By Ruth Lim, Student Pharmacist with Karen L. Kier, Pharmacist
On behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

The Swedish pop group ABBA was formed in 1972 in Stockholm and the name was a palindrome of the founding band members’ first names. The group won a music contest in 1974 with their song Waterloo. 

On November 1, 1976, the group released the song Money, Money, Money. The song reached number 1 in many European countries, but only hit 56 in the United States. ABBA is still one the best-selling music acts of all time with hits between 1974 to 1982 and most recently in 2022. 

ABBA’s music became popular again with the release of Mamma Mia! the Broadway musical and the movie. Money, Money, Money was part of the score for the theater. Anni-Frid Lyngstad sang the vocals for ABBA on the album while Meryl Streep sang it in the 2008 film Mamma Mia!

Money can often be an important issue when evaluating drug therapies. Prescription pricing can vary from a few dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. How does one find if a patient assistance program is available?

In 2021, a Gallup poll found an estimated 18 million Americans went without a prescribed medication because they could not afford it. Ten percent said they skipped taking medications to save money. Americans not taking their medications causes an estimated 25% of hospitalizations and causes death in 125,000 people a year. 

One way that people can save money on their drugs is through patient assistance programs (PAP). They can be run by drug manufacturers, charities or government agencies. Some of them cover the full cost, while others only pay part. 

Not every medication has a PAP and not everyone is eligible for the existing programs. Common requirements include having a lower income, no or limited insurance coverage, and not having Medicare or Medicaid. Prescribers may be required to fill out paperwork and sign for eligibility. 

The Medication Assistance Tool, Rx Assist and NeedyMeds are three websites that help you find PAP. The websites do not run the prescription drug program and do not help with the forms. Just because you find a program does not mean you are eligible. 

For example, the Medication Assistance Tool is run by a group of drug manufacturers and specifically helps people find manufacturers’ PAP. To use the tool, go to https://medicineassistancetool.org/ and click on the orange “Search by Medication” bar. As you type in the name of the drug, a list of medications will pop up. Click on the “add to list” button located next to the name of the drug. Continue adding medications, and when you are finished click on the blue “next” button under the question “is your medication list complete?”

Fill out the questionnaire on the screen. You will need to answer all of the questions or the website will not allow you to continue. Click on the blue “Show Resources” button. A new page will appear and any PAP will be on the page. The Medication Assistance Tool searches for savings cards, which are like coupons you bring to the pharmacy lowering the cost. Not everyone is eligible, but if the Medication Assistance Tool shows one you can click either “apply” or “visit website” to go to the manufacturer’s website where you can apply.

Assistance programs are generally run directly through a charitable organization or manufacturer. If an assistance program comes up, you can either click “visit website” to start filling out the application on the drug manufacturer’s website, or you can click “apply” to download the application and begin filling it out on your computer. There might even be a phone number listed for the program you can call to get more information. 

The medication assistance tool has a list of discount cards. Discount cards are not the same as savings cards. While savings cards are like coupons you use with your insurance, discount cards are used instead of insurance, such as GoodRx®. The website has a list of organizations that can help with other healthcare needs if no patient assistance programs are found. 

It is best to not just use one of these websites, but to try all three because they can have different results depending on the medication. 

Rx Assist is another tool that was developed in 1999. To use the tool, go to https://www.rxassist.org/ and under “patients” click on “learn more.” You can choose to search by the name of the drug manufacturer or by the name of your prescription. 

Check the website of NeedyMeds at https://www.needymeds.org/. You will find a search bar on the left-hand side of the screen that says “start typing drug name.” As you type, the name of the medication will appear. Click on the name of the medication, then click “drug search.” 

Medications can be expensive. One way to save money is through PAP. However, finding the programs can be difficult. Using these tools is a great way to make some medications more affordable. They can help you save money, money, money!

Contact ONU HealthWise Pharmacy on more ways to afford your medications. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have along with assistance navigating the process. 

ONU HealthWise is offering bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please call the pharmacy for more information. 

ONU HealthWise Pharmacy
419-772-3784