Many people have difficulty affording medications. This is often the case even for those who DO have health insurance. Sometimes, it is a case of people needing to take numerous medications for various illnesses and those copays can add up in a hurry. Other times, it is simply a matter of being unable to afford the copay because of financial hardship. It’s important for people to know, however, that there are resources available that may not readily be general knowledge. Some people may have doctors who are aware of these resources, as I am, but many doctors may not be aware or don’t have the time to find these resources. I always encourage patients to join the process of advocating for themselves. One very important website is Needy Meds, an organization whose website is a clearinghouse of links to other websites, including drug company patient assistance sites, sites to purchase generic medications at a greatly reduced cost, as well as links to national and state level assistance foundations and other resources based on illness. There are also links to programs to help pay for MRI & CT scans as well as camps, retreats and scholarships at this website. Browse their website at http://www.needymeds.org/. There are links to download various patient assistance forms that patients can either e-mail, fax or download and print out to bring to their doctors. It’s also important to know that most pharmaceutical companies have patient assistance programs that allow a patient access to brand name medications at no cost. In most cases this is the case ONLY if a patient does not have insurance. Also remember that doctor’s offices often have sample medications, but before taking one that may be very expensive and often not allowed by your insurance without prior authorization you should ask your doctor about the supply and the cost if the drug cannot be covered by insurance. It would be problematic to start a medication with a 3-4 week supply (often enough in many cases with antidepressants, for example, to establish that it is effective) only to find out it won’t be affordable or available once prescriptions are sent to your pharmacy.
For those of you who live in the southern Chester County area of Pennsylvania, also know that there is an excellent clinic in West Chester that provides free or steeply discounted medical and dental services for those without insurance – Community Volunteers in Medicine (610-836-5990). Visit their website at: http://www.cvim.org/. There are clinics like this all across the country. Local hospital residency programs also run low cost clinics staffed by residents who are under the supervision of attending physicians and are often a place to receive excellent, often cutting edge care.
When a person is ill, whether it is a mental illness or a different medical illness, one of the most important things a person needs is hope – hope that care will be accessible AND affordable. It’s a shame that insurance may guarantee the former but not the latter, because without the latter things can become downright discouraging and/or demoralizing very quickly. Using resources like these and others that you might find is a way to become more empowered in your own health care. Remember, your care should be a partnership between you and your doctor. If your doctor is not aware of these resources, tell him or her. It’s your chance to educate your doctor as part of an ongoing relationship in which you should always be an equal partner.