge relief because I could not afford Elmiron otherwise. And the nice thing about Elmiron, once you are approved, you are approved for a whole year, and they send out the refills (to your dr's office) automatically. (You don't have to re-apply every 90 days like with some of the programs).

I really hope you find they help you. I think Elmiron is helping me.
Janice

[Sassysi]

I simply cannot find an assistance program that will help since I have insurance. But Elmiron is moving up to Tier 3 (highest) copayment and will be over $45 a month, I can barely buy groceries let alone pay higher for RX! I dont know what to do. get off it I guess? But then what, deal with the problem? I cant afford to "experiement" with alternative/natural vitamins, etc. UGH!

[gloriabono68]

I feel your pain........my medicaid is fixing to be gone since my husband finally found a job, alas no insurance and we cannot afford insurance that will cover me.......so I take enablex and urelle and those two alone is going to cost me 312.00 a month........everything i take would be like 629.00 a month ......i have no clue what to do and i am freaking out........'
kristi

[Judy777]

I was looking at some of the web sites for drug assistance. I came across this one and thought it maybe helpful to someone.

http://www.freemedicineprogram.com/available_medicine/e

Elmiron was one of the drugs on the list. These medicines are available at no cost to those that qualify for prescription drug manufacturers patient assistance program.

Judy

[AngelEyes]

I wonder if anyone can help. I am living in New Zealand and when I asked my doctor about Elmiron he couldn't find it on his list of available drugs in New Zealand. I left it at that as I had been given a contact in Australia. I cannot afford to import Elmiron and therefore wondered if anyone would know if or who I could contact regarding assistance in getting Elmiron into New Zealand at an affordable price. Or even if any companies in New Zealand offer a drug assitstance program.

Any info would be much appreciated. Am in a V BAD flare and have just started temp work! It's killing me.

[bridget29]

i know longer qualify for medicaid so i cannot see my doctor anymore nor can i get my medicine is there any other way to get help lost in new orleans with no insurance and know clinic anymore after the hurricane

[carjet]

Hello-

I work for an organization that helps with reimbursement issues and patient assistance programs. Although I do not specifically worked with IC drugs, I myself have IC, so I feel I can try to help. I can tell you that I have had no luck with Anthem covering Lyrica for IC, so if anyone has, please let me know. I will be glad to help with other issues though- If anyone has any questions about how to get your doctor to submit a prior authorization, appeals, or help find a patient assistance program, I will be glad to try to help. I may not be able to tell you if your specific insurance plan covers you drugs or not, but I can help you to find out how. Here is a link for a patient assistance program for Lyrica (I did not see it on the IC drug assistance list): https://www.pfizerpro.com/content/patient_assistance_programs.jsp

Feel free to send me a private message.

Thanks,
Carjet

[bob04951]

Just want to rejuvinate this thread, as I'm sure a lot of us are struggling with drug costs. We are in a tough situation with pain meds, fentanyl patches and oxycodone are costing us over $650 a month. We have just a few too many dollars in bank to qualify for government help, but we have a mortgage. Bob's disability covers the mortgage, but nothing else. So we draw on savings. We get a small discount from Walgreens (WOW $18) but this will be a huge issue in a year when our savings are exhausted. With all of his other meds for other conditions, we would be in the donut hole in about 6 weeks, so Part D seems ridiculous. Anybody out there getting any help with pain meds through any other programs? Would appreciate anything you've got. Most pain meds seem to be nixxed by the pharmecuetical companies as far as patient assistance. Thanks. :pray: Jill, wife of Bob

[Sarah85]

I can also sympathize everyone! I have insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield, but also have high copays. My meds are costing me several hundreds of dollars each month here lately. And of course, Blue Cross doesn't cover compounds. Ugh.

[RagnarsCricket]

I just left the pharmacy leaving some of my prescriptions there - my hormonal/vaginal cream and my beloved Elmiron. The cream was to be $195 and the Elmiron was going to be $400. My insurance does not cover it at all. No exceptions. I am so frustrated at this moment. I am going to start checking on these programs now and see what I can find out. I cannot afford $400 a month for Elmiron. My husband and I are not working.

[RagnarsCricket]

After spending $85 for 30 pills of Detrol LA (with insurance) and coming on here...I found a $20.00 rebate for the Detrol I just paid for. :) Thanks so much. Link is below. Hope this helps someone! :)

https://www.detrolla.com/rebate.aspx