The American Cancer Society understands that prescription drugs can cost a lot, especially those used to treat cancer. We are committed to helping people find ways to get the prescription drugs they need at prices they can manage.

There are many public and private resources that can help people with the cost of their medicines. Some of these programs have options for buying drugs at discounted prices. Others help people who cannot afford any part of their medicine costs.

To help you find the best option for getting your medicine, we’ve spoken to pharmacists and drug companies and searched the Internet for information.

There are drug assistance programs for people who:

• need financial help
• are age 55 or older
• have Medicare or are eligible for Medicare
• have no prescription drug coverage and live on a limited income
• have insurance
• want to find out more about Medicaid
• want to save money on prescription drugs
• want to buy drugs online

All of these programs have certain requirements that you must meet to get help from the program. You will need to give them some basic information about yourself and your finances. All the programs will make you complete an application form, and most will require some information from your doctor. We give you step-by-step advice in the section, "If you are planning to apply for a Patient Drug Assistance Program."

If you need financial help

Partnership for Prescription Assistance

Web site: www.pparx.org
Toll-free number: 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669)

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) program is a group of drug companies, health care providers, patient advocacy organizations, and community groups. They help people who don't have prescription coverage find assistance programs that are right for them. There are more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 180 programs offered by drug companies. They also have information on some free drug discount cards funded by private companies, which can help reduce your costs for certain brand or generic drugs.

To find programs that may be right for you, call the toll-free number or fill out the confidential online form. You will be asked about:

• the drugs you take
• your age
• where you live
• your annual income
• number of people living in your household
• insurance and prescription drug coverage, if you have it

If you fill out the online form, your answers are quickly compared to the requirements for the different programs, and you will be able to see a list of programs that might be able to help you. From there, you can download each program's application form and find out how to apply.

Both phone and online services are available in Spanish or English.

Your doctor or nurse can also use the Web site to find programs for you. They may be able to complete the required application forms for you and send them by e-mail or fax.

NeedyMeds, Inc.

Web site: www.needymeds.org
Telephone: 215-625-9609 (voicemail for people without Internet access)

The NeedyMeds Web site provides information and applications for many drug assistance programs. It includes some of the same programs as the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, but in a format that might be simpler for some people to use. NeedyMeds, Inc. offers only information. It does not help with problems or help you search for drug assistance programs.

If you are age 55 or older

BenefitsCheckUp

Web site: www.benefitscheckup.org (select "Find Benefits Programs")

Provided by the National Council on the Aging, BenefitsCheckUp is an online resource for people age 55 and older who find it hard to pay for their medicines. This resource includes programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. By answering questions about where you are, your income, and your medicines, this service can find drug assistance programs that are available to you. The Web site also includes another questionnaire that searches for programs to help with rent, food, property taxes, and other needs.

If you have Medicare or are eligible for Medicare

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Web site: www.medicare.gov
Toll-free number: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (English- and Spanish-speaking staff are available at this number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.)

The federal government Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Web site can help you pick the right Medicare-approved prescription drug plan (Part D) based on where you live, your income, and the drugs you take. You can join a Medicare prescription drug (Part D) plan if you have Medicare Part A and/or Part B.

You may qualify for "Extra Help" if you have very limited income and assets but don't get Medicaid. If you qualify for Extra Help, you may not have to pay a premium, deductible, or co-payments for Medicare Part D. You can apply or get more information about this by calling Social Security -- see the Additional resources section below. (If you already have Medicaid, you automatically get Extra Help and do not need to apply.)

If you're enrolled in a state pharmacy assistance program, including Medicaid, you can still get a Medicare Part D card. If you have prescription drug coverage through your current health insurance or you get discounts on your prescriptions through other programs, you should review your coverage closely to see if the Medicare drug plan will save you more money on your prescriptions.

Medicare Access for Patients Rx

Web site: www.maprx.info

Medicare Access for Patients Rx (MAPRx) links you to information about Medicare Part D, also called the Medicare Prescription Drug Program. It answers common questions about Medicare Part D, and has a state-by-state listing of other possible resources and programs.

Although MAPRx does not directly serve Medicare recipients, it is a good source of information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicare Rights Center, Center for Medicare Advocacy, and many other organizations and agencies. Free fact sheets can be downloaded from the Web site or from related Web site links.

If you have limited income and no drug coverage

Together Rx Access Card

Web site: www.together-rxaccess.com
Toll-free number: 1-800-444-4106

The Together Rx Access Card was created to help people who do not have prescription drug coverage. You can use the card to save on certain brand-name prescription drugs, some generic drugs, and other prescription products. The Together Rx Access Card is not part of Medicare or Medicare Part D. It is not medical insurance, but a special discount card that costs you nothing.

To get a card, all of the following must be true for you:

• you are not eligible for Medicare
• you have no prescription drug coverage (public or private)
• your household income is equal to or less than $45,000 for a single person, $60,000 for a family of 2, $75,000 for a family of 3, $90,000 for a family of 4, and $105,000 for a family of 5 (income limits may be higher in Alaska and Hawaii)
• you are a legal United States resident

The Web site and telephone assistance are in English and Spanish.

Other drug discount cards

There are several other companies and foundations that offer drug discount cards. The cards offer the user discounts on certain brand name prescription drugs. Some offer discounts on a few generic drugs as well.

There are different limits and requirements on who can get a card. The cards also discount different drugs. Contact the Partnership for Prescription Assistance or NeedyMeds (see above) to find other drug discount cards. One or more of them may be helpful to you, depending on which prescription drugs you take.

These cards are not insurance, and they are not part of Medicare Part D. They offer limited discounts on certain drugs, which can help some people.

Choosing a drug discount card

Look at all the costs of the card. Some cards say they are free, but charge prescription shipping and handling fees that can cost you more than the discount. Some discount cards have yearly fees up to $100 or more. And some companies that say they offer free drugs actually charge a processing fee for each prescription. These costs can add up quickly.

Find out about shipping fees, annual fees, and processing fees before you sign up for a card. If you're trying to save money, it's probably best not to get a card that wants money from you.

If you find a free card, compare the cost of the medicines that you actually take. Find out if the medicines you take are discounted. If you have more than one card, your pharmacist can often tell you the cheapest way to get your medicine.

Drug discount programs

Chain store prescription discounts

For a 1-month supply, some large drugstore and discount chains offer certain generic prescriptions for $4 or other special rates. You may need to call around to a number of local pharmacies to find out the least costly source for your medicine. Talk with your doctor or office nurse to be sure you know the name of your drug, how much of the drug is in a dose, and the number of doses in a month's supply.

If you have health insurance

HealthWell Foundation

Web site: www.healthwellfoundation.org
Toll-free number: 1-800-675-8416

HealthWell Foundation is a non-profit group that helps certain people who cannot pay for their prescription drugs, insurance premiums, and co-payments of private insurance, employer-sponsored insurance plans, Medicare, or Medicaid. It also can help with some other out-of-pocket health care costs.

The program serves only people with the health conditions listed on their Web site. Only a few types of cancer are included in their coverage. Types of help may be limited, even to those who qualify and have a condition that they cover.

Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief Assistance Program

Web site: www.copays.org
Toll-free number: 1-866-512-3861

The Patient Advocate Foundation's Co-Pay Relief Assistance Program helps people who meet certain requirements pay for the prescriptions and treatments they need. This program is only for people with certain medical conditions who already have insurance (including Medicare or Medicaid). Only certain types of cancer are included in the program.

The Web site and telephone assistance are in English and Spanish.

Patient Services Incorporated

Web site: www.uneedpsi.org
Toll-free number: 1-800-366-7741

Patient Services Incorporated (PSI) is a national, non-profit group that helps people with certain chronic illnesses and their families with health insurance premiums and medicine co-payments. Only people with a few types of cancer are included in this program. People who have these conditions and need help paying health insurance premiums or co-payments are helped based on their medical and financial need. PSI also helps people find and pay for health insurance coverage.

Patient Access Network Foundation

Web site: www.panfoundation.org
Toll-free number: 1-866-316-7263

Patient Access Network Foundation is a non-profit group that helps some under-insured people who cannot afford the co-payments or deductibles for prescriptions covered by their insurance. The program helps people with certain medical conditions who meet their financial, insurance, and medical requirements. Only a few types of cancer are included in their program.

If you are interested in getting Medicaid

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Web site: www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicaidGenInfo

Medicaid is a federally funded, state-run program that helps people and families who have very limited incomes and resources. It pays for health care costs, including doctor visits, hospital visits, and prescription drugs. Income cut-offs, asset limits, and benefits vary from state to state. In some states, it may have different names (TennCare, Medi-Cal, etc.) Contact your State Health Department by phone for more information. (It is listed in the blue pages of your local phone book.) You can find your local office by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/locator or calling 1-800-772-1213.

If you want to save money on prescription drugs

When you buy medicines, there are some ways to cut costs:

• Are you over age 50? AARP offers discounts on mail-in ordered drugs.
• Are you a member of a managed care health program? Consider a 90-day supply of your medicine rather than a one-month supply. You'll pay one co-payment instead of 3.
• Is there a generic brand of your prescribed drug? A generic brand might cost you less.

If you are looking at getting a discount prescription card, here are some things to think about:

• Are the prescription drugs you need covered by the discount card?
• What prices does the discount card offer for your medicines?
• Are the prices lower than other discounts (such as senior discounts) already offered by your pharmacy?
• Is there a charge or fee for the card? If so, how much?
• Are there processing fees for prescriptions?
• Does your pharmacy accept the discount card?

If you are thinking about buying drugs online

The American Cancer Society does not have an official policy on buying drugs online or in other countries, but you might find this information helpful.

Buying prescription drugs online can save about 20% to 30%, but there is no way to guarantee the product's safety. If you buy medical products online, be aware that:

• Buying medicines from an illegal Web site puts you at risk. You may get a contaminated or fake product, the wrong product, an incorrect dose, or no product at all.

• Taking an unsafe medicine puts you at risk for harmful drug interactions and other serious health outcomes.

• Getting a prescription drug by filling out a questionnaire without seeing a doctor can be very risky to your health. When you fill out a questionnaire, the answers often do not give a health care professional enough information to decide a drug is right for you, safe for you to use, or whether another treatment may be better, or if you have an underlying medical condition that may make using that drug harmful to you. The American Medical Association has found that this practice is generally below the standard for medical care.

Consider these tips when buying health products online:

• Contact the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (at www.nabp.net or 847-391-4406) to find out if a Web site is a licensed pharmacy in good standing.

• Don't buy from sites that offer to: prescribe a prescription drug for the first time without a physical exam; sell a prescription drug without a prescription; or sell drugs not approved by FDA

• Don't do business with sites that do not have a registered pharmacist to answer questions.

• Avoid sites that do not identify with whom you are dealing and do not provide a U.S. address and phone number to contact if there's a problem.

• Look for easy-to-find and easy-to-understand privacy and security policies. Don't give out personal information (social security number, date of birth, credit card number, or health history) unless you are sure that the site will protect them. Make sure the site will not share your information with others without your permission.

• It is not legal to import drugs bought from foreign Web sites. The risks are greater, and very little can be done if you get ripped off. And be aware that some Web sites do not tell the truth about which country they ship from.

• Talk to your health care professional before using any medicines for the first time.

• See the "Additional resources" section for information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on how to safely order drugs online.

There are also Web sites that use fraud to get people looking for cheaper drugs to buy other things. They often set up outside the United States, which makes it hard for U.S. authorities to track them down despite the fact that they violate U.S. laws and safety regulations:

• Beware of sites that advertise a "new cure" for a serious illness or a quick cure-all for a wide range of illnesses.

• Be careful of sites that use pictures and impressive-sounding words to hide their lack of good science and careful studies.

• Avoid sites that claim the government, the medical profession, or research scientists have worked together to keep people from finding out about or using a product.

• Steer clear of sites that offer stories claiming amazing results as their main proof that their product works. These stories are usually impossible to verify; and even if they are true, they do not mean that the product caused the good outcome.

For more information about products that are not part of mainstream health care, see our document Complementary and Alternative Methods for Cancer Management.

Other ideas to explore

Ask your doctor or cancer team for a referral to a social worker at your clinic or hospital. Sometimes social workers know of local resources, and they are often aware of requirements for help from your state.

You might be able to find other public and private resources on your own, including:

• federal programs for military personnel or veterans
• state programs for seniors, disabled, or low income people
• county, city, or community programs
• churches and religious or charity groups
• patient advocacy groups

You might want to look on the Internet, in a phone book, or talk to others about resources in your area. Ask agencies about drug assistance programs. Even if they have none themselves, they may be able to direct you to an agency that does.

If you are planning to apply for a Patient Drug Assistance Program

Please know that each pharmaceutical (drug) company with a Patient Assistance Program sets requirements for its own program. The requirements vary from one company to the next. But in general, you are likely to qualify if:

• You are not covered by a private insurance plan that pays for your prescription drugs.
• You do not qualify for any government (state or federal) program that will pay for your prescription drugs.
• Payment for your prescription drugs at the retail price will cause you a financial hardship.
• You complete their application process and give the company all the required information.

Some programs allow your doctor to simply write a letter stating that you have a financial hardship. This is where your doctor can play a key role in the application process.

How to apply for a Drug Assistance Program

Get copies of the application forms.

First you will need to get an application for each assistance program to which you wish to apply. If you are taking more than one drug, you can apply for more than one program. (You can get the applications by printing them from the Web sites or calling the phone numbers listed in the section "If you need financial help.")

Follow instructions carefully.

After you have the application forms, read and follow the instructions on each form very carefully. For the most part, they will need your name, address, and contact information.

Some forms request proof of income, and you must provide this to get help. It can usually be your paycheck stubs for the past 3 months, last year's income tax form, a social security benefit letter, etc.

You must answer each question. If you do not, the application will be returned to you.

Ask your doctor to help.

Take each application form to your doctor. He or she will need to fill in medical information, including a prescription for your drugs. Sometimes your doctor will only have to write a letter on his or her stationery explaining why you need help.

Mail the forms to the drug companies.

Be sure that your doctor's office mails the forms to each drug company. If you mail the forms yourself, please be sure to include the prescriptions with the application.

The drug company will review and decide whether or not to approve your application. If approved, the drugs are mailed within a few weeks, usually to your doctor's office, at no cost to you. Your doctor will give them to you.

Re-apply for refills.

To keep the supply of drugs coming, you will need to re-apply along with a new prescription from your doctor a few weeks before you run out of the drug. Some drug companies will include a renewal application in your shipment; with others you might have to call for a renewal form. It's up to you to re-submit your request in time.

Helpful tips

• Remember that drug companies rely on your doctor's recommendations, so your doctor plays a key role in your acceptance. If your doctor does not know about these programs, ask him or her to call the director of the assistance program you are looking at.

• Make a copy of all the forms and letters before they are mailed. Keep your copy in a safe place so that you can use it to fill out your renewal request.

• If a drug company does not approve your application, ask your doctor to prescribe a different or generic medicine, and then re-apply to the new drug company.

If you don't live in the United States

If you live outside the USA, but want to fill prescriptions in the USA for drugs that you cannot get in your country

To get a prescription filled in the United States, a doctor licensed in the U.S. must actually write the prescription. So if you live abroad, you must first get a prescription from a licensed doctor in the U.S. If this is not possible, you can try contacting the drug company to see if there is any way for you to get the drug in the country where you live.

Additional resources

More information from your American Cancer Society

The following related information may also be helpful to you. These materials may be ordered from our toll-free number, 1-800-227-2345.

• Health Insurance and Financial Assistance for the Cancer Patient (also available in Spanish)

• Financial Guidance for Cancer Survivors and Their Families: In Treatment (also available in Spanish)

• Financial Guidance for Cancer Survivors and Their Families: Advanced Illness

• Financial Guidance for Cancer Survivors and Their Families: Off Treatment

• Medicare Part D: Things People with Cancer May Want To Know

• Children Diagnosed with Cancer: Financial and Insurance Issues

• Clinical Trials: State Laws Regarding Insurance Coverage

• Compassionate Drug Use

• Off-Label Drug Use

• After Diagnosis: A Guide for Patients and Families (also available in Spanish)

National organizations and Web sites*

Americans with Disabilities Act
Toll-free number: 1-800-514-0301
TTY: 1-800-514-0383
Web site: www.ada.gov
Offers free information online and booklets you can order which tell you more about staying employed when you need special help to do your job

Association of Community Cancer Centers
Web site: www.accc-cancer.org
Has lists of patient resources, travel assistance, and other financial help

Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC)
Toll-free number: 1-866-843-2572 (leave a number for a call back)
Web site: www.cancerlegalresourcecenter.org
Free confidential information on health insurance coverage, managed care, denial of benefits, Medicare and Medicaid, as well as government benefits and other legal issues

Department of Health and Human Services -- HHS
Toll-free number: 1-877-696-6775
Web site: www.hhs.gov
Information on Medicaid can be found at: www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicaidGenInfo

Health Insurance Info
Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
Web site: http://healthinsuranceinfo.net
Free online information about health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, how to avoid medical debt, and state-by-state guides to health insurance rights and options

Medicare Hotline
Toll-free number: 1-800-633-4227
Web site: www.medicare.gov
Has information on Medicare in general, as well as Medicare Part D (Prescription drug coverage) and keeping costs down during the Part D gap in some of the plans

Social Security Administration (SSA)
Toll-free number: 1-800-772-1213
TTY: 1-800-325-0778
Web site: www.socialsecurity.gov
For information on Extra Help with prescription drugs for those with limited income on Medicare but who do not qualify for Medicaid

U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits, Security Administration (EBSA)
Toll-free number: 1-866-444-3272
Web site: www.dol.gov/ebsa
Find information on job-based insurance and benefits, such as keeping your insurance when you're no longer employed, taking leave time for illness, and keeping your job when you have a disability

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Toll-free number: 1-888-463-6332 (1-888-INFO-FDA)
Web site: www.fda.gov
Buying Prescription Medicines Online: A Consumer Safety Guide can be ordered by phone or read online at: www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/ucm080588.htm
The Possible Dangers of Buying Medicines over the Internet can be ordered by phone or read online: www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048396.htm

*Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by the American Cancer Society.

Other publications

Landay, David. Be Prepared: The Complete Financial, Legal, and Practical Guide for Living with Cancer, HIV, and other Life-challenging Conditions. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998.

No matter who you are, we can help. Contact us anytime, day or night, for information and support. Call us at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

Last Medical Review: 8/18/2009
Last Revised: 8/18/2009