I have medical needs that require medication, and I do not have prescription coverage. Are there any programs that can help me?

If you do not have full coverage for your prescription medicines or qualify for Medicaid, NJ FamilyCare, or full coverage under Medicare Part D or another government-sponsored program, there is still help available for the cost of your prescription drugs. Many drug companies have “patient assistance” programs, which provide their drugs for free or at a reduced cost. Visit the Web sites listed below for more information about some programs that may help you.

• HealthCare Institute of New Jersey
  RX4NJ
  1-888-RXFORNJ (1-888-793-6765)
  The HealthCare Institute of New Jersey is a trade group for about 20 pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies in New Jersey. It acts as a clearinghouse for over 150 patient assistance programs, which are sponsored by individual drug makers and provide help with more than 1,200 different medications. When you submit your information to the HealthCare Institute, they determine which patient assistance programs may be appropriate for you and will send you applications to submit directly to the pharmaceutical company. For most programs, the applications must be submitted by the person’s physician, along with supporting medical documentation.
  
  
• Rx Outreach
  1-800-769-3880
  
  This mail-order pharmacy provides a program with more than 150 prescription medicines for people whose incomes are below 300% of the federal poverty level. The list of medications and their prices are included on their Web site with a one-page application form, which can be mailed or submitted online with payment for the prescriptions They can also be reached by mail at:
  

  Rx Outreach
  Express Scripts Specialty Distribution Services, Inc.
  P.O. Box 66536
  St. Louis, MO 63166-6536

• New Jersey Prescription Drug Price Registry
  1-800-242-5846
  If you are not able to get free medications through any of these programs, the New Jersey Prescription Drug Price Registry allows consumers to compare prices between pharmacies for over 150 frequently prescribed medications. The Division of Consumer Affairs in the NJ Attorney General’s Office updates the Registry weekly.

Helpful Information

The following Web sites also provide helpful information about medical conditions and medications:

• Medline Plus
  This Web site provides detailed information about medications, various health conditions, and current health-related news; a medical encyclopedia; directories of doctors, dentists, and hospitals; and other local resources. It is sponsored by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
  
  
• Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs
  This Web site provides information about what drugs are most effective and how to safely manage multiple medications.

This information last reviewed 3/21/10.