Several programs can help you pay for prescriptions, whether you’re uninsured, underinsured, or simply struggling with high copays. The right option depends on your insurance status, income, and the specific medication you need. Most people qualify for at least one form of assistance, and many of these programs can be combined.
Manufacturer Patient Assistance Programs
Nearly every major pharmaceutical company runs a patient assistance program (PAP) that provides brand-name medications at no cost or deeply reduced prices. These programs are designed primarily for people who are uninsured or underinsured and fall below a certain income threshold, typically 200% to 400% of the federal poverty level depending on the company. Applying usually involves filling out a form, providing proof of income, and having your prescriber sign off on it.
Separately, many manufacturers offer copay savings cards for people who do have private insurance but face high out-of-pocket costs. These cards can reduce your copay on a brand-name drug to as little as $0 to $25 per fill. One important restriction: copay cards from manufacturers cannot be used with Medicare, Medicaid, or other government insurance. That rule comes from federal anti-kickback law, so there are no exceptions.
To find whether your specific medication has a PAP or copay card, check the drug’s website directly or search the Medicine Assistance Tool, a database that aggregates manufacturer programs across companies.
Prescription Discount Cards
Discount cards from companies like GoodRx, SingleCare, and America’s Pharmacy work differently from manufacturer programs. These are for-profit companies that contract with pharmacy benefit managers to negotiate lower cash prices on both brand-name and generic drugs. You don’t need insurance to use them, and there’s no income requirement or application process. You simply look up your medication, find the lowest price at a nearby pharmacy, and present the card or coupon code at the counter.
The key distinction: discount cards replace your insurance at the pharmacy counter rather than working alongside it. You cannot bill insurance and use a discount card on the same transaction. This makes them most useful when your insurance copay is actually higher than the discounted cash price, which happens more often than you’d expect with generics. It’s worth comparing both prices before every fill.
Nonprofit Copay Assistance Foundations
Nine independent charitable foundations in the United States provide grants to help cover out-of-pocket medication costs. Unlike manufacturer programs, these nonprofits can often help people on Medicare and other government insurance. The PAN Foundation is one of the largest. Others include Accessia Health, The Assistance Fund, CancerCare, Good Days, HealthWell Foundation, Blood Cancer United, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), and Patient Advocate Foundation.
Each foundation organizes its funding by disease. You apply for a grant tied to your specific diagnosis, and if the fund for that condition is open and you meet the income criteria, the foundation pays your copays directly. Funds open and close frequently based on available donations, so if one foundation’s fund for your condition is closed, check the others. Applying to multiple foundations at the same time is common and perfectly acceptable. NeedyMeds, a nonprofit database, can help you search across all of these programs by drug name or diagnosis.
Medicare Extra Help
If you’re on Medicare Part D, the Extra Help program (also called the Low-Income Subsidy) pays for a large share of your prescription drug premiums, deductibles, and copays. In 2026, you may qualify if your annual income is below $23,940 as an individual or $32,460 as a married couple. Resource limits are $18,090 for individuals and $36,100 for couples. Resources include savings and investments but not your home or car.
People who qualify for full Extra Help pay no more than a few dollars per prescription. You can apply through Social Security’s website, by calling Social Security directly, or through your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). If you’re even close to the income limit, it’s worth applying. Many people who qualify never enroll simply because they don’t know the program exists.
Medicaid Prescription Coverage
Medicaid covers prescription drugs in every state, and for people who qualify, cost sharing is minimal by federal law. If your family income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, you’ll pay no more than $4 for a preferred drug and $8 for a non-preferred drug. Above that threshold, non-preferred drugs can cost up to 20% of what the state pays for the medication, but preferred generics remain inexpensive.
Eligibility for Medicaid varies significantly by state. In the 40 states (plus Washington, D.C.) that expanded Medicaid, most adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level qualify. In non-expansion states, eligibility is more limited and often restricted to specific groups like pregnant women, children, and people with disabilities. You can check your eligibility and apply at your state’s Medicaid website or through HealthCare.gov.
State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs
Several states run their own prescription assistance programs, most of them targeting seniors and people with disabilities. Connecticut, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin all operate programs with names like PACE, EPIC, and SeniorCare. These programs fill gaps that Medicare and Medicaid don’t cover, and some are available to residents with incomes above Medicaid limits. Wisconsin’s SeniorCare program, for example, covers people above 200% of the federal poverty level.
Eligibility rules and the drugs covered vary by state, so you’ll need to check with your state’s program directly. Your local Area Agency on Aging can usually point you to the right application if you’re a senior.
Community Health Centers and 340B Pricing
Federally qualified health centers, Ryan White HIV/AIDS clinics, children’s hospitals, and certain other safety-net providers participate in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. This program requires drug manufacturers to sell outpatient medications to these facilities at significantly reduced prices. When you fill prescriptions through a 340B-enrolled pharmacy or clinic, those savings often get passed along to you in the form of lower drug prices or sliding-scale fees based on your income.
You don’t need to apply for 340B pricing separately. If you receive care at an eligible health center, you’re already benefiting from it. There are over 13,000 participating sites across the country. HRSA’s website has a search tool to find 340B-covered entities near you. Community health centers in particular serve patients regardless of insurance status and use a sliding fee scale, making them one of the most accessible options for people who are uninsured or between coverage.
How to Search Across Programs
The fastest way to find help for a specific drug is to search by medication name on NeedyMeds or the Medicine Assistance Tool. Both databases pull together manufacturer programs, nonprofit grants, discount cards, and government assistance into a single search. You’ll see every available option for your drug in one place, which saves you from checking dozens of websites individually.
If your medication costs changed suddenly due to a formulary shift or insurance change, start with your prescriber’s office. Many clinics have financial counselors or social workers who know which programs have open funding and can handle the paperwork for you. Pharmacists are another underused resource. They can often identify a cheaper therapeutic alternative, apply discount pricing, or point you toward a manufacturer program on the spot.