You may want to visit the following links for additional information. Please contact us at kidneyhealthcarecoverage@kidney.org if you have others that might be helpful.
Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs from Social Security Administration offers tips (in 15 languages) for filling out the application for the Medicare Part D low-income subsidy (also called “extra help”) and the application form http://www.ssa.gov/prescriptionhelp/
Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs
Web sites are available to help you determine if an assistance program is available for your medication-www.phrma.org, www.needymeds.com and www.Rxassist.org. Your health care professional (nurse, social worker or physician) is required to submit an application on your behalf. www.benefitscheckup.com may also help.
If a person qualifies all or some of the immunosuppression will be supplied by the manufacturer. Drugs are usually shipped to your home or your doctor's office. Applications for most are available on www.rxassist.org unless otherwise indicated below. But call first since programs do change and some do a telephone pre-screen. www.savrx.com allows you to price medications if you are paying out of pocket.
For help obtaining private insurance to cover medications contact: www.drugcobrahelpcenter.com
| Drug name | Manufacturer | Phone |
| CellCept ® | Roche | 800-772-5790 |
| Gengraf® www.helpingpatients.org |
Abbott | 800-222-6885 |
| Myfortic® | Novartis | 800-277-2254 |
| Neoral® | Novartis | 800-277-2254 |
| Prograf® | Astellas | 800-477-6472 |
| Sandimmune® | Novartis | 800-277-2254 |
| Rapamune® | Wyeth | 877-472-7268 |
| Restasis® www.rxhope.com |
Allergen | 800-553-6783 |
| Medicare Part D help | Novartis | 800-942-3424 |
1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669)
www.pparx.org
NKF is pleased to announce that it has joined the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, a new nationwide campaign that helps people get the prescription medicines they need. Call or visit their web site to learn whether you may be eligible for one or more patient assistance programs. They provide "one stop shopping" for patients that may not be able to afford or are having difficulty paying for their medication.
State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs www.cms.hhs.gov
A number of states have programs, with specific financial eligibility guidelines, that offer assistance with outpatient medications to persons with disabilities or senior citizens. Contact your local Department of Social Services or Medicaid office to see if any programs are available in your state.
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Part D
www.kidneydrugcoverage.org - Find out about Medicare Part D here.
The Kidney Transplant Immunosuppressant Fund
Eligibility criteria for assistance includes: You have to be insured and your insurance has to cover the medication for which you are seeking assistance - The medication you take must fight the disease directly - You have to be a US resident - Your income must fall below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level - Click here for the Federal Poverty Guidelines - applications for new and renewal patients are accepted and grants are immediately allocated - The maximum award level is $3,000 a year - Online: How to Apply Online - Phone: Call 1-866-316-PANF (7263)
Together Rx Access
www.TogetherRxAccess.com
1-800-250-2839
Together Rx Access is a free prescription savings program, sponsored by many of the nation's leading pharmaceutical companies, that helps eligible uninsured Americans gain access to the medicines they need to stay healthy and to manage chronic conditions. Cardholders using the free to get and free to use Together Rx Access® Card can save on hundreds of brand-name medicines, as well as thousands of generics. For more information about the medicines included in the Program, and to find out whether you may be eligible for a Together Rx Access Card, visit the website or call the toll-free number and speak with the call center representative.
The Healthwell Foundation www.healthwellfoundation.org 1-800-675-8416, based on their funding and available money, will help people who qualify based on certain diagnoses and other factors pay for premiums and copays.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners web site www.naic.org allows you to search for your state's insurance department. http://www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm State insurance departments are the best sources for company and agent licensing information. The links below provide additional state contact information for specific issues.
Freelancers Union www.freelancersunion.org/insurance or 800-856-9981 Membership is free, if you qualify and gives access to group health, dental and disability insurance.
The National Association of Health Underwriters www.nahu.org Use the Find an Agent feature on the home page to locate a licensed health insurance broker in your area.
Chamberofcommerce.com click on the resource directory to find your local chamber of commerce; many chambers offer health insurance to their members.
ehealthinsurance.com Comparison shop among policies from 180 insurance providers by state. (Vermont, ME, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are not included. )
Small Business Service Bureau www.sbasb.com 800-343-0939 Membership is $85 to $125 a year and gives access to group health insurance for sole proprietors and very small businesses.
Patient Advocate Foundation
www.patientadvocate.org
help@patientadvocate.org
700 Thimble Shoals Blvd Suite 200
Newport News, VA 23606
Phone: (800) 532-5274
Fax: (757) 873-8999
Patient Advocate Foundation offers personalized assistance to patients with specific issues they are facing with their insurer, employer and/or creditor regarding insurance, job retention and/or debt crisis matters relative to their diagnosis of life threatening or debilitating diseases
Some Life Insurance companies offer guaranteed issue plans where as long as you are not in hospice or terminal, and if you are willing to pay a higher premium will offer you between $5-$20,000.
In addition, some life insurance companies offer a "graded Death benefit " which requires no medical exam and up to $15,000 of coverage if a person meets certain requirements, such as not having AIDS, cancer, no recent hospitalization, and for the first few years only certain types of deaths are covered (natural and accidental for example) with premiums returned if death occurs a different way. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) sometimes offers this to members.
Medicare: www.medicare.gov
State kidney programs: http://som.missouri.edu/MOKP/docs/noskp/index.html
State comprehensive health insurance: www.naschip.org
Medicaid: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996: www.eeoc.gov
Kidney Drug Coverage: www.kidneydrugcoverage.org
Medicare Right Center: http://www.medicarerights.org/
State Kidney Programs/ c/o Missouri Kidney Program
Approximately 25 states have programs that offer assistance for kidney transplant or dialysis patients with outpatient medications and other expenses. To find out if your state has such a program, contact the National Organization for State Kidney Programs at 800-733-7345 or http://som.missouri.edu/MOKP/docs/noskp/index.html
Additional Resources are available in the FAQ
External links to other Internet sites are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. The appearance of external links is not an endorsement by the Kidney Medicare Drugs Awareness and Education Initiative. We cannot take responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of any of these external links. Please contact the external site directly if you have questions.