Application for Patient Assistance Can Be Frustrating

Q. People with high drug bills are sometimes told to seek a “Patient Assistance Program.” The drug companies run these to provide free medicine for people who qualify.
It sounds great, but for me they have not been so helpful. I filed a huge packet of information and then they came up with another question. Rather then just requesting the additional information, they denied my request and returned the entire packet for me to start over.
I was asked for a letter from my previous employer stating why my position ended. I certainly hadn’t foreseen that! It took two weeks to get the packet back. Though I returned it immediately, they denied it because it did not have an original letter from unemployment about my benefits. So I am still in limbo. This whole process has taken more than six weeks.
I am in the doughnut hole, so I have no drug coverage. My unemployment payment ($345 weekly) makes me ineligible for other coverage, but my drug bills run $1,400 a month. I think patient assistance is a bit of a joke.
A. Patient assistance programs were created to provide free medicine for people who can’t afford their drugs otherwise. The application process may vary from one company to another. The physician is a critical ally for such an application. There is more information about patient assistance programs at www.helpingpatients.org or 888-477-2669.