Uninsured Patients: A Case Study

Overview: The combination of many issues such as prescriptions cost, patients’ economic status, and lack of health insurance, interfere with the patients’ access to their medications. This creates an environmental problem that puts patients at a higher risk for morbidity and mortality, and consequently, increasing the healthcare cost of treatments on health complications due to non-medication compliance (Duke, Raube, & Lipton, 2005, p. 726). Approximately 50 million people in the United States have inadequate insurance coverage for medical needs. Although many pharmaceutical companies offer assistance to underinsured and uninsured patients with their medications, these programs often are underutilized because of lack of available clinical staff to help with the application process and follow-up with …show more content…
Some PAPs are much easier to use than others. Therefore, the PAPs most reported to be used were Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Wyeth-Ayerst, Parke-Davis, Eli Lilly, and GlaxoWellcome (Duke, Raube, & Lipton, 2005, p. 729-730).
3. What are the requirements for Patient Assistance Program?
“Most companies require some kind of income proof like a W2 or 1040. If they are homeless with no income, a letter from the doctor stating they are homeless will suffice. Also, there is a tax form they can fill out stating they do not file taxes” (C, Cullens, Personal Communication, February 10, 2017).
4. There is any Prescription Financial Assistance Program?
“There are various prescription financial assistance programs. One example is called Safety Net. But there are many charity programs that assist patients with Medicare. Those are also found on the internet as well. Some are independent; some are listed on the manufacturer’s website” (C, Cullens, Personal Communication, February 10,