To increase access toasthma medications, many pharmaceutical manufacturers have set up programs to help defray out-of-pocket costs.Prescription assistance programs (PAPs)are designed to provide inhalers and other asthma drugs free of charge or at a highly discounted price to lower-income individuals and families. Copay assistance programs (CAPs) cover a portion of drug copay costs for people withhealth insurance.
There are also non-profit copay programs for those who do not qualify for manufacturer-sponsored programs.
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Program Eligibility
Proof of income in the form of your most recent tax return is generally required for PAP applications. By contrast, many CAPs only ask that you provide the amount you earned in the previous year.
Most PAPs also require that you have no otherprescription drug coverage(although exceptions are often made for people withMedicare Part Dwho are unable to afford their drugs).Other restrictions may apply depending on the asthma drug assistance program.
In addition to income requirements, applicants are generally required to be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
Application and Approval
Your healthcare provider’s office can likely make you aware ofPAPand CAP programs for the asthma drugs they regularly prescribe, such as those outlined below.
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca’s PAP service, called AZ&Me Prescription Savings Program, is available to legal residents of the United States.
To qualify:
TheFasenra Savings Programcovers up to $13,000 of copay costs for Fasenra per calendar year. People enrolled in a state or federally funded prescription insurance program, including Medicare, are not eligible.
Types of Medications Used to Treat Asthma
GenentechGenentech, manufacturers ofXolair (omalizumab), offers PAP and CAP services to cover some or all of the cost of the drug.Genentech Patient Foundationis a PAP open to legal residents of the United States who either do not have health insurance or are unable to afford Xolair with health insurance (including Medicare).To qualify:Your household income must be less than $150,000 per year. For households larger than four people, add $25,000 for each extra person.You must have first tried other types of patient assistance programs, such as HealthWell or Patient Advocate Program, if you have insurance.TheXolair Copay Programhas no income restrictions and reduces your out-of-pocket costs to $5 per prescription with an annual cap of $10,000 per year. The program also covers injection services for up $1,000 per year.
Genentech
Genentech, manufacturers ofXolair (omalizumab), offers PAP and CAP services to cover some or all of the cost of the drug.
Genentech Patient Foundationis a PAP open to legal residents of the United States who either do not have health insurance or are unable to afford Xolair with health insurance (including Medicare).
TheXolair Copay Programhas no income restrictions and reduces your out-of-pocket costs to $5 per prescription with an annual cap of $10,000 per year. The program also covers injection services for up $1,000 per year.
GlaxoSmithKline
The multinational pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) offers PAP services for the following asthma medications:
TheGSK Patient Assistance Programis available to legal residents of the United States or Puerto Rico who have no prescription drug benefits through any insurer or payer program. Exception: You may apply if you are a Medicare Part D recipient.
The program covers 100% of the cost of a drug for eligible individuals.
If you are a Medicare Part D recipient, you must have spent at least $600 on any of the above-listed GSK drugs during the current calendar year.
GlaxoSmithKline also offers aDollars-Off Programfor commercially insured people. Although the program provides significant savings on select drugs, including Breo Ellipta, the list tends to be small and can change at any time.
Types of Inhalers Used to Treat Asthma
MerckThe American pharmaceutical giant Merck offers both PAP services for the following asthma medications:Asmanex (mometasone)Dulera (mometasone/formoterol)Nasonex (mometasone)Proventil (salbutamol)Singulair (montelukast)Merck Helpsis the company’s PAP service that provides the medicines free of charge to eligible individuals, primarily those without health insurance. The program is open to legal residents of the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories.To qualify:You must not have health insurance or other coverage for your prescription medicine, including Medicare.You have a household income of less than 400% of the FPL.If you have health insurance but still can’t afford the medications, you must demonstrate financial hardship.
Merck
The American pharmaceutical giant Merck offers both PAP services for the following asthma medications:
Merck Helpsis the company’s PAP service that provides the medicines free of charge to eligible individuals, primarily those without health insurance. The program is open to legal residents of the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories.
SanofiSanofi, a major French pharmaceutical company, offers bothPAP and CAP servicesfor the drugDupixent (omalizumab)used in the treatment of moderate to severe asthma.TheDupixent MyWay Programis Sanofi’s PAP service available to legal residents of the United States. It offers the drug free of charge to uninsured or functionally uninsured people.To qualify:Your household income must be less than 400% of FPL.If you have health insurance but still can’t afford the medications, you must demonstrate financial hardship.Dupixent MyWay Copay Programis available to residents of the United States or Puerto Rico who have commercial insurance, covering up to $13,000 of copay costs per year. There are no income restrictions, but Medicare or Medicaid recipients are not eligible.
Sanofi
Sanofi, a major French pharmaceutical company, offers bothPAP and CAP servicesfor the drugDupixent (omalizumab)used in the treatment of moderate to severe asthma.
TheDupixent MyWay Programis Sanofi’s PAP service available to legal residents of the United States. It offers the drug free of charge to uninsured or functionally uninsured people.
Dupixent MyWay Copay Programis available to residents of the United States or Puerto Rico who have commercial insurance, covering up to $13,000 of copay costs per year. There are no income restrictions, but Medicare or Medicaid recipients are not eligible.
TEVA PharmaceuticalsTEVA is one of the largest generic pharmaceutical companies in the world and has established PAP services for users of the following asthma drugs:ProAir HFA (albuterol)QVAR (beclomethasone dipropionate)TEVA Cares Foundationoffers these drugs at no cost to people who meet insurance and income criteria. The program is open to legal residents of the United States.To qualify:You must have no prescription drug coverage of any sort.Your household income is less than 400% of the FPL.
TEVA Pharmaceuticals
TEVA is one of the largest generic pharmaceutical companies in the world and has established PAP services for users of the following asthma drugs:
TEVA Cares Foundationoffers these drugs at no cost to people who meet insurance and income criteria. The program is open to legal residents of the United States.
A Word From VerywellIf you are ineligible for a manufacturer PAP or CAP (or there are no manufacturer assistance programs covering your drugs), you may be able to access discounts through pharmacy drug savings programs likeBlink Health,Good RX,Kroger Savings Club,Publix,Walgreens Prescriptions Savings Club,Walmart $4 Prescription Program, and others. Some require annual membership fees (and usually offer steeper savings than those that don’t).
A Word From Verywell
If you are ineligible for a manufacturer PAP or CAP (or there are no manufacturer assistance programs covering your drugs), you may be able to access discounts through pharmacy drug savings programs likeBlink Health,Good RX,Kroger Savings Club,Publix,Walgreens Prescriptions Savings Club,Walmart $4 Prescription Program, and others. Some require annual membership fees (and usually offer steeper savings than those that don’t).
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.HHS poverty guidelines.Medicare Interactive.The parts of Medicare (A, B, C, D).AZ&Me.Requirements.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.HHS poverty guidelines.Medicare Interactive.The parts of Medicare (A, B, C, D).AZ&Me.Requirements.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.HHS poverty guidelines.Medicare Interactive.The parts of Medicare (A, B, C, D).AZ&Me.Requirements.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.HHS poverty guidelines.
Medicare Interactive.The parts of Medicare (A, B, C, D).
AZ&Me.Requirements.
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