Times are tough, and if you’re uninsured with bipolar disorder, finding and paying for treatment and medication can seem like an insurmountable challenge. In Bipolar Disorder for Dummies, we offer some suggestions on how to access more affordable mental healthcare assistance, including seeking treatment at community or county mental health clinics or University medical centers. Other community resources such as churches, religious organizations, or support groups such as NAMI and DBSA can help you locate affordable care. Following are some suggestions on where to turn for help when you can’t afford your prescription medications:
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to provide you with enough medication for the time you need to explore other, more permanent solutions. Of course, if you don’t have money to pay for medication, you probably don’t have money to see a doctor, either, so go to the next bullet.
- Contact your state or local Mental Health America affiliate. Call 1-800-969-6642 or search the directory at www.nmha.org/go/searchMHA.
- Check out available Medicare prescription drug plans. If you qualify for Medicare, use the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder to search for prescription assistance programs.
- Contact Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA). You can call 1-888-477-2669 or visit Partnership for Prescription Assistance.
- Visit RxAssist. RxAssist provides a database of prescription assistance programs you can search by medication name or the pharmaceutical company that manufactures the medication. You can often access an online form for applying for assistance.
Prescription assistance programs usually require a doctor’s consent and proof of financial hardship. To be eligible, you must be without health insurance or have no prescription drug benefit through your insurance company. Carefully review the eligibility requirements before applying, so you don’t waste loads of time trying to pursue an option that’s unavailable.
If you’ve tried any of these or other prescription assistance programs or have additional suggestions to offer, please share your experiences and insights.
I currently receive free Lamictal from GSK via their Bridges to Access program. It was surprisingly easy, did not require any kind of tax documents or anything, just proof of income. You get your first 60 days of meds from a pharmacy with a voucher for a $10 copay per prescription in a matter of hours, doing only a preliminary application. (The voucher is printed out online with the application, and the “patient advocate” – your prescriber – makes a phone call to GSK to activate it.) During those 60 days you can gather the rest of the information and send it to GSK and they will send 90 days of meds at a time through the mail.
I’m still titrating up on Lamictal so I have to get extra prescriptions for 25g pills additionally because my prescriber wants me to increase very slowly (& so do I for that matter). I’m in transition between prescribers at the moment but when I see the new doctor I’ll be finding out how complicated it is to work out a dose-increase with their program, but so far it’s been really easy.
It’s a lot easier to be bipolar and uninsured in the northeast and on the west coast than it is in less liberal states. I live in southern CT. My employer doesn’t offer insurance and I don’t qualify for state benefits, but there are sliding scale clinics and things like that in the area. I’ve been using local clinics for a year and a half. The bureaucracy and waiting lists are frustrating – it might take a few weeks to a few months to get your first appointment – but once you’re in it’s a pretty good thing. Of course, you do have to make sure you get a good practitioner, but that’s the case whether or not you have insurance. You always have the right to ask to see someone else.
What a great resource! Thanks for the information!
I have my doctor fax my prescriptions to Canada. There’s some great online pharmacies that will save you a ton of money on lamictal and other drugs.
Great tips, but, ummm … I’m from England and I live in Japan (where medication costs a small fortune every month). Any tips for us more international bipolars?
When I was without health insurance, I was horrified that the doctor referred to the “indigent program.” Surely they could come up with a better name? It was humiliating.
Recently I was talking to a friend online who with her husband earns too much to qualify for any of the programs, but not enough to pay rent, bills, groceries, etc and afford her meds too. I told her that I heard the cheapest pharmacy in the US is Costco, and no you don’t have to be a member to use their pharmacy. I wasn’t sure it was true, it was just a word of mouth thing from another forum I used to go to. Well she got back to me and said, “OMG! This is cheap! I can afford my meds again!” So that might be an option for your readers who do not qualify for the programs listed. It can’t hurt to check it out anyway.
http://is.gd/sEHh
Online Pharmacy Affiliate is the best to participate and to earn money. Good to hear about it.
Hello, We just wanted to use to forum to see if We can help patients out, We are a licensed retail pharmacy located in tampa, Florida. Our pharmacy checks for assistance program for particular medications and provides the lowest prices on this medication. We accept prescriptions by fax from your Drs. Office and mail it free of charge. For a free quote email us the medication name and quantity and the lowest price you have found and we will give a free Rx Savings quote by email or you can call 8134755906 to get a free quote.
What is the email address?
I am in Ohio and I have no job and no insurance. I went to the emergency mental health clinic at the University hospital. They gave me a free 14 day perscription of Seroquel 300 which I am out of as of today. They suggested I get a perscription from a doctor i had gone to in the past going forward. I called to check on the price and it is $500 for a 30 day supply.
Obviously I will not be able to take Seroquel 300. Now I am terrified of the withdrawal. I finally have been able to sleep for the first time in months.
It is all so frightening.
I desperately need my bipolar meds!
My grandson jut has no insurance
No Doctor will see him he’s about to bottom out please help seen this 2 other times
I need to get help with my bipolar I want to be put back on medication again I’m getting more and more angry by the days I’m ruining my relationship with my girlfriend I’m not liking the person who I am please give me a feedback.
Brian, I understand the feeling well. I’m a bipolar type 2. Anger comes naturally to me. And dealing with the system only aggravates things. If you’re not already…get counseling; a good psych for meds; and take a deep breath. And most of all, treat your girl with calm respect…always! She’s precious. And try with all your might and heart to make life productive before it’s too late. These are all mistakes I wish I could’ve avoided. It’s not guaranteed to work. But you can give it your best try…good luck sir…
I dont have insurance but i really need help.
Hi I am a woman in need of Abilify and my Insurance only covers $250.00 leaving me with $430.00 and that is the generic. I am a widow living on a very limited income from my Husband’s Social Security and a very small Annuity of $141.93 which helps pay my Medical Insurance. I badly need Abilify or one of the other meds to help me through this awful pain I have been enduring for so many years. Can someone help me out. Thank you. Judy 05/15/15
My partner of 17 years is bipolar and not meds. Can’t afford health ins. Neither can I. He keeps quiting jobs due to illness gets so depressed won’t eat and will not go out or see anyone. I need help!
I received abilify vouchers from them directly after applying for some sort of income based program they offer. Most medicine companies offer this sort of thing but it does take a few weeks maybe up to a month for approval.
On a different note i do not believe any FREE doctor to have your mental well being as a priority. I have used several different government and charity doctors and its odd they wont change medicines to help you they instead try to keep you on whatever medication they receive the highest kick back from. When I had medicaid the doctor was only allowed a certain medication to prescribe. Then before i could be allowed something different I had to reach a certain level of medication before the government allowed it. Before i could reach this level the drugs affected everything, I felt like the world was going to explode every day all day and his only answer was to increase the dosage which made me lose control more and more. Finally I lost medicaid and thank god for small miracles cause that could have saved my life. The next government program that was free only offered one medication as well and it is a very popular and expensive drug but it did not decrease the anger and caused me to sleep about 18 hours a day making work and life with family impossible. When asked to try something different I was encountered with the same situation. After months of ongoing failure I had to once again give up. I am too currently without insurance and running out of options but I will not give up and pray for myself and everyone to find a doctor that cares and actually listens to us!
I have bipolar disorder with bouts of deep depression. I recently lost my Medicare part D prescription plan. I had up until last March of last year Social Security Disability. I have been appealing ever sense. My case is with the judge and I can’t receive Medicare unless they approve. I highly rely on my med to function daily. No one can help me and I will mostly have to hospitalized myself.
The meds I take are Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Lithium, Lamictal, Clonopin and Seroquel.
I hope you can help me out steer me in the right direction. Thank you.
I have a brother who is bipolar. He has no insurance and no money. I need help..
I am bipolar. I have now been off my medication and I am starting to break down. With one medication limictal I cannot take generic it doesn’t work for me.at $900.00 a mth cannot pay that much less pay for adrenal or the other medications I’m suppose to take. Quit one job because of the panic attacks I was having after a wreck. Lost another job just after 2 weeks because of a melt down. Why is it so hard. It really would be easier to be dead than to have no were to turn. At 53 there doesn’t seem to be any other options.
Need help badly, per roommates request.
I have bipolar depression,suicidal,anger issues,paranoid,can’t concentrate,can’t remember five minutes later,I need mental help but have no insurance or money what do I do I’m unable to keep a job I get confused can’t remember things always think people are plotting things against me
how do you deal with it. I am suffering very hard and I can’t do life anymore.
What can this hurt cause I have tried everything else… I’m bipolar hypo manic… ptsd..I lost my insurance … I can’t afford to see my psychologist or psychiatrist..
. I work..I work very hard .. but without my meds I can’t function in society very well or with husband and kids….I end up doing something stupid …
I am on Cymbalta,Wellbutrin, Lamictal Topomax and Trezapam…
I tried everywhere in my city but these particular medications are not covered… I was almost normal
Some of you are on so many prescriptions thars the a problem theres no way you need all those extra need for alot is in your Head depression and mostly the doctors and pharmacist wallet be stonger you can do it !!!
Do you have bipolar? No one understands.. Even the Dr. Us with bipolar disorder don’t want to be this way.,. It’s very depressing!!!I agree about DR’s prescribing too many meds. Some meds seem to help at first… Then I beg to feel worse than I did before… Constantly changing changing meds are hard on the the body and mind and tends to to send me into into manic mode and then hospital. Fired from a great job of of 28 yr. Lost everything
I believe I have bad bipolar is there anything I can take to help that
I just brought my sister Irena to Florida from new york and Medicaid can not be transfered from state to state. We have about 3 weeks of abilify left for her. I am going to take care of her. She was homeless in NY and without her medication she will be disoriented, hallucinations, paranoia and so forth. She has been diagnosed with pzychoaffective disorder, ptsd, bipolar. I am scared and do not know what to do. She is my world but at a loss on this process. Please help us. Respectfully Rose Armelli.
I’ve never been diagnosed with bipolar depression but I’m pretty sure I am. I’m about to loose my husband cuz I’m so moody and angry all the time. I really need help.
I am like that too! Have you gotten any help? What did you find out
I have some insurance but they don’t cover mental Heath anything. I am bipolar and have been on and off mess because of insurance instability. I can’t afford to see a psychiatrist again because I make 800 dollars a month and that covers about all the bills I pay for… not sure what to do. Any information?
Let me qualify by saying I am a 25 year sufferer of Bipolar, 20 years of that misdiagnosed as type 1 and over-medicated because I never felt good or stabilized. For those of you with 3 or more diagnoses and 4 or more medications, I strongly recommend you get a 2nd opinion. I found a brilliant doctor that thought outside the box with treatment and medication, best decision I ever made.
Also, there are medications that are not recommended for people suffering from Bipolar. Many anti-anxiety medications and anti-depressants contribute to mood lability. A lot of Drs do not stay current with treatments and research. There are much better medications than the old tried & untrue.
You should question diagnoses and medications that conflict, you shouldn’t be taking uppers and downers. Don’t settle for a medication regimen that was ground-breaking in the 1980’s. There are far more, better options now with fewer side effects. Sometimes it’s better to start over. Medication changes aren’t fun but neither is the endless chaos and unnecessary high maintenance , high cost, side effect riddled “treatment”.
Don’t settle. Question. Get another opinion.
To the person that posted:I’ve never been diagnosed with bipolar depression but I’m pretty sure I am. I’m about to loose my husband cuz I’m so moody and angry all the time. I really need help. I am in the same boat. I was placed on 2 different med venlafaxine for depression & alprazolam for anxiety but my mood has gotten so out of whack. I stay home because I don’t want to interact with others because I’m so moody at times. I’m at the point of calling it quits in my marriage. At first he wanted out now I want out.
There is an extremely affordable prescription service, like-cheap copay prices- in Winter Park, FL called Xubex. (Google for info)
I didn’t have insurance for awhile and their service saved my life. Even when I moved out of state… I just faxed in my orders.
Good luck!