Prescription Drug Assistance Programs

Many people find it a financial strain to pay for prescription medication from time to time. Here are some drug assistance programs that may be helpful.

MCPHS Pharmacy Outreach Program

The MCPHS Pharmacy Outreach Program will answer your questions about your prescription medicines, Medicare prescription drug coverage, Part D Gap, and other state and federal insurance coverage. It is a community service program of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences located in Worcester, Massachusetts. Staff includes pharmacists and case managers who assist residents throughout the state.

NeedyMeds.com 

This web site offers comprehensive information on patient assistance programs available through its alphabetical “drug list”, and provides a chart on pharmaceutical discount card comparisons as well as patient assistance program applications.
HELPLINE: 800-503-6897

Find Prescription Assistance Programs

SHINE Program (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone)

The SHINE Program (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) assists Medicare beneficiaries of all ages to find and afford prescription drug. Funded by the federal government and with the state office at the Executive Office of elder Affairs, SHINE has 13 regional offices and over 600 well trained counselors in very town to assist with these needs and to educate them about One Care and other programs.

Find your local SHINE office (pdf)

Benefits Checkup 

A comprehensive on-line service to screen for federal-, state- and some local-, private-, and public-benefits for older adults (aged 55 or over) for prescription drugs and for other services.

Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs  

You may be eligible if your combined savings, investments, and real estate are not worth more than $27,250, if you are married and living with your spouse, or $13,640 if you are not currently married or not living with your spouse. (Do NOT count your home, vehicles, personal possessions, life insurance, burial plots, irrevocable burial contracts or back payments from Social Security or SSI.) If you need an application form, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213, or TTY 1-800-325-0778 and ask for the application, “Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs” (SSA-1020).

You can also apply online.

5 Ways to get Help with Prescription Costs

From Medicare.

Get Help Paying for Medications

From National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI).

Prescription Advantage

Prescription Advantage is a state-sponsored prescription drug program for seniors and people with disabilities.

NORD  RareCare®

Administers Medication Assistance Programs for a variety of pharmaceutical companies. For more information, contact NORD at (800) 999-6673.

Medicine Assistance Tool (MAT)

The Medical Assistance  Tool helps qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need for free or nearly free. They offer an online single point of access to more than 475 public and private programs, including about 200 programs offered by bio-pharmaceutical companies.

MAT Tool Frequently asked questions

Search by Medication:
To see what help may be available to you, you will need to know the names of your prescription meds . You can search by med name using the MAT Tool. You can also ask your doctor or pharamacist which company makes your meds.

Know More About The Cost of Prescription Medicines 

PhRMA’s member companies are committed to helping patients make more informed health care decisions by providing more transparency about medicine costs.

Search online: 
You can also do an online keyword search  for meds for patient assistance programs.  Your search may give you coupons and monthly savings.

Fact Sheet last updated on: 8/9/2024

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