Free Medicine Foundation Issues Urgent Call: Apply Now Before
Drug Company Changes Make Getting Free or Low Cost Drugs More
Difficult
The Free Medicine Foundation is issuing a public advisory
warning potential applicants of changes coming to drug plans
offered by pharmaceutical companies as early as March 31. Lately
the foundation has been stepping up their efforts to ensure
people are not denied the medications they need simply because
of an inability to pay. Since 1993, the FMF, staffed by
volunteers, has been a health-care consumer advocate, matching
patients with low or no cost brand name drugs through free
medication discount programs. These plans, while available and
financed by the drug companies, remain a secret to many who need
the help.
With the advent of Medicare Part D, many companies are making
changes to their discount programs, ending coverage for some
drugs and switching benefits for many others. Now more than ever
the Free Medicine Foundation stands ready to help potential
applicants through an increasingly difficult maze. If an
applicant needs a medication on a soon-to-be-discontinued plan,
foundation volunteers will search for similar drugs available
from other company plans. Drug Companies initially moved to end
the discount plans because of a Department of Health and Human
Services directive that providing free medicine may be seen as a
way for the companies to influence which Medicare plans patients
enroll in. However, even after a January 25 clarification in
which Medicare said assistance plans do not violate federal
guidelines, many companies, such as GlaxoSmithKline, still plan
to end their charity programs.
Prescription drug costs are increasing at a continuously and
alarming rate and it's no longer just the destitute having to
choose between food, rent or medicine. Seniors, the disabled,
and working families of ever-higher income levels are finding
the medications they depend on priced beyond their means. With
this week's latest round of cuts to Medicaid passed by the
House, the Kaiser Foundation estimates that nearly 90% of those
cut will not regain adequate access to the medical system. In
this escalating cycle, programs touted by the Free Medicine
Foundation are vital.
Free Medicine Foundation works to match patients with hundreds
of free or low-cost available programs by scouring available
medicine plans to find plans that match applicant needs.
Applicants should have a list of medications handy and either
apply on line or download an Adobe Acrobat application form. To
apply, simply complete the initial application form at
http://www.freemedicinefoundation.com/application_form.html and
send a refundable $5 processing fee per drug requested to Free
Medicine Foundation. The reply address is: Free Medicine
Foundation, P. O. Box 125, Doniphan, Missouri, Postal Code
63935-0125.
Approvals are handled on a case-by-case basis. In general,
applicants should:
● have no insurance coverage for outpatient
prescription drugs; ● not qualify for a government program
which provides for prescription medication, e.g. Medicaid;
● be at an income level where buying prescription
medication at a retail pharmacy causes a hardship, depending on
various factors, the range can extend as high as $60,000
annually.
If the foundation cannot match a client with an appropriate
drug discount plan, they will gladly refund the $5 application
fee per guarantee.
For more information on the program, please visit
http://www.freemedicinefoundation.com/application_form.html. To
become a volunteer, visit:
http://www.freemedicinefoundation.com/volunteers_needed.html.
Contact: Cindy Randolph Free Medicine Foundation 1-888-812-5152
About the author:
Author Biographical Notes: Book author and magazine writer Cindy
Randolph. Freelance writer specializing in health-care consumer
advocates and psychology. Was born and raised in Southeast
Missouri. Started freelancing as a way to stay home with her
babies (they're 12 and 7 and 18 months now). Loves digging up
the facts as much as writing about them. Has a great network of
experts in health, medicine, mental health, and psychology. Sp
