In these econonmic times thousands, if not millions, of Americans are struggling with basic medical care. Many are faced with the choice of putting food on the table or medication. In truth, there have been times over the past two years where I have been faced with the same dilemma. All too often people choose to go off medication due to the hight cost, putting themselves and their family at risk.The biggest challenge is that these people make too much to qualify for public healthcare, but too little to be able to afford healthcare on their own. It's a major catch 22 and the recent health care bill just made the situation worse!
On with the Pay it forward story. I heard about a friend of my daughters who has a dibilitating anxiety condition. Without medication she cannot function. Unfortunately here insurance went away with the downturn in the economy so it's been a struggle maintaining medication. About two months ago she was able to quailfy for a county program that covered her medication. That lasted all of a month before they terminated her for pre-exsisting conditions.
Sadly she was faced with having to go off medications and was planning on becoming non-functioning. She had tried emailing Pfizer with no luck or response. With only two weeks of medication left, on a whim, I asked what medication she is on. Effexor XR. I searched Google and found a program where Pfizer offers $4.00 co-pays for qualified patients. Pfizer will cover the rest.
I sent the link and low and behold, it worked.
Turns out every major drug company has programs in place to help patients that can't afford medication. You have to dig a little bit to find it, but they exsist. Here are a few links that I found.
Pfizer - Patient Assistance Programs
Norvartis - Patient Assistance Now
Merck - Patient Assistance Programs
GlaxoSmithKline - Cares Program
Eli Lilly - Serving Patients/Patients Assistance Programs
Bristol-Myers Squibb - Patient Assistance Programs
Please add any others in the comment section below and I will add it to the list.
Sure felt good to be able to make a difference!
On with the Pay it forward story. I heard about a friend of my daughters who has a dibilitating anxiety condition. Without medication she cannot function. Unfortunately here insurance went away with the downturn in the economy so it's been a struggle maintaining medication. About two months ago she was able to quailfy for a county program that covered her medication. That lasted all of a month before they terminated her for pre-exsisting conditions.
Sadly she was faced with having to go off medications and was planning on becoming non-functioning. She had tried emailing Pfizer with no luck or response. With only two weeks of medication left, on a whim, I asked what medication she is on. Effexor XR. I searched Google and found a program where Pfizer offers $4.00 co-pays for qualified patients. Pfizer will cover the rest.
I sent the link and low and behold, it worked.
Turns out every major drug company has programs in place to help patients that can't afford medication. You have to dig a little bit to find it, but they exsist. Here are a few links that I found.
Pfizer - Patient Assistance Programs
Norvartis - Patient Assistance Now
Merck - Patient Assistance Programs
GlaxoSmithKline - Cares Program
Eli Lilly - Serving Patients/Patients Assistance Programs
Bristol-Myers Squibb - Patient Assistance Programs
Please add any others in the comment section below and I will add it to the list.
Sure felt good to be able to make a difference!
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