Coinsumer Options for Financial Assistance for Medications

Medical debt is an increasingly significant problem in America, and for many people, medications play a large role. Not only are medications usually required to be purchased on a regular basis, but they can sometimes mean life or death. Something as simple as an antibiotic can be quite costly and surprisingly expensive. However, consumers do have some options for financial assistance. Local Aid Groups Consumers usually have a variety of local aid groups -- and even national aid groups -- that they can contact. Often, this depends on the status of the consumer. A consumer may qualify for a "senior" medications program or a "veteran's" medications program. The local Department of Human Services will often have additional information.

    

Pharmacy Programs Many pharmacies run their own financial assistance programs. To find financial assistance pharmacy michigan, a consumer would call their local pharmacies and inquire about their low-income aid programs. These pharmacy programs have the benefit of being very simple; the consumer need only visit the pharmacy and fill out the paperwork there. Low Income Clinics Low income clinics offer prescriptions at a low cost and will also usually be able to connect their patients with financial assistance programs for their medications. Low income clinics are also very knowledgeable about the cheaper medications, so they may be able to modify prescriptions to find the lowest possible cost. Medical Lines of Credit

    

There are a variety of companies that provide lines of credit specifically for medical use. These lines of credit are usually open to those with lower credit scores and lower income because they are only to be used for prescriptions, with doctors and for dental care. General Financing Options Those who have exhausted the above options may be able to avail themselves of more general financing options; consumers may be able to open up credit cards or take out small personal cash loans. However, this is usually the last resort because it is not a financially sustainable situation -- over time, the consumer's amount owed will increase unless their financial situation changes. In general, consumers have a wide variety of options for financial assistance at most pharmacies. However, consumers must advocate for themselves if they are interested in procuring help; these solutions usually need to be sought out rather than being offered directly.