Patient Financial Assistance Programs
The American Cancer Society (ACS) offers programs that help cancer patients, family members, and friends cope with the treatment decisions and emotional challenges they face.
Telephone: 1-800-492-0329
Internet site: www.cancer.org
The National Brain Tumor Society is a national nonprofit agency that brings together the best in brain tumor research and supportive patient services. They offer hope to patients, families, and caregivers during every stage of the treatment journey. They invest wisely and strategically in innovative research that will lead to advances and ultimately to a cure.
Telephone: 1-800-770-8287
Internet site: http://www.braintumor.org
Chronic Disease Fund (CDF)
The Chronic Disease Fund is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that helps underinsured patients with chronic disease, cancers or life-altering conditions obtain the expensive medications they need.
Telephone: (972) 712-0201
Internet site: http://cdfund.org/
The Healthwell Foundation
The HealthWell Foundation® is a non-profit, charitable organization that helps individuals afford prescription medications they are taking for specific illnesses. The Foundation provides financial assistance to eligible patients to cover certain out-of-pocket health care costs.
Telephone: 800-675-8416
Internet site: www.healthwellfoundation.org
Imerman Angels
Imerman Angels is a one-on-on cancer support service that partners a person fighting cancer (“fighter”) with someone who’s beaten the same type of cancer (“survivor”).
Internet site: www.imermanangels.org
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Financial Assistance and Other Resources for People With Cancer
Listing of Government agencies, organizations, and programs that are designed to provide assistance for cancer patients and their families.
Internet site: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/support/financial-assistance
Needymeds
Needymeds is a resource website to help patients with financial aid in paying for medications and healthcare through patient assistance programs.
Internet site: www.needymeds.org
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America's pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that's right for them. Many will get them free or nearly free.
Telephone: 1-888-477-2669
Internet site: https://www.pparx.org/about.php
Patient Access Network Foundation (PANF)
Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit established in 2004, dedicated to assisting patients who cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs associated with their treatment needs. With 20 disease-specific funds, PAN assists the underinsured in accessing health care treatments.
Telephone: 866-316-PANF (7263)
Internet site: www.patientaccessnetwork.org
Email: contact@patientaccessnetwork.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Patient Advocate Foundation
Patient Advocate Foundation is a national non-profit organization that seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their financial stability relative to their diagnosis of life threatening or debilitating diseases.
Telephone: 1-800-532-5274
Internet site: http://www.patientadvocate.org/
Pharmaceutical Company Finanacial Assistance Programs
Some pharmaceutical companies offer prescription drug programs to make specific drugs available to people who could not otherwise afford them. Generally, your doctor must apply to these programs on your behalf. However, you can call and obtain the applications and information to help speed the process. Eligibility requirements and program operations vary greatly from one program to another.
Following are listings of pharmaceutical company patient assistance programs for some of the drugs commonly used by people with lung cancer.
Amgen, Inc.
Amgen’s patient assistance programs are a continuum of services designed to provide access through free goods and other support services to qualifying uninsured and under-insured patients. In addition, Amgen makes donations to third-party co-pay assistance foundations. To enroll, please call the appropriate hotline number listed below or learn more about available programs by choosing a product from the menu below.
Telephone: 1-800-272-9376
Internet site: http://www.amgen.com/patients/assistance.html
Sanofi-aventis
The sanofi-aventis patient assistance program offers free medication to people who otherwise cannot afford their medications. Patients must meet financial and other program specific criteria to be eligible for assistance. To find out how to apply for medication assistance from the sanofi-aventis patient assistance program, register for free at www.RxAssist.org.
Bayer Corporation
The Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals patient assistance program offers free medication to people who otherwise cannot afford their medications. Patients must meet financial and other program specific criteria to be eligible for assistance. To find out how to apply for medication assistance register for free at www.RxAssist.org.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization. The Foundation was established in 1998 to provide temporary assistance to qualifying patients with a financial hardship who generally have no private prescription drug insurance and are not enrolled in a prescription drug coverage plan through Medicaid or any other federal, state or local health program.
Telephone: 1-800-736-0003
Interent site: http://www.bmspaf.org/
Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly Oncology
For Gemzar® and Alimta®, Lilly provides assistance with obtaining reimbursement. If patients do not have insurance and are unable to obtain other financial assistance, they may be eligible to obtain Lilly oncology products through our patient assistance program. For information about obtaining reimbursement assistance and patient assistance, visit the Gemzar or Alimta websites.
Gemzar: http://gemzar.com/hcp/reimbursement.jsp?reqNavid=7.3
Alimta: http://www.alimta.com/professionals/reimbursement.jsp?reqNavId=5.3
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Single Patient Investigational New Drug Program
Patients who are not eligible for a clinical trial and who are in an immediate medical crisis may be able to receive drugs that are not yet FDA-approved. Your doctor would have to apply to the FDA for permission to use the drug, an approval known as a Single Patient IND for Compassionate or Emergency Use. Contact information appears below. The FDA usually responds to an application within 24 to 48 hours.
Telephone: CDER Oncology Drug Products (most cancer drugs): 301-594-2473
CBER Oncology Branch (for biologicals): 301-827-5093
Internet site: www.fda.gov/cder/cancer/singleIND.htm
Genentech, Inc.
Genentech Access Solutions helps patients access their medicines and explore possible solutions to coverage or reimbursement issues. For patients and their health care providers, Genentech Access Solutions provides: coverage and reimbursement, patient assistance, and informational resources. Call (866) 4 ACCESS / (866) 422-2377 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. PST Monday through Friday or 24/7 through our website https://www.genentechaccesssolutions.com/index_pc.jsp
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
“GSK For You" features information on patient assistance programs from other resources, too. Please browse our site to see if you may be eligible to save on your prescription drugs. GSK is here to assist you with your prescription drug coverage needs.
Telephone: 1-888-825-5249
Internet site: http://www.gskforyou.com/index.htm
MedImmune, Inc.
The MedImmune, Inc. patient assistance program offers free medication to people who otherwise cannot afford their medications. Patients must meet financial and other program specific criteria to be eligible for assistance. To find out how to apply for medication assistance from the MedImmune, Inc., register at www.RxAssist.org.
Merck & Company, Inc.
Merck Patient Assistance Program
Sometimes, affording prescription medicines can be difficult. That's why at Merck, we have created the Patient Assistance Program—to keep affordable medicines within your reach. This private and confidential program provides medicine free of charge to eligible individuals, primarily the uninsured who, without our assistance, could not afford needed Merck medicines.
Telephone: 1-800-727-5400
Internet site: http://www.merck.com/merckhelps/patientassistance/home.html
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Novartis Oncology Reimbursement Program
PAP Enrollment
Novartis is committed to providing access to our medications for those most in need through the Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation's Patient Assistance Program (PAP). PAP provides assistance to patients experiencing financial hardship who have no third party insurance coverage for their medicines.
Telephone: 1-800-277-2254
Internet site: http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/about-us/our-patient-caregiver-resources/index.jsp
Ortho Biotech Products
The OrthoBiotech Products patient assistance program offers free medication to people who otherwise cannot afford their medications. Patients must meet financial and other program specific criteria to be eligible for assistance. To find out how to apply for medication assistance from the OrthoBiotech Products register at www.RxAssist.org.
Pharmacia Corporation
TreatFirst is a reimbursement counseling and patient assistance program for Pharmacia Corporation’s single-source oncology and supportive care therapy products. The program is designed to provide reimbursement support and assist patients who are financially needy, receiving outpatient care in the US by a US physician.
Telephone: 1-877-744-5675
Internet site: http://www.patientsinneed.com/general_info.asp
Purdue Pharma
The Purdue Pharma patient assistance program offers free medication to people who otherwise cannot afford their medications. Patients must meet financial and other program specific criteria to be eligible for assistance. To find out how to apply for medication assistance from the Purdue Pharma patient assistance program, at www.RxAssist.org.