Patient Assistance for Medication

Many drug companies offer Patient Assistance Programs (PAP) to clients who are generally uninsured and are in need of medication but cannot afford it on their own.

Branded Medication

• If you have a prescription you cannot afford and it is still a brand-name drug, find out which drug company supplies that prescription. Go to the company's website and look for its PAP and what the requirements are for it. Generally, companies request proof of income, signed documentation from you, a prescription and signed documentation from your doctor. It typically takes three to four weeks to be approved and medication is usually free.

Generic Medication

• If you have generic prescription, you must find a company such as Rx Outreach that offers a wide assortment of generic prescriptions for a low cost. The documentation and procedure is generally the same as it is for a drug company's PAP.

Other Sources

• Generally, at the end of the fall season or in the beginning of winter, grocery stores offer low-cost or free flu shots, which can help prevent the need for medication. Some grocery stores and pharmacies offer a selection of free antibiotics to clients with prescriptions, and low-cost generic medications. Clinics such as Planned Parenthood offer low-cost birth control prescription options on a sliding scale.