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Resources for Finding Low-Cost Health Insurance & Lowest-Cost Medications
Some of you may know of clients, relatives, or friends who are having difficulty finding health insurance or affording needed medications, perhaps using smaller doses or going without because their resources are needed for rent, etc.
I've gathered names, brief descriptions, and links to sites that can be helpful in locating the lowest price for a particular medication—available either online or at the pharmacies near where you live.
There are also sites for locating free medications for those who lack money to pay for them.
Finally, there are sites for locating affordable health insurance.
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Finding the Lowest-Price for Meds Online or in Your Area (includes finding free meds for those who can't afford to pay)
GOODRx allows you to type in the name of a medication and a city or zip code, which produces a search of the prices of that medication at the pharmacies in that area. Here is the link to GoodRx.
NeedyMeds.com has collected information about opportunities for those with special financial needs. Here is how they describe what they do: "In this country there are many millions of people with no health insurance. There are many more people who, even though they have insurance, don't have the money to buy their medications. There is help available for these people. The Solution: Many drug manufacturers have what's called Patient Assistance Programs . These programs are designed to help those who can't afford their medicines obtain them at no cost or low cost. Unfortunately, many people, including doctors, nurses, social workers, and patients, don't know that these programs exist. Our goal is to solve this problem. Our website contains the latest, most complete, and most accurate information on patient assistance programs available. We regularly contact every drug company to check on the accuracy of our data. The information we have is obtained directly from the drug manufacturer." Here is the link to NeedyMeds.com.
RxAssist provides information about programs for low-cost or free medications. This site also provides additional information such as the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Here's their description of what they do: "Patient assistance programs are run by pharmaceutical companies to provide free medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medicine. RxAssist offers a comprehensive database of these patient assistance programs, as well as practical tools, news, and articles so that health care professionals and patients can find the information they need. All in one place." Here is the link to RxAssist.
TRICARE For Life (TFL) "provides expanded medical coverage for Medicare-eligible uniformed services retirees, including retired National Guard members and reservists; Medicare-eligible family members and widow/widowers; and certain former spouses if they were eligible for TRICARE before age 65." Here is the link to Tricare For Life.
Benefits Check-up is an interactive site run by the National Council on Aging. Here is how they describe what they do: "BenefitsCheckUp helps thousands every day to find programs for people ages 55 and over that may pay for some of their costs of prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other essential items or services." Here is the link to Benefits Check-up.
Medicare.gov is "the official U.S. government's site for people with Medicare." Here is the link for Medicare.gov.
HealthCare.gov: If you already have coverage and want to change but it's not during the enrollment period, "you can change only if you've had a life event — like losing health coverage, getting married, or having a baby — that qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period." Here is the link for HealthCare.gov.
RxHope is a patient assistance program that helps physicians and others who prescribe medication to apply for, obtain and track requests for no cost medications for their patients when they are unable to afford them and do not have access to prescription insurance or other government-funded programs. According to the site, "RxHope is the only patient assistance Internet initiative financially supported by PhRMA (Pharmaceutical and Research Manufacturers of America) and participating pharmaceutical companies." Here is the link to RxHope.
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance "brings together America’s pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that’s right for them. Many will get them free or nearly free. Its mission is to increase awareness of patient assistance programs and boost enrollment of those who are eligible. Through this site, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a single point of access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.... The Partnership for Prescription Assistance will help you find the program that's right for you, free of charge. Remember, you will never be asked for money by a PPA Call Center representative, or on this Web site." Here is the link to Partnership for Prescription Assistance.
HealthWarehouse.com "is America's only Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPs) and mail-order pharmacy licensed and/or authorized in all 50 states…. We are focused on the growing out of pocket prescription market, with a mission to provide affordable healthcare to every American. We take pride in providing customers with personalized service….. All our products, prescription drugs and over-the-counter items, are FDA approved and legal for sale in the United States. In addition to human medications, we also carry medications you'll find at your veterinarian's office." Here is the link to HealthWarehouse.com
My Canadian Pharmacy: Prescription Savings Program Together Rx Access "helps clients all over the world to find best prices for meds ensuring high ethical standards and user's confidentiality.... The first brick-and-stone drugstore under our brand was established in 1988 in Quesnel community (BC). In the mid-2000s, our management decided to expand Together Rx Access activities to the rapidly developing area — e-commerce. We became distributors of quality generic drugs in the cyberspace." Here is the link to Together Rx Access.
Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs "is a public education project. It will help you talk to your doctor about prescription drugs, and find the most effective and safe drugs that also give you the best value for your health care dollar.... You can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars if you and your doctor choose a Consumer Reports Best Buy Drug over a newer, highly advertised alternative." Here is the link to Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs.
SelectCare Benefits Network (SCBN) "is one of America's leading Patient Advocacy Organizations that specializes in patient assistance programs (PAP). SCBN gives prescription drug assistance by helping it's member patients locate, qualify for and successfully access hundreds of free prescription programs on an ongoing basis for only a fraction of the would be retail costs for those prescription medicines." Here is the link to SelectCare Benefits Network.
Finding Health Insurance
eHealthInsurance has created a web site that enables people to get quotes, compare plans, and apply online. According to the site, "Upon visiting eHealthInsurance, you can find the widest selection of affordable health insurance plans (Individual Health Insurance, Family Health Insurance, Self Employed Health Insurance, Small Business Group Health Insurance, HMOs, PPOs, Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Short-term Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Life Insurance, etc.) available in one place. The health insurance plans we feature are offered by medical insurance industry leaders including health insurance plans from Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, BlueCross BlueShield of Texas, CELTIC, HealthNet, Humana, Golden Rule, Kaiser Permanente of Georgia, Oxford Health Plans, UNICARE, HealthPartners, and PacifiCare of Colorado. By providing choices in both health insurance companies and types of health insurance plans, combined with instant health insurance quotes, we enable you to find the health insurance plans that suit your individual health insurance needs and budget goals." Here is the link to eHealthInsurance.
Insure Kids Now is the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' resource to help ensure that infants, children, and teenagers have health insurance. Here is a passage from their web site: "You work hard to provide for your children and want to make sure they grow up strong, smart and healthy. But like many parents whose children don't have health insurance, you worry about taking care of them. Now, you may have one less thing to worry about. Your state, and every state in the nation, has a health insurance program for infants, children and teens. The insurance is available to children in working families, including families that include individuals with a variety of immigration status. ( Materials are available that explain more about immigration and children's health insurance.) For little or no cost, this insurance pays for: doctor visits, prescription medicines, hospitalizations, and much more. Kids that do not currently have health insurance are likely to be eligible, even if you are working. The states have different eligibility rules, but in most states, uninsured children 18 years old and younger, whose families earn up to $34,100 a year (for a family of four) are eligible." Here is the link to Insure Kids Now.