Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
This community is a place where members can discuss current events and weigh in on what's going on in the world.
Finding an effective medication for MS can be challenging. And once you find one that works for you, paying for it can be another major challenge. Below is an excert from MS Quarterly I just received. I thought this would be a good resource for our members:
The National MS Society Web site (www.nationalmssociety.org) is a good resource. Click on Living with MS at the top of the page, then Insurance and Money Matters on the left. This will take you to a page with various resources for financing your medications. If you have no insurance or drug coverage, pay particular attention to Resources for the Uninsured and Under-insured. If you do have insurance, the society advises that you fine-tune your compliance with your plans provisions to get the best results. Learn and follow their rules about pharmacy choice, the list of drugs approved for coverage and tiiered co-payment arrangements. Mail-order pharmacies usually bring some savings for drugs you take regularly over time. And discuss generic alternatives with your doctor if they are available; though there are not yet generic versions for Copaxone, Rebif, Avonex, Bateseron and Tysabri.
According to the same Web site, the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Administration may provide some prescription assistance or coverage for military veterans, retired military personnel or their dependents. They can be reached at 877-222-8387 or www.va.gov/health_benefits. The Department of Defense Military health System TRICARE may also provide some benefits, see www.tricare.osd.mil.
Similar information with direct links to assistance programs, can also be found on the MS Association of America Web site (http://www.msassociation.org/programs/medications/types/).
Beyond these resources, there are a number of prescription assistance programs for the general public. Each program has various requirements and restrictions. Many will not ship the medications directly to the patients home, but require the physicians office to receive and distribute the medication so that is another element to consider, especially if the physicians office is a considerable distance from home.
The partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA): www.pparx.org 1-888-4PPA-NOW
You can also reach PPA through the Web site for The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, representing the countrys leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies: http://www.phrma.org/about_phrma. Click on Patient Assistance programs.
National Organization for Rare Disorders http://www.rarediseases.org/programs/medication
NeedyMeds: www.needymeds. Org
Manufacturers Assistance Programs:
Ampyra http://ampyra.com/newly_prescribed/financial or http://ampyra.com/already_taking_ampyra/financial
Gilenya http://www.patientassistancenow.com/
Copaxone www.sharedsolutions.com
Rebif www.rebif.com or www.mslifelines.com
Avonex www avonex.com
Bateseron www.betaseron.com or www.multiplesclerosis.com
Tysabri www.tysabri.com
The National MS Society Web site (www.nationalmssociety.org) is a good resource. Click on Living with MS at the top of the page, then Insurance and Money Matters on the left. This will take you to a page with various resources for financing your medications. If you have no insurance or drug coverage, pay particular attention to Resources for the Uninsured and Under-insured. If you do have insurance, the society advises that you fine-tune your compliance with your plans provisions to get the best results. Learn and follow their rules about pharmacy choice, the list of drugs approved for coverage and tiiered co-payment arrangements. Mail-order pharmacies usually bring some savings for drugs you take regularly over time. And discuss generic alternatives with your doctor if they are available; though there are not yet generic versions for Copaxone, Rebif, Avonex, Bateseron and Tysabri.
According to the same Web site, the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Administration may provide some prescription assistance or coverage for military veterans, retired military personnel or their dependents. They can be reached at 877-222-8387 or www.va.gov/health_benefits. The Department of Defense Military health System TRICARE may also provide some benefits, see www.tricare.osd.mil.
Similar information with direct links to assistance programs, can also be found on the MS Association of America Web site (http://www.msassociation.org/programs/medications/types/).
Beyond these resources, there are a number of prescription assistance programs for the general public. Each program has various requirements and restrictions. Many will not ship the medications directly to the patients home, but require the physicians office to receive and distribute the medication so that is another element to consider, especially if the physicians office is a considerable distance from home.
The partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA): www.pparx.org 1-888-4PPA-NOW
You can also reach PPA through the Web site for The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, representing the countrys leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies: http://www.phrma.org/about_phrma. Click on Patient Assistance programs.
National Organization for Rare Disorders http://www.rarediseases.org/programs/medication
NeedyMeds: www.needymeds. Org
Manufacturers Assistance Programs:
Ampyra http://ampyra.com/newly_prescribed/financial or http://ampyra.com/already_taking_ampyra/financial
Gilenya http://www.patientassistancenow.com/
Copaxone www.sharedsolutions.com
Rebif www.rebif.com or www.mslifelines.com
Avonex www avonex.com
Bateseron www.betaseron.com or www.multiplesclerosis.com
Tysabri www.tysabri.com
Join the Conversation