PRESCRIPTION EXPENSE ASSISTANCE - CONNECTICUT

CONNPACE

ConnPACE is a state program for low income adults ages 65+, or ages 18 to 65 with a disability, and is administered by the Connecticut State Department of Social Services (DSS), http://www.connpace.com/. ConnPACE subsidizes most prescription drugs and insulin and syringe costs for low income elderly or disabled individuals. ConnPACE wraps around Medicare Part D; all people enrolled in ConnPACE are required to enroll in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. ConnPACE pays Medicare Part D premiums, and covers prescriptions through deductibles and coverage gaps. ConnPACE also pays for drugs that are not on a Medicare plan's formulary as well as all excluded drugs. To download an application go to: http://www.connpace.com/pubs/index.htm.

MEDICAID AND SAGA MEDICAL

The State of Connecticut Medicaid program provides health insurance, which includes prescription coverage, for very low income state residents, http://www.ct.gov/dss/cwp/view.asp?a=2353&q=305218. Call the state Dept. of Social Service office nearest you to see if you qualify for Medicaid or SAGA Medical or download an application from the DSS website, http://www.ct.gov/dss/lib/dss/PDFs/w-1f.pdf.

MEDICARE PART D

Medicare Part D, also known as Medicare Rx, is Medicare’s prescription drug program. It covers some of the cost of prescription drugs and is offered through private companies. The program is voluntary, although there is a penalty for late enrollment for eligible people who do not have prescription coverage that is as good as or better than Medicare D. For more information, visit Medicare’s website http://www.medicare.gov or call your local Area Agency on Aging’s CHOICES program at 1-800-994-9422 (calls route to nearest AAA office).

LOW INCOME SUBSIDY (LIS) FOR MEDICARE PART D

Medicare Part D has premiums, deductibles and co-pays that vary, according to the plan that is selected. However, people with limited income and assets may be eligible for the Low Income Subsidy (LIS) which would pay all or part of these expenses. The Social Security Administration determines LIS eligibility. For further information, call Social Security (800-772-1213) or see the Social Security fact sheet on Extra Help at http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10111.html. To read more about the Low Income Subsidy, see the Center for Medicare Advocacy's website at http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/FAQ_PartD.htm#LIS.

CONNECTICUT AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CADAP)

State program pays for antiretroviral drugs to prolong the life of people with AIDS, or HIV infection. The program also pays health insurance premiums for people who have insurance and who are eligible for CADAP. To be eligible for the program, an individual must have a physician certified diagnosis of HIV infection, HIV disease or AIDS, must not be a recipient of Medicaid, and must have net countable income within 400% FPL; there is no asset limit. Immigrants with or without a green card may be eligible. The applicant must apply for Medicaid or SAGA Medical within two weeks of approval for CADAP. To apply visit the DSS website, http://www.ct.gov/dss/lib/dss/PDFs/CADAPapp03.pdf, or call DSS, Conn. AIDS Drug Assistance Program (see CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE; search by Agency/Program CADAP).

FREE OR LOW COST PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS
(also called patient assistance programs)

Some drug companies have special programs to help people who cannot afford the cost of their brand name prescription drugs. These programs provide prescription medicine free or for a very low cost. Call the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, 888-4PPA-NOW, (888-477-2669) or visit the PPARx website, https://www.pparx.org, to see if you might be eligible for free medicine. Most programs require that you have no insurance, have low income, and are ineligible for a government assistance program, like Medicaid, that pays for prescription drugs.

LINKS TO INFORMATION ON FREE OR LOW COST PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

• http://www.needymeds.com - Needymeds tracks pharmaceutical manufacturers that have special programs to assist people who can’t afford to buy the drugs they need.
• http://www.rxassist.org/ - Rxassist lists all of the pharmaceutical assistance programs, eligibility criteria, and application process. It also includes some application forms that can be downloaded from the website.
• http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/PrescDrugs_09_06.18.AssistancePrograms.htm - The Center for Medicare Advocacy discusses ways that Medicare recipients can bridge the gap created by the doughnut hole in Medicare Part D. The discussion includes information on the Part D Low Income Subsidy, Medicaid beneficiaries, drug discount programs, and other patient assistance programs.

DISCOUNT PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS

Discounted Generics at "Big Box" Stores - Big store pharmacies (Costco, Target, Walmart, Stop & Shop, and others) offer discounts on certain generic drugs. Discounts can be as low as $10 for a 90 day supply. Not all generics are covered; call store for further information.

FamilyWize Partnership - FamilyWize is a nationwide program that offers a free prescription drug discount card for anyone who wants one. The discount card provides discounts for prescription drugs at participating pharmacies. The card can be obtained and used by anyone for all prescriptions for all family members. There is no income limit, age or other eligibility requirement, and there is no registration required. Cards can be downloaded and printed from the website, http://www.familywize.org, or obtained from any Stop & Shop or Kmart store, some pharmacies and other locations. After obtaining a card, consumers must present the card with a valid prescription to their pharmacist to obtain a discount.

Discount Prescription Programs at Hospitals - Some hospitals in Connecticut have special discount programs which include a prescription drug discount. These hospitals are Greenwich Hospital (Generations Program); Griffin Hospital in Derby (Mature Advantage Program); Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven (Carecard Program); Midstate Medical Center (Prestige Club); and Stamford Hospital (Primetime Program).

Online/Mail-Order Discount Prescription Services - Another option for obtaining prescription drugs is ordering through an online, mail-order prescription drug service. Not all drugs are covered and not all services provide the same savings. The following websites provide guidelines for ordering prescriptions through the Internet.

• http://www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/default.htm - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers tips for consumers thinking about buying medicines and medical products online.
• http://www.nabp.net/ - The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy offers a list of Internet pharmacies that have completed a rigorous criteria review and inspection.
• http://www.pharmacychecker.com - PharmacyChecker.com collects, evaluates and reports credentials, prices, and customer feedback regarding pharmacies that operate online and through mail-order and fax.

PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANS

Active Duty and Retired Military Personnel - The Department of Defense provides pharmacy benefits for military personnel ages 65 and older through the TRICARE Senior Pharmacy Program, http://www.tricare.mil/. You must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and meet other eligibility criteria. Call 866-DOD-TRRx (866-363-8779).

Veterans - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers veterans a prescription benefit. A 30-day supply of prescription medications costs only $2 through the VA (disabled or low-income veterans can receive medications for free). To be eligible, a veteran must have been honorably discharged from the military, must enroll with the VA, and must be seen by a VA doctor. The VA may charge for a doctor visit, but your insurance may cover this charge (disabled or low-income veterans can visit doctors for free). Call 877-222-VETS (1-877-222-8387).

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by service name: Prescription Expense Assistance

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PREPARED BY: 211/rj
CONTENT LAST MODIFIED: June2009