Help with paying for prescriptions in North Carolina and free medications
Prescription medications remain one of the most expensive parts of healthcare in North Carolina, especially for residents who live on hourly wages, a lower fixed income or people who lack insurance. The state, as well as non-profits in NC, have multiple programs that reduce or eliminate the cost of medications. Learn about the main ways that people in North Carolina can get help with paying for prescription medications or even free medications below.
A major focus of the prescription drug assistance programs in NC is to help children, adults that have an extreme financial hardship and older residents who live on a fixed-income. These programs include statewide insurance coverage, charitable pharmacies, drug donation laws, company assistance programs and local nonprofit services.
Government benefits in NC that help pay for medications
North Carolina Medicaid insurance is one of the most significant sources of prescription help in the state. Coverage from this NC / federally funded benefit includes a broad list of generic and brand-name medications for chronic and acute conditions. Residents who meet the income guidelines can apply online through https://epass.nc.gov. Pharmacy benefits are included in all Medicaid health plans, and most prescriptions have very low copayments.
- Often combined with Medicaid is CHIP (NC Health Choice), which helps low to moderate income families with kids under the age of 19. The program also covers many medications used for mental health treatment, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and other ongoing conditions that can otherwise become unaffordable. For families with children who are not eligible for Medicaid, the state runs NC Health Choice, which also provides prescription benefits. Enrollment for both programs takes place through the same website.
Uninsured adults, no matter where they live in NC, can access help through Medication Assistance Program (MAP), which is run by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Office of Rural Health. The program operates in partnership with free clinics, community health centers and rural health centers across the state. These clinics work directly with pharmaceutical companies to secure free medications for patients who meet income and insurance requirements.
- The program also helps individuals enroll in company patient assistance programs that are operated by pharmaceutical companies. These provide many brand-name medications at no cost. A directory of participating Medication Assistance Program (MAP) sites is posted online under the Office of Rural Health section (website: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/orh) Residents usually work with a clinic staff member who gathers prescriptions, income information and pharmaceutical company forms.
The North Carolina HIV Medication Assistance Program is for people that live with HIV and that meet other requirements set by the state. The program is operated by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and provides antiretroviral drugs and related medications to individuals who meet income and residency rules.
- It assists residents who are uninsured as well as those who have insurance but cannot afford their medication copayments. Program details and application materials are listed at https://epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/cd/hiv/hmap.html. . Case managers at Ryan White clinics and county health departments assist with enrollment and help coordinate prescriptions through HMAP, Medicaid and pharmaceutical programs.
Charities and non-profits in North Carolina that provide free medications
NC MedAssist operates as the only statewide free pharmacy in North Carolina. The non-profit provides free prescription medications to uninsured adults who meet its income guidelines. The Free Pharmacy Program includes medications for chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, mental health disorders and heart disease. Eligible residents must live in North Carolina, have no insurance coverage and meet income limits listed on the program’s website. Applications and instructions are available at https://medassist.org.
- Once approved, medications are mailed to the patient’s home or made available for pickup. NC MedAssist also runs mobile free pharmacies that visit cities and counties across the state. These events distribute free over-the-counter medicines and screen people for eligibility for prescription assistance. It relies heavily on donations from the community and also drug manufacturers. The program also works closely with charities and faith based organizations across the state, including national groups like NeedyMeds that have information on medication programs.
North Carolina also operates a statewide drug donation system that allows “unused but safe” medications to be re-dispensed to patients who cannot afford them. This program, created by the state’s Drug, Supplies and Medical Device Repository law, permits pharmacies and free or charitable clinics to accept donated medications that are sealed, unexpired and properly packaged. There is also a national non-profit that redistributes medications known as the Dispensary of Hope.
- The donated medicine is then provided at no cost or a very small handling fee to low income or uninsured residents. Many of the free or charitable clinics that participate in the Medication Assistance Program also take part in the drug repository. We have a list of North Carolina Free and Charitable Clinics.
Other specialized prescription donation programs also operate in the state, including RemediChain, which matches donated specialty medications to patients who need them. The program focuses on costly drugs such as chemotherapy medications. North Carolina residents can request assistance through https://donatemymeds.org/need-meds/ . RemediChain works alongside the state’s own drug repository laws and helps fill gaps for patients with extremely high pharmacy bills.
Discount card programs, such as from NaCo, GoodRx and others operate alongside these charitable and insurance-based options. These discount cards are free to sign up for and use, though the programs are not run by the state. However, many North Carolina pharmacies accept them including the major chains such as CVS and Walmart. Prices vary widely, so residents compare them to the price offered by their insurance plan or to Medicaid copayments. It is not an insurance policy, and there are no conditions that need to be met by applicants. Read more and find a list of prescription medication discount cards.
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