Places to Get Help with Medical Costs

Patient Assistance Programs for Prescription Drugs

What Are They?

Many pharmaceutical companies and specialty pharmacies have assistance programs, often referred to as Patient Assistance Programs or Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (PAPs).

How Can They Help?

These programs may be able to help pay for prescription drugs by providing:

Co-pay assistance to help people who have health insurance pay the out-of-pocket costs associated with prescription drugs
Prescription drugs at no cost to individuals without health insurance

Many pharmaceutical companies offer additional support services, including:

Free trial vouchers for a specific trial quantity of a prescription medication
Connection to help with transportation and lodging when traveling for treatment
One-on-one support with mentors and health care professionals
Help with prior authorizations and resources to help you understand your health plan benefits
Sample billing and coding information, which will be helpful when you are reviewing your medical bills
Resources for denials and appeals
Referrals to appropriate patient assistance options

How Do I Find a PAP I’m Eligible For?

Speak with your health care team and/or pharmacist to see if there is a PAP that you are eligible for!
Patient Assistance Programs each have their own specific eligibility requirements.
You can also search for co-pay assistance and PAP programs by drug or disease:
https://needymeds.org
Or https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/pharmaceutical-assistance-program?year=2022&lang=en

Charitable Organizations

How Can They Help?

There are many national and regional charitable organizations that are focused on helping people pay for medical treatments, prescription drugs, and other costs.
These charities may help by paying for:

Medical bills for treatments or prescription drugs that patients are having difficulty paying for themselves.
Costs associated with travelling for treatment, such as transportation and housing.
Caregiver expenses, including direct payments for some caregivers.

How Do I Find Charities I’m Eligible For?

Most of these organizations provide help based on your geographic area, income, and/or specific medical condition.

For more information:

Discuss with your health care team
Dial 211 or visit https://www.211.org/ for information about local assistance
Contact your local Medicaid office or social services

Crowdfunding

What is Crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is the process of asking for donations from others and may be an effective way to help pay for medical and other expenses.
While crowdfunding can be done in-person, it is most often done online.
Individuals can create their own crowdfunding campaign or create one to help someone else. Generally, crowdfunding campaigns include information about the person who will benefit from the fundraiser and why they need financial help.
Once a fundraiser has been created, it can be shared electronically (e.g., via email or on social media), to help increase the number of potential donors.
Crowdfunding is a public activity, so it is important that you make conscious decisions about sharing your medical information.
There are multiple crowdfunding sites, each with different rules and fees for using their platform.
The money raised through crowdfunding can count as income, so make sure to check how it may impact benefits that you get (for example, Medicaid and Social Security Income).

Disclaimer: The information on this site is intended for U.S. residents only and is provided purely for educational purposes. Health, legal, regulatory, insurance, or financial related-information provided here is not comprehensive and is not intended to provide individual guidance or replace discussions with a healthcare provider, attorney, or other experts. All decisions must be made with your advisers considering your unique situation. © Triage Cancer & Pfizer Inc. 2024

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