Medications Assistance for African Americans

Millions of people in the country, including African Americans, take prescription medications. The problem that often comes with taking them is that many of them are very expensive. Some people cannot afford to take the medications they have been prescribed, because they are so expensive. The good news is that there is medications assistance for African Americans and others, so that people can obtain the medicines that they need.

When people go to pick up prescriptions they are often shocked at how much they cost. Even if the person has health insurance that covers prescriptions, they may still be left with a large payment that they have to cover in addition to what the insurance covers. Rather than simply turn down taking the medications that may be needed it is a good idea to explore the options available to help make it easier to pay for them.

Rising Costs of Prescription Medications

Like everything else, prescription medications often cost a lot of money and they can become a deterrent for those who need them but struggle financially. Some medications cost more than people would be able to afford without getting some type of assistance to help cover the costs. For example, some medications for conditions such as Crohn’s Disease can cost $80,000 to $100,000 per year, which is more than most people make working all year long. That is a medication the vast majority would need to skip if they were not able to get medications assistance.

Most people who need medications need them on a monthly basis. This makes obtaining medications assistance crucial. The more programs you know about to help pay for prescriptions, the better you will be, so you are able to get the medications you need, without having to skip out on paying other bills that need to be paid.

Programs and Options for Medications Assistance

The first place to look for medications assistance is with the manufacturer of the prescription medication. Most of them will offer a discount coupon or special rate to those who have a lower income or are struggling to pay for the medication. Look up the company that makes the medication you need help paying for and then contact them to see if they have any programs in place to provide assistance with you obtaining it for a more affordable rate. They may also to provide you or your doctor with free samples to help you save money purchasing the prescription. Be sure to ask your doctor if they are able to get any free samples of the medication for you.

Once you have contacted the medication provider and spoken to your doctor about discounts and samples, then you will want to move on to trying other options. If you need something like an antibiotic, check with the pharmacies in your area to see if any offer them for free. Some pharmacies, such as those in Publix grocery stores, for example, will provide your antibiotic prescription medications for free. You may need to call around to see which ones offer such deals. Other pharmacies may offer you a special discount, coupon, or gift card to get your prescription from their pharmacy. These options also help pay for the medications that people need.

Medicaid – This federally funded program is available around the country. Those who are approved for the program will not only be able to get help paying for medical bills, but they will also be able to get medications assistance. The program will pay for prescription medications that people need. To qualify for this program you have to be a citizen or legal non-citizen, and you have to meet the low income requirements. To get more information about the Medicaid program or apply, click here.

Medicare – This is a program similar to Medicaid, but it is for those who are over the age of 65. The program will provide medications assistance, as well as help paying for other medical bills. To qualify you have to meet the age requirement. There is no limit to how long you can receive help through the Medicare program. The program is available in all states around the country. To get more information or apply for the program, click here.

Care Credit – This is a credit card that is used for medical expenses. They will let you pay monthly on your medication bills over time. They often run special promotions that will give you zero interest if you pay it off in a certain amount of time. The card is used at your pharmacy, just as if you were paying with another credit card or payment source. To get more information or apply for the card, click here.

GoodRX – This program helps with medications assistance by lowering the cost of what you pay for your medication. All you have to do is sign up for the free program and then show your GoodRX card when obtaining your prescription medication. They will scan the card and a discount will be applied to the price of the medication. This program is free and open to everyone in the country. To get more information or sign up for a GoodRX card, click here.

Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company – Business mogul Mark Cuban wanted to help provide medications assistance to people in the country, so he started an online pharmacy. You can use it to pay less for your prescription medications. All you have to do is go there and type in the name of your medication to see what they charge for it, which is much less than you will pay going to a local pharmacy. The goal of the website is to keep costs low for the consumers, so the medications often cost a fraction of what they cost in your local pharmacy. To get more information and see if your medications are available on the website, click here.

In addition to these options, you can ask your doctor or pharmacy for a generic medication. The generic ones usually cost much less than the name brand versions, which will save you a lot on your purchases.

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