Help paying for prescriptions in FL or get free medications.
Many people in Florida struggle to pay for prescriptions, especially when they are uninsured, underinsured or have a low-income. Medication costs in the state vary widely between pharmacies, and high deductibles or gaps in insurance coverage, including people on government insurance, often cause people to skip doses. Yet Florida has several reliable ways to reduce or eliminate prescription costs, including state insurance programs, nonprofit clinics, discount cards and pharmaceutical company assistance programs. Learn about the main programs in FL that help pay for medications or that give free prescription drugs.
Families with low income can often combine several of these options, whether for generic or name brand medications, to bring the cost of essential medicines down to a manageable level. There are also prescription drug programs that focus on helping senior citizens / retirees in FL, that make up an increasing percentage of the population.
Medicare and Medicaid help the low-income, senior citizens and people with a disability in FL
Medicare beneficiaries in Florida can lower drug costs through Part D insurance and the federal Extra Help program. Extra Help lowers premiums and copays for people with limited income and resources, which is common among older renters and retirees living on Social Security. Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs operates the SHINE counseling service, which assists residents at no cost and helps them apply for Extra Help or compare Part D plans. SHINE can be reached at 1-800-963-5337 and additional details are posted at https://www.floridashine.org
There are also private insurance options. Medicare Advantage plans in Florida may also offer reduced drug copays or preferred pricing through certain pharmacy networks. One of the key programs is a Medicare Part D Plan and members can confirm these benefits by calling the number on their insurance card.
Florida Medicaid is one of the broadest ways to access low cost medications. It focuses on very low-income residents and/or people living in poverty. The program covers most prescription drugs at no charge when they are written by an enrolled provider and fall within the state’s preferred drug list.
- Both the federal government and the state of Florida have partnered together to create this service, as it combines state and federal funds. The focus is on those people who have no other resources or access to medical care or prescriptions. More information on pharmacy benefits is available at https://ahca.myflorida.com.
Florida KidCare, which is the state’s version of CHIP and part of Medicaid, helps children and teens under nineteen access prescriptions for only a few dollars per fill, with no deductibles. Healthy Kids members generally pay between zero and ten dollars per covered prescription depending on income. Enrollment information is at https://www.floridakidcare.org.
- Parents often find that switching children to KidCare immediately lowers the monthly cost of asthma inhalers, antibiotics, diabetes supplies and other essential medicines. In addition to helping kids / teens, it is even for parents that already have some other form of insurance. Call 1-888-540-5437.
DCF, partnering with CMS, also has information on and additional Medicare Savings Programs. This will generally support families that qualify for public assistance.. It helps pay for some of the costs of Medicare, ranging from Part A to B or D. There will still be co-pays required from the client, but the program helps offset some of the costs involved. Dial 866-762-2237 for more details.
Health centers and charities in FL can provide medications
Local community health centers can assist. Uninsured adults in Florida can get help too, as many often rely on free and charitable clinics for low cost medications, with some even passing out free generic medications when possible. The Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics as well as Needhelppayingbills maintains a directory of clinics that offer routine care and prescription support to people without insurance. The directory is at income based and sliding fee clinics in FL.
- These clinics may dispense common medicines from on site pharmacies, provide short term supplies or help patients enroll in long term assistance programs for brand name drugs. Some clinics operate full prescription programs. The staff will also help people apply for assistance with drug manufacturer applications for eligible adults. Charitable clinics remain one of the most dependable medication resources for uninsured adults anywhere in the state.
The Assistance Fund is a national, independent charitable patient-assistance organization with headquarters in Orlando, Florida. It provides financial help, including to pay for medications, for people facing high out-of-pocket medical costs, including copayments, coinsurance, deductibles and related expenses for specific serious, chronic, or rare diseases.
- TAF currently administers more than one hundred disease-specific assistance programs including the medications needs for them. Eligible patients must be U.S. residents, live in Florida (or another U.S. state), have health insurance (private or government-sponsored), meet the income requirements, and have a valid prescription for an FDA-approved treatment for the covered disease. When approved, TAF may reimburse insured patients for prescription copays and related expenses. The information on the Florida Fund is here: https://tafcares.org/. Or call call the toll-free number (877) 245-4412. It can help pay for some of those very costly but needed prescriptions.
Save on medications - discount cards
Residents can also lower prescription costs with statewide and national discount cards. The Florida Rx Card allows anyone to print or download a free discount card at https://floridarxcard.com It works at most major pharmacies and helps uninsured individuals secure lower cash prices. All residents are eligible, regardless of income, age, or household size. There are no restrictions and the card is free to sign up for as well as use. The total savings depend on the type of medications as well as pharmacy used but people can save anywhere from 20 to even as much as 80%.
- Discount cards do not replace insurance and savings vary by drug, but they can reduce the cost of many generic medications and are useful for people who have high deductibles or no prescription coverage. Pharmacies are required to process the card to determine whether it will produce a lower price for that prescription.
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