Finding Emergency Medication Assistance

There are several programs designed to ensure that consumers receive the care and medicine they need to keep seizures under control even when one cannot afford to pay for the medicines.

Some people are eligible for special assistance with medication expenses because they fit the income guidelines for Medicaid. In addition, approximately 25 states now have special programs that offer medication assistance for the elderly or people with disabilities, even if the individual's income is too high to qualify for Medicaid. Furthermore, all states offer a state children's health insurance program that extends Medicaid coverage to children whose parents' income is too high to qualify them for Medicaid. The affiliate in your state will be able to tell you if your state has a special medication assistance program for people with disabilities like epilepsy, or how to find out about the children's health insurance program.

Most Epilepsy Foundation affiliates also operate emergency medication assistance programs. If you have a problem affording your medicine either in a crisis or in general, please contact the affiliate in your area for assistance. Locate your local affiliate or call our Information and Referral staff at (800) EFA-1000 or (800) 332-1000.

Many pharmaceutical companies also offer patient medication assistance for people who cannot afford the cost of the medications either because their income is too low, or because of an emergency. For specific information about epilepsy medications that may be available through these pharmaceutical company programs at no cost to qualified people, visit the patient care and drug assistance program section on the American Epilepsy Society's Website.

Information about drug assistance programs may also be found on the following websites:

• The website of PhRMA, the trade association of pharmaceutical manufacturers, provides a 19- page guide about each of the drug companies, their programs and information about how to enroll.
  
  
• The website of a nonprofit organization called Cancer care provides information about drug assistance programs operated by each of the fifty states and also about programs run by different drug companies.
  
  
• The website State Health Facts maintains a chart that indicates which states operate medication assistance programs and provides links to each state's drug assistance program as well as a summary of each state's eligibility rules and benefits.

It is important to know and trust the source(s) of your information as there are several companies that claim to assist the consumer with obtaining necessary prescriptions and medications - but at a cost. Be aware that these companies exist. The Foundation affiliates and the pharmaceutical companies do not charge you to participate in their emergency medication programs. Mail order pharmacy services can offer considerable savings on medications, but prices offered by a mail order pharmacy service should always be compared to prices at your local pharmacy, since these savings can vary from community to community.