Resources for Uninsured and Underinsured

Medication Help - Save Money on Transplant Medications

1.    Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS, Extra Help):  If you qualify it will help cover your premiums, deductible and medication copays.

a.     www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/prescriptionhelp/

b.     800-772-1213

2.     Illinois Medicaid – would help with medical and medicines

a.     800-843-6154

b.    https://abe.illinois.gov/abe/access/

c.     Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities

                                              i.     800-226-0768

                                             ii.     https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/MedicalPrograms/hbwd/Pages/default.aspx

                                            iii.     You can buy Medicaid coverage if you are working at a job that takes out taxes.

3.    Manufacturer Patient Assistance Programs:  This will typically assist people who are uninsured, sometimes underinsured as well, with free medications.  Each company has different applications and guidelines.  Re-apply annually.  Part of the application is completed by the patient and part by the provider.

a.     Envarsus:  Veloxis 844-835-6947

b.    Myfortic, Neoral, Zortress:  Novartis 800-277-2254

c.     CellCept and Valcyte:  Genentech 866-247-5084

d.    Rapamune:  Pfizer 855-239-9869

e.     www.Rxassist.org:  Can search for brand name medication and be directed to the applications

f.      www.needymeds.org:   Can search for brand name medication and be directed to the applications

4.    Coupons and copay cards:  

a.     www.needymeds.org

                                              i.     Coupons:  30 day trial coupons to get a month free of the medicine

                                             ii.     Copay cards:  If you have “commercial” insurance that will cover brand name medicines, you may be able to use a copay card to assist with the out of pocket copays

5.    Discount cards:  You would put your medicine (dose and quantity) and your zip code into their finder and it will tell you what the cost would be at area pharmacies.   These are a couple of examples.

a.     GoodRx: 

                                              i.     www.goodrx.com

                                             ii.     855-213-1275

b.    SingleCare:  

                                              i.     www.singlecare.com

                                             ii.     844-234-3057

6.    Community Health Clinics:  Work on sliding scale costs.  People sometimes use these clinics for primary care services.

a.     https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/  Search by your zip code for clinics near you.

7.    Hospital based Charity Care programs:  Most hospitals offer free and/or significantly discounted care for people who are uninsured or underinsured.  To find the application, try an internet search with the name of the hospital and “charity care.”  

·       from Lara Tushla, LCSW, Rush University Medical Center

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