Financial Aid Programs

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Federal Poverty Guidelines

U.S. 2002 guidelines to determine eligibility for certain

programs

http://www.rxassist.org/federal.htm

SSD Assistance

http://www.ssa.gov/disabilityformhelp/

http://www.ssdisability.net

http://www.ssdisability.net/medical.html

http://www.ssdisability.net/arthritis.html

SSI Disability Qualifications

http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/

bluebook/ (For all disabilities)

http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/

14.00-Immune-Adult.htm

http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/

114.00-Immune-Childhood.htm

Social Secruity On-line Forms

http://www.ssa.gov/online/forms.html

Also, its possible to get many medications free through the

manufacturer's " Patient Assistance Programs " .

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEDICATIONS

Almost all of the drug companies have programs to make free

medications available to patients under so-called " Patient Assistance

Programs " .

Each company is different on their specific requirements, most are

based on financial need. Some manufacturere's require only a letter

from the patient's physician. Others require substantial back-up

information on rather lengthy forms.

Some will mail the medication to your home, more commonly to your

physician's office, or sometimes to your pharmacy with a drug card to

be used when picking up prescriptions.

All medications supplied under a P.A. program require a prescription

and most require your physicans signature.

Physician's offices do considerable paper work for patient assistance

programs for patients. This is time comsuming for the office staff.

Preparing the paper work is a gift. The physician receives no

compensation to reimburse the cost of assisting the patient.

Because it is a free service by the physician and his staff, the

patient needs to take responsibility of notifying the office when the

next renewal needs to be submitted. Usually it is needed every

three months.

Some applications can be done on the internet. Many applications

must be on forms from the drug company although some of these may be

printable off the internet.If possible, the patient should obtain the

forms from the manufacturer's web page or via mail to save the

physician's office unnecessary work. Here's some web addresses:

Accessing Patient Assistance Programs

http://www.rxassist.org/

Directory of Patient Assistance Programs

http://www.phrma.org/patients/

Federal Poverty Guidelines

http://www.rxassist.org/federal.htm

The Financial Assistance Network

http://www.financialassistancenetwork.org/prescrip.htm

Government. Accounting Office Report on P.A. Programs

http://www.elderweb.com/default.php3?PageID=2303

List of manufacturers with P.A. programs

http://www.numedx.com/more/patient.phtml

(Doesn't list drugs. 800 Phone #)

Manufacturer's Patient Assistance Programs

http://www.needymeds.com

Nat'l. Organization for Rare Diseases - P.A. Programs

http://www.rarediseases.org/other/other.htm

Our Chronic Pain Mission

http://www.cpmission.com/gallery.html

Patient Assistance for Psychologically Active Drugs

http://www.nami.org/helpline/freemed.htm