What Are Patient Assistance Programs?

What is a prescription assistance program?
Prescription assistance programs, also known as PAPs, are designed to help people afford their medications or help cover costs on medical bills. Prescription assistance programs can vary by state and vary in qualifications needed to enroll.
Prescription assistance programs are typically offered by pharmaceutical companies to help people afford their brand and specialty medication costs. If you take generic medications, prescription coupons like RxSaver may actually be your cheapest option. If you are prescribed brand-only medications or specialty prescriptions, a prescription assistance program might be the right option to consider for financial support.
Prescription assistance programs and patient assistance programs typically work the same in helping people afford some type of medical cost.
The RxSaver Rx Advocacy program is a prescription assistance service that helps patients afford their medication costs. This specific program helps people who are currently taking high-cost prescription drugs, like insulin, for example, and cannot afford to pay for their medication. Unlike certain PAPs specifically for the uninsured, patients can enroll in Rx Advocacy regardless if they have health insurance or not.
Do I qualify for a prescription assistance program?
Each prescription program will have its own qualifying criteria but most will at least include the following:
- Proof of U.S. citizenship
- Pay stubs or records of income to show current or previous wages
- Proof that you are uninsured or that your health care insurance does not cover your medical costs
- Other eligibility requirements determined by the program
Do I need insurance coverage to use a prescription assistance program?
No, in fact, most prescription assistance programs help those without health care coverage so they can afford their medication costs.
There are other ways to save on prescription costs if you don’t have health care coverage. RxSaver coupons, for example, work in place of insurance coverage so you can save significantly off the cash price of your prescription medication.
What is the difference between a prescription savings card and a prescription assistance program?
A prescription savings card is typically supplied by an organization separate from a national pharmacy, or drug manufacturer. This prescription savings card, like RxSaver’s Prescription Discount Card, can be applied to any prescription transaction at the point of sale to determine if there are savings available on the medication. RxSaver’s card is free to order and can either be carried with someone or shown on mobile device when picking up a prescription.
What is the difference between a prescription assistance program and RxSaver?
RxSaver allows you to find 6,000+ prescription coupons in real-time through the RxSaver app or RxSaver website. RxSaver offers coupons for medications at nearby pharmacies and lets you find the cheapest coupon for your medication before picking up your prescription.
RxSaver is always working to find the best price for you on medication and constantly updating pricing information. A prescription discount program may be limited in what savings the program can offer on your medication costs.
RxSaver is free to anyone to use, whether you are insured or uninsured. Plus, you don’t have to qualify in advance before using the free platform, and no membership fees are required.
Determine If A Prescription Assistance Program or RxSaver is Best For Your Health Care Needs If you are currently prescribed a specific brand medication or a variety of specialty prescription drugs, a prescription assistance program might be the best route for you to afford your medications. However, RxSaver is a free platform to price check your medication before filling any prescription to find the cheapest coupon.

RxSaver Editors
RxSaver Editors are wellness enthusiasts who help you learn how you can save the most on prescription medication costs and other health-related topics.
The information on this site is generalized and is not medical advice. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard seeking advice or delay in seeking treatment because of something you have read on our site. RxSaver makes no warranty as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of this information.
If you are in crisis or you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.


