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With these 700-plus words I hope to help you save hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars this year. If you don't have a computer, use one at your local library to tap into some of these bargains.
Most large pharmaceutical companies have free "Patient Assistance Programs" for those of us somewhere between Medicaid and the upper limits of the government's poverty level. If you need drugs you can't afford, this is where to begin.
Get their application and return it with your prescription, doctor's signature, proof of income, etc., and you could get your medicine for free.
Generally, it's a 90-day supply, after which you must reapply. Often, instead of mailing your medicine to you, you must pick it up at your doctor's office.
Go to Suddenly Senior's Drug Assistance Page at www.suddenlysenior.com/patientassistanceprograms.html for a list of pharmaceutical companies, enrollment instructions and toll-free telephone numbers.
You should also check the state's senior programs. Although most are tapped out, some still offer help. A list of programs and their toll-free numbers is at: www.suddenlysenior.com/cheapdrugs.html
If you're a veteran, there's an excellent chance you can get your drugs for about a $7 co-payment. In 1996, Congress dropped eligibility requirements. Call your local Veterans Affairs office for details.
Pfizer's Share Card gets you a month's worth of any Pfizer drug (Lipitor, Viagra, Zoloft, etc.) for about $15. To qualify, you must be on Medicare, have an annual individual gross income below $18,000 ($24,000 for couples), and have no other prescription coverage. Call toll-free 1-800-717-6005.
LillyAnswers Card provides a 30-day supply of Evista, Humulin, Prozac or other Lilly medication for about $12. Call toll-free 1-877-795-4559.
GlaxoSmithKline's Orange Card saves seniors 30 to 40 percent off retail prices of Advair, Serevent, Avandia, Flonase, Wellbutrin or any of this manufacturer's drugs. Eligible seniors must be enrolled in Medicare, lack drug insurance, and have annual incomes at or below $30,000 for a individual or $40,000 for a couple. Call toll-free 1-888-672-6436.
Novartis' CareCard saves seniors 30 to 40 percent or more off retail prices of Diovan, Lotensin, Lamisil, Lescol or any Novartis medicine. Qualification requirements are similar to the others, although for this card an individual must make less than $28,000 ($38,000 for a couple). If you earn less than $18,000 year ($24,000 for a couple), you may be able to get a Novartis drug for about $12 a month. Call toll-free 1-866-974-2273.
If you qualify for one card, but not another, consider asking your doctor to substitute a similar drug made by the manufacturer whose card you have.
The Together Rx Card - issued by Abbott Labs, AstraZeneca, Aventis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson and Novartis - could save you 25 to 40 percent or more on any medicine these manufacturers make.
A list is at www.togetherrx.com/druglist.html Income limits are $28,000 for individuals, $38,000 for couples. Call toll-free 1-800-865-7211.
Another resource you may find valuable is the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which helps senior citizens with answers to their prescription medication questions. Call toll-free 1-800-633-4227.
Finally, the senior HMOs are back, now with more generous benefits. With millions taken from Medicare, the Bush administration is increasing funding by up to 22 percent for companies such as Humana, UnitedHealthcare, WellCare and others competing with traditional Medicare. Some now offer generics with a small co-pay. But be careful. You lose your choice of doctors; often Medicare is still your best bet, even without drug benefits. Remember, Medicare won't drop you.
I have saved thousands of dollars - almost always 40 to 90 percent of U.S. drugstore prices - buying drugs from licensed Canadian pharmacists. In spite of what the FDA and Big Pharma would like you to believe, it's not only inexpensive, but also safe and dependable. Even the FDA admits that it has found no evidence that any American ever sickened or died from prescriptions filled by a Canadian pharmacy.
In the meantime, there's lots of valuable information about buying from Canadian pharmacies at www.suddenlysenior.com/canadiandrugstores.html Remember: The most effective drug in the world is useless unless it's affordable.
- Frank Kaiser is a nationally syndicated columnist who lives in Clearwater. His Web site, www.suddenlysenior.com includes nostalgia, trivia, senior humor and 111 Best Senior Links. Write Frank c/o Seniority, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or e-mail features@sptimes.com