How to Get Free Medicine for Children

More than 8 million children in the United States lack health insurance, and many more millions are underinsured, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The lack of adequate coverage coupled with financial concerns make it difficult for many families to afford prescription or over-the-counter medications for their children. Fortunately, there are many resources for finding free or reduced-cost medications for children. Local government agencies and private charities can help you locate and enroll in programs that provide prescription assistance for children in low-income or otherwise financially troubled families.

Things You'll Need

• Prescription
• Your family's financial information

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Instructions

• 1

  Request medication samples from your child's pediatrician. Pharmaceutical company representatives frequently give physicians trial-sized samples of various prescription and over-the-counter medications to pass on to patients.

• 2

  Ask the pharmaceutical company that manufactures your child's medications if you qualify for assistance. Pfizer Helpful Answers, for example, offers assistance programs for the uninsured and underinsured who need help getting Pfizer medicines.

• 3

  Check with your local welfare office for your family's eligibility for government assistance. State Medicaid programs and State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP) cover prescription drugs, and several also pay for some over-the-counter medications. SCHIP programs are funded by the federal government and are administered by the states to cover low-income families with children.

• 4

  Contact your local children's hospital for information about medication assistance programs. If the hospital does not have a program, staff members should be able to point you in the right direction.

• 5

  Contact local charitable organizations about assistance for your family. Begin with The United Way, an umbrella organization for various charities.

• 6

  Apply online at SelectCare Benefits Network (www.scbn.org). This patient assistance program provides aid in locating, qualifying for and accessing free prescription medication.