Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs)

Patient assistance programs (PAPs) are usually sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and provide free or discounted medicines to low-to-moderate-income, uninsured and under-insured people who meet the guidelines. Eligibility and application requirements vary from program to program.

Here are four easy steps to find PAPs on this website:

1. Search by name of the drug. PAPs are found by searching for the name of the medicine.
2. Click on the Brand Name Drugs link. Click on the first letter of the drug's name in the alphabet bar. An alphabetical listing of all the drugs offered through a PAP are listed. If it is not there, then click on the Generic Name Drugs link and follow the same procedure.
3. Click on the name of the medicine. This will open a program page with contact information, medication dosages, application if available, eligibility criteria and other details of the PAP.
4. Call the program. If there are any questions at all, then call the program. Please do not call NeedyMeds with specific program questions. Some programs will make exceptions to their eligibility criteria. The drugs offered and the program requirements change, so it may pay to call back from time to time.

If your medicine is not on either list or it's not available through a PAP at this time, then click here.

• If there are any questions, then call the program. Eligibility requirements, drugs, dosages, even programs, change regularly so it's best to go directly to the program for information. If you do not qualify for the program but cannot afford the medicine, then tell the representative. Some companies may make hardship exceptions and are willing to review situations on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes a health care provider or advocate can write an appeal letter to the program explaining your financial hardship. An example of an appeal letter can be found by clicking here.
• Review the Federal Poverty Guidelines and Percentages Over the Poverty Guidelines when looking at the eligibility guidelines of a program.
• Make it as easy as possible for the doctor's office. Fill out as much information on the application as possible, including the doctor's address and phone number. Highlight the directions for the doctor and where he or she needs to sign. Give the doctor's office an addressed-and stamped-envelope to send in the application or highlight the fax number so it is easy to find.  
• Plan ahead so your medicine supply doesn't run out. When sending in an application, pay attention to the refill process and the amount of allowable refills. Each program is different; some may require a call from the doctor's office while another may allow the patient to call directly for a refill; others may require a new application, which takes time.
• Be neat and complete. Some programs are fussy about their applications. The directions on the application should be completed exactly as directed. Print neatly. If something is unreadable or there is a blank, then the application may be denied, which can delay the process of receiving the medicine. Put "N/A" or "not applicable" in blanks that are not filled out to indicate the material was read through and not skipped over. Include supplementary forms if requested. Make sure all accompanying photocopies are clean and readable.