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Help for Prescription Drugs Expense

By: Kirby Horton


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It's a choice no one should need to make - spend money on rent and purchase food or get their much needed medicines. Yet many times it is a decision Americans, particularly older Americans, have to make.Over 47 million US citizens do not have health insurance, and millions more have limited coverage. Many Americans just can't afford heath insurance, and, if they are able to, they don't have the money to purchase their medicines.. There is assistance available for many citizens who cannot afford their prescriptions.. These programs, often referred to as patient assistance programs (PAPs), are designed to assist people get their prescriptions at no charge or very low cost.

Patients who need help with their prescription drugs can get it with prescription assistance programs. Since each pharmaceutical company lays out its own rules and guidelines, all are different. All have income guidelines - but they vary considerably. Each drug company selects which drugs are available on their programs and how long an individual can get assistance. The pharmaceutical companies also have a different set of rules on how often the individual needs to re-apply. Sometimes a medicine or a certain dosage of that medicine will be on a program, then off, and then back on again. Or one dose of the medicine will be on the program and a different dose won’t be.

At times lack of their physician's cooperation can put an end to a person's ability to enroll in a program. So many times I hear from patients whose doctors just will not sign the enrollment forms - or charge a fee to do it. What could you do when that occurs? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Complete the form accurately. In addition to completing the patient's section, you should also fill in as much of the physician's section as you can. This may include the physician's name and address, phone number, etc.

2. Take everything to the physician that is needed. For example, some PAPs ask for proof of income. If so, attach whatever documents are required.

3. Have envelopes pre-addressed to the drug companies with the appropriate postage.

4. do not expect your physician to complete the enrollment form immediately. A busy physician may not have time to read the form while you are there.

5. If you encounter resistance, tell your doctor that without his/her assistance, you won't be able to get the medicines he/she is prescribing. Be honest and assertive.

6. If that isn't effective, you will have to find a physician more sympathetic to your cause and willing to help you.

There are firms that offer this service for a price. They will coordinate the process between you, your physicians and the drug companies.
They do charge a fee and the charges differ. Some companies charge a per prescription fee while others charge a flat amount per month regardless of the number of prescriptions. The depth and quality of their services will differ as well. Some will just provide the basic paperwork and leave you to manage the process. Other companies offer a complete and total solution.Some of these programs provide a complete turnkey solution.

For those patients that just have one or two medicines from one doctor and have the organizational skills and patience, then the do it yourself route is probably the better way to go. If you have many prescriptions that you need and are not very good with the entire paperwork process, then you should probably employ the services of a professional. After all, most people hire a realtor to sell their home, an accountant to complete their taxes and a mechanic to fix their automobile. Surely obtaining ones much needed prescription medicine is worth the money spent in hiring someone to assist you.

If you or someone you know are struggling to pay for prescription medicine, I urge you to apply for help today. If you are qualified, you can get your prescription medicines free from one or more of the prescription assistance programs. There is Rx help out there; you just need to be creative and assertive to get the prescriptions that you desperately need.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Prescription drug help is available now! Kirby Horton is Founder, President and CEO of Rx Help, a Prescription Assistance Company. He has over 30 years experience helping Americans with their healthcare needs. He can be reached at 866-960-9497

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