Program Provides Free Medicine To Uninsured
(NAPSI)-There's good news for the
estimated 22 million Americans who lack health
insurance. A new program is helping make it possible to get the
prescription medication needed to treat such conditions as diabetes,
hypertension and depression-free of charge.
The Connection to Care program-a
partnership between Pfizer and health care professionals-provides free
medicines to low-income uninsured patients. Products available under the
program include such leading medications as Lipitor® (for high
cholesterol), Neurontin® (for epilepsy), Norvasc® (for high blood
pressure and angina) and Zoloft® (for depression).
Under the program guidelines, people are
eligible if they have annual incomes of less than $16,000 ($25,000
household incomes for families) and no prescription drug coverage
through private insurance or any public assistance program.
"The Connection to Care program, combined
with our widely used Sharing the Care initiative and the rapidly growing
Pfizer for Living Share Card puts more than 30 Pfizer medications in
reach of over 27 million Americans either free or at greatly reduced
costs," said Pat Kelly, president, Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals.
To reach as many eligible patients as
possible, the company has distributed information on Connection to Care
to more than 120,000 physicians and health care centers across the U.S.
and set up a toll free number (1-800-707-8990) for doctors and patients
to call with enrollment questions.
"I'm excited about what I can do for
people. I can do so much more for them than I could 10 or 15 years ago.
A large part of that is because of the medicines that are available to
me now," said Dr. James Middleton of the Family Medical Center of
Munfordville, Ky. "The new Connection to Care program is going to make
it easier for me to get my patients the medicines they need."
To be eligible for Connection to Care,
patients must have a prescription from their doctor for an approved
Pfizer medication, complete an application form and submit copies of
their income tax return together with the appropriate supporting
financial documents. If approved, patients receive a three-month,
renewable supply of the medication through their physician's office.
For more than 30 years, Pfizer has provided medications to help
physicians care for low-income, uninsured patients. In 2001, the company
helped approximately 1.4 million patients by providing 2.3 million
prescriptions valued at nearly $345 million. To learn more about the
Connection to Care program, visit
www.pfizer.com.
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