Senior News Line
Get help with high drug costs
By MATILDA CHARLES

Are you having trouble paying for your drug prescriptions, or do you know someone who is? Many of the big drug companies have assistance programs to provide free or lowcost drugs to seniors or disabled persons. You'll need to do some work, however, to apply for those programs.

+ The National Council on Aging (www.benefitscheckup. org) will help identify programs that might pay for your prescriptions.

+ Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (www.phrma.org) has a database of drug names and companies that have patient assistance programs.

+ The Medicine Program (www.themedicineprogram.co m) will help you enroll in the correct program for a $5 charge per application. Call 1-573- 996-7300 to learn more.

+ The Merck Prescription Assistance Program (www.merck.com) offers discounts of 15 percent to 40 percent on many drugs. Click on Patients and Caregivers, and then on Merck Patient Assistance Program, or call 1- 800-727-5400.

+ Pfizer has a number of programs designed to provide free or low-cost drugs through your doctor, community health centers and hospitals, as well as through your pharmacy or by mail. Go to www.pfizer.com and click on Patient Assistance Programs. For information, call 1-866-776-3700.

+ Eli Lilly (www.lilly.com or 1-877-795-4559) also offers a reduced-cost drug program. Check the Lilly Cares program. It charges a $25 monthly fee to ship drugs to your home.

Before you apply for any of the programs, you'll need the name and manufacturer of your medication, your income and other information. If you take more than one medication, you'll need to apply to multiple drug companies or fill out additional forms.

NOTE: For those readers who have asked, I'm unable to make copies of "Growing Stronger," the fitness book for older adults from the CDC. I cannot copy and send out any material, as it is all copyrighted.

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions. Do not send any material requiring return mail. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475, or send e-mail to letters.kfws@hearstsc.com. (c) 2007 King Features Synd., Inc.