Financial Assistance for Your Multiple Sclerosis Medications

MS Lifelines® Access Made Simple
Phone: (877) 447-3243 option 4
Fax: (866) 227-3243
Program website: http://www.mslifelines.com/rebif/affordableaccess/access-made-simple.jsp

Tysabri Patient Assistance Program
Biogen-Idec financial assistance services for TYSABRI patients include: providing co-payment assistance if you are eligible and insured; helping identify other sources of financial assistance; and providing free drug to eligible TYSABRI patients  The patient must be uninsured or underinsured and meet income and other eligibility guidelines that are not disclosed. The patient must also have MS and be a US resident.  Those with Medicare Part D may eligible. Decisions made on a case by case basis.

Phone: (888) 489-7227 or (800) 456-2255
Program website: http://www.tysabri.com/tysbProject/tysb.portal/_baseurl/threeColLayout/SCSRepository/en_US/tysb/home/treatment-with-tysabri/tysabri-patient-services.xml

Novantrone Patient Assistance Program
The patient must not have any private nor public insurance and meet income guidelines that are not disclosed. Medical diagnosis necessary for this program is not specified. The patient must also be a US resident.

Novantrone Patient Assistance Program

1 Technology Place, Rockland, MA 02370
Phone: (877) 447-3243
Fax: (866) 227-3243
Program website: http://www.mslifelines.com/rebif/affordableaccess/access-made-simple.jsp

Acthar® Gel Patient Assistance Program
The patient must have no insurance and be financially unable to afford the medication. The patient is given assistance from 25%-100% for one year. A negative decision can be appealed. The patient must also be a US citizen being treated by a US doctor.

Acthar Gel Patient Assistance Program

C/O NORD, P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968
Phone: (888) 435-2284
Fax: (203) 798-2289
Program website: http://www.rarediseases.org/programs/medication

2. ASSISTANCE FROM COPAYMENT FOUNDATIONS

A copayment is the amount an insured patient must pay for a prescription drug or an office visit at the time of service.  It is part of the cost-sharing arrangement with the health insurance company and varies depending upon the specifics of coverage.  Patients who have private insurance coverage or a Medicare Part D plan but still can’t afford the copays or deductibles for the expensive medications they need are considered UNDERINSURED.

Since 2003, a number of independent, charitable organizations have been established to assist the underinsured patient in meeting this specific financial need.  The drug companies make contributions to each organization which then independently administer the assistance to medically and financially qualified patients according to their own criteria and resources.

Each of the following non-profit organizations maintain segregated disease funds, including ones for MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, from which awards are made.  When the resources of a particular fund become too low, applications will not be accepted until sufficient funds become available.  This means that you may need to bounce back-and-forth between organizations looking for assistance and may even have to wait until a program opens up to new or renewing patients.