Drugmakers Offer Discount Prices to a Larger Population

In this tough economy, a few drug companies are broadening their programs that help people struggling to pay for prescription drugs.

-- Last month, Merck, whose drugs include Januvia for diabetes and Singulair for asthma, increased the income eligibility of its assistance plan to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, from its previous 200 percent level.

This means that patients in the contiguous United States qualify if they have an annual household income of $43,320 or less for individuals, $58,280 or less for couples, or $88,200 or less for a family of four, even if the financial situation is temporary.

-- Abbott launched a program to help pay for its injectable autoimmune disease drug, Humira. Even many people with insurance coverage will not have to pay more than about $5 per month for the drug, according to the company.

Information: 800-448-6472.

-- Together Rx Access recently eased the income rules for its discount drug card. Eligibility now starts at $45,000 a year for a single person (up from $30,000) and runs up to $105,000 for a family of five (up from $70,000).

The free card, whose sponsors include Pfizer and Novartis, is designed to benefit legal U.S. residents without public or private prescription coverage who don't qualify for Medicare. Discounts on more than 300 drugs average 25 to 40 percent, according to Christopher Loder, a spokesman for Pfizer.

Information: http://www.togetherrxaccess.com or 800-444-4106.