Patient Assistance Programs

A Patient Assistance Program (PAP) is a manufacturer-sponsored benefit program that provides brand-name prescription medications free of charge to qualifying patients. Pharmaceutical companies offer PAPs to help people who cannot afford their medication — whether they are uninsured, underinsured, or insured but facing costs they cannot meet.

If you qualify, your medication is provided either through a free pharmacy card or shipped directly to your home or doctor’s office, depending on the program.

PAPs are sponsored directly by the pharmaceutical manufacturers that produce the brand-name medications. Each manufacturer runs its own program with its own eligibility requirements, application process, and supply method. NowPatient’s Patient Assistance Program Search works across these programs and presents the results to you in one place, free of charge.

Yes. Searching for a PAP and completing the eligibility quiz through NowPatient is completely free. There is no cost to check eligibility or to self-enroll. The optional Prescription Bliss fully managed enrollment service is available for patients who prefer to have everything handled for them, for a fee of $50 per medication, per month.

This is an important distinction. The two programs work very differently:

PAPs are significantly more comprehensive and accessible to a broader range of patients than drug coupons.

The Rx Advantage Card is a prescription discount card that gives you a lower cash price at the pharmacy — you still pay, just less than the standard retail price. PAPs go further: qualifying patients receive their medication entirely free of charge. PAPs require an application and eligibility approval process, whereas the Rx Advantage Card can be used immediately at the pharmacy with no application required.

PAPs are available to a much broader range of patients than drug coupons. Uninsured and underinsured patients with no drug coverage are the primary target group — almost all PAPs are designed specifically for them. However, commercially insured patients who cannot afford their out-of-pocket costs, and patients covered by government programs like Medicare or Medicaid, may also qualify depending on the specific program.

Because each pharmaceutical company sets its own PAP terms, completing the NowPatient eligibility quiz is the fastest and most reliable way to find out.

Yes, you may qualify even if you have insurance. Both commercially insured patients who cannot afford their out-of-pocket costs, and government-insured patients (Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, VA), can potentially qualify for a PAP.

This is a key difference from drug coupons, which are restricted to commercially insured patients only. Use the NowPatient eligibility quiz to check your specific situation.

Potentially yes. Unlike drug coupons, PAPs are not automatically excluded for patients on government insurance programs. Eligibility varies by manufacturer and program. Complete the NowPatient eligibility quiz to find out whether you qualify for your specific medication.

No. Each PAP has specific eligibility requirements set by the pharmaceutical company that sponsors it. These typically relate to income level, insurance status, and the medical indication for the drug. NowPatient’s eligibility quiz is designed to quickly determine whether you meet those requirements for your specific medication.

The eligibility quiz covers the key criteria set by the pharmaceutical manufacturer for that program — typically your income level, insurance status, and details about your prescription. It takes only a few minutes to complete, and you will receive your result immediately.

Go to the Drug Savings section of your NowPatient account homepage and locate the Patient Assistance Programs Service Card. Using the options button on the card, select ‘Search’. You will be taken to a search page where you can enter the name of your brand-name medication. If a PAP exists for it, your medication will appear in the results, and you can proceed directly to the eligibility quiz.

If you qualify, you will receive a notification in the Notifications Section of your account homepage. This includes all the information and instructions needed to access the documents that must be completed by both you and your doctor, and then submitted to the pharmaceutical company that sponsors the program.

You can then choose to manage this process yourself (free), or use the Prescription Bliss affiliate partner service ($50 per medication, per month) to have everything handled for you.

PAP applications require clinical verification as well as personal and financial information. Your doctor’s involvement confirms that the medication is medically necessary for your condition and that the prescription is valid. This is a standard requirement across most manufacturer programs and is part of the eligibility verification process.

If your medication does not appear in the results, it means no PAP is currently available for that drug. This may be because it is a generic medication (PAPs are offered for brand-name drugs only) or because the manufacturer has not set up a program. In that case, consider the NowPatient Rx Advantage Card, Drug Coupons, or Canadian Rx Savings as alternatives.

Required documentation varies by program but typically includes proof of income (such as a recent tax return or pay stubs), details of your current insurance status, your prescription, and physician forms that your doctor will need to complete and sign. NowPatient provides the specific requirements for your medication’s program once you qualify.

Processing times vary by pharmaceutical company. After you and your doctor submit the completed documentation, the manufacturer will review your application. If approved, your medication will be supplied either via a pharmacy card or shipped directly to you or your doctor’s office. NowPatient will explain the expected timeframe and supply method for your specific medication.

This depends on the pharmaceutical company running the program. There are two methods:

NowPatient will explain the specific supply method for your medication after you complete the eligibility quiz.

If you qualify for a Patient Assistance Program, your medication is provided free of charge. There is no cost for the medication itself under the program.

Yes. Most Patient Assistance Programs require annual renewal. You will need to re-enroll and reconfirm your eligibility with the pharmaceutical company each year to maintain your access. NowPatient will inform you of the renewal requirements for your specific program. If you use the Prescription Bliss managed service, all re-enrollment is handled for you automatically.

Once you have confirmed eligibility, there are two ways to enroll:

Self-enrolling in a PAP typically involves the following steps:

Prescription Bliss is NowPatient’s affiliate partner that provides fully managed, end-to-end PAP enrollment and ongoing management. For initial enrollment, Prescription Bliss completes all PAP applications on your behalf, gathers and submits all required documentation, coordinates directly with your healthcare provider, communicates with pharmaceutical manufacturers, tracks your application status, and ensures you receive your medication.

For ongoing management, they handle all re-enrollment requirements, manage all refill orders throughout the year, monitor expiration dates and deadlines, ensure continuous uninterrupted medication access, provide ongoing support, and act as your advocate with pharmaceutical companies.

Prescription Bliss charges $50 per medication, per month. This fee covers full enrollment management, ongoing re-enrollment, refill coordination, and all communication with pharmaceutical manufacturers and your healthcare provider on your behalf.

Signing up is straightforward through NowPatient:

For patients managing one or more ongoing brand-name medications, the administrative burden of PAP enrollment — gathering documentation, coordinating with your doctor on forms, tracking deadlines, and managing annual renewals — can be significant. Prescription Bliss is particularly valuable if you have a complex situation, multiple medications, limited time, or if you find the process difficult to navigate independently.

For a medication that costs hundreds or thousands of dollars per month, the $50 per medication monthly fee is typically a small fraction of the savings.

If you do not qualify for a PAP, or no PAP exists for your medication, the following NowPatient services may help:

If you have government insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, VA) and do not qualify for a PAP, consider these options:

If you have already applied to Medicaid and received a denial letter, these three independent organisations may be able to help: