RxAssist.org, Help for High Medical Costs

According to statistics roughly 17 percent of African-Americans are without health insurance. In some states it is as high as 28 percent. Sadly black people suffer from some illnesses at a higher rate than other white and non-white groups. According to statistics from the Department of Health and Human Services blacks have the highest mortality rate for cancer and suffer disproportionately from diabetes and high blood pressure. To make matters worse African-Americans are 55 percent more likely to be uninsured than white Americans.

 This nation ranks as the most expensive place on earth to get seriously ill according to USAToday. Even with insurance, medical bills can be astronomical. Staying healthy is the safest and least expensive option in the United States.

For African-Americans the Internet and other technologies can help to not only improve our health with information but also help black people fight the high cost of prescription drugs.

RxAssist is a nationally recognized online resource center for medication assistance. The service was founded in 1999 with funding from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. RxAssist is part of the Center for Primary Care and Prevention at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island.  RxAssist is an easy to use website for finding advocates, caregivers, prescription drugs and other medical services.

RxAssist patient assistance programs are operated by pharmaceutical companies. The Prescription Assistance Program provides free or steeply discounted medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medicine. People in need can also find a complete database of assistance programs, practical tools, news, and articles for patients and health professionals. All in one place.

You can find numerous programs using the RxAssist website and they all have their own specific requirements but the most common requirements are you must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, have little or no prescription insurance coverage and meet program income guidelines.

As we stated earlier, medical care can be expensive. And some programs can even help people who have insurance.  Qualified applicants can find help with things like co-pays, and prescription discount cards that can be printed right from the website. Many of the programs work with Medicare Part D Plans.

Also on the website is a database of prescription drugs and associated programs that can be searched by the generic or drug brand name or by the pharmaceutical company name. Just type in the medication’s full name with correct spelling.   You can also search using partial names such as  “Lip” if you are looking for Lipitor.

If an application  for the drug is available you can either type your information directly into the application on the screen and print it out or print out the application and fill it out by hand.  If you can’t find an application online, use the phone number provided at the top of the program details page to call the company for information on how to get an application.

Users can find listings of free and low cost health care programs located in  their community and even disease specific treatment programs and financial aid for people suffering from chronic diseases.

Other features of the website include;

• Drug Discount Cards
• Federal Poverty Guidelines
• Medicare Part D Facts
• Patient Assistance Program Directory
• Patient Assistance Program FAQs
• Programs That Assist with Medication Co-pays
• Programs That Offer Free or Low Cost Health Care
• Statewide Drug Assistance Programs
• Alphabetical listing of drug companies and their patient assistance programs.

RxAssist is a website that is focused on helping the poor, under-insured and un-insured find the medical help they may desperately need. The technology of the Internet offers ease of access and speed in finding that help. For many black people this can make a great difference in health and quality of life.

Now you know