After speaking to then Dey, now Mylan Specialty in August, 2011, I kept checking the Mylan website over and over seeking an Epi Pen® Patient Assistance Program, . They promised a program would be available at the end of the 4th quarter, December, 2011. I truly believed that they never produced the program as promised, as I blogged about this last December in my, “What’s Up with the Epi Pen® Two Pack?” blog. Eureka! I was wrong, they were late, but the program DOES exist!
photo courtesy of www.epipen.com
Here are the only two links I could find on the internet for the Mylan Specialty Epi Pen® Patient Assistance Program…
[unordered_list style=”red-x”]- RxAssit provides quite a bit of information online about the Patient Assistance Program and also offers the link to the PDF to apply in addition to coupons for other medications, etc. It appears that applications need to be downloaded from the internet and then completed by both patient and physician before being mailed or faxed in.
- RxAssit which provides a link to the Epi Pen® PDF too plus a phone number to call for more information. It does seem that the turn around on this program is not fast, so please do consider what to do, if you can, in the interim.
Speaking of…here is the printable form for the Epi Pen® Patient Assistance Program. I have called Mylan twice asking for help with their Epi Pen® Patient Assistance Program, left messages with a customer service person and have not heard back from them yet. I called on Thursday and Friday and will update this blog or re-post with more information as I learn more.
Update: As of July 26th, 2012, I still have not received a return phone Mylan from messages left with questions about the Epi Pen® Patient Assistance Program.
Update: On August 6th, 2012, I received an email message from Mylan with a phone number to call. I will call them back around August 9th or 10th and I promise to post my findings.
Here are my questions for Mylan:
[ordered_list style=”decimal”]
- What is the threshold income level? US poverty standards or below, above? What are the income requirements?
- What is the medical diagnosis criteria?
- Where is this program detailed on their website and has this information been shared with physicians?
- Since we dealing with a life threatening situation, what is the processing turn-around time?
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..
Excellent news! I’m going to share this on the Onespot Allergy Facebook page. Thanks for persisting with Mylan to obtain this information.
I’m very happy for it too, but I would still like to find a few more answers! Thanks Elizabeth..One Spot is truly one of my favorite sites…always up on the news, logically and providing solutions!!!
I was JUST thinking about this on my way home from Walgreens, yesterday! I saw how much my insurance covered and was feeling bad for the many who are without insurance and who cannot afford their EpiPens. Thank you so much for researching this information.
Thanks! I have a high deductible, so I spend hundreds in August at the beginning of school, but I usually try to find coupons to help. I just can’t accept there are others out there NOT carrying epinephrine due to cost. Scary!
Hi. Anyone know of any coupons for epi pens Jr, or cheap place to order. We have a high deductable .
I do too. Every now and then medsavercard has some. Check out Needymeds.org and click on First time users and then click on medication coupons. I need to buy some next month, so I haven’t started my huge quest for discounts! Let us know if you find any good coupons!
1.What is the threshold income level? 200% below the US poverty guidelines without insurance & the patient must be a US citizen.
2.What is the medical diagnosis criteria? Diagnosis is irrelevant –the patient needs a legal prescription for the med in question.
3.Where is this program detailed on their website and has this information been shared with physicians? The info comes from savvy office managers & drug reps. Patients complete & print out the required forms for any assistance program & submit them to the doctor via the office staff or during an office visit. The doctor will complete his/her portion of the form, have the office staff copy the completed form for the patient’s chart (and to send a copy to the patient), and fax the form to the program. In most cases, the med is sent directly to the doctor’s office where the patient is alerted by staff to pick up the med.
4.Since we dealing with a life threatening situation, what is the processing turn-around time? The answer depends on the patient’s speed completing the form & submitting it to the doctor, the doctor’s staff speed in faxing the form, and the assistance program’s speed in verifying info in the form & approving the request and mailing the med, and so on. Usually, this takes about 4 weeks. Don’t forget to talk to your pharmacist about pharmacy-specific programs, asking friends & family for $$ to pay for a prescription, avoiding triggers, knowing when to call 911, and carrying liquid Benedryl (and knowing the proper dosage).
Hi Judie,
Sounds like you got hold of Mylan? I would love to copy this information into a blog, with your permission. I just need to site your source.
This is terrific information!!!! Thank you for doing homework for everyone needing life saving epinephrine!!!
You are gold in our world.
feel free to use the info… some of it’s from the FAQs portion of the website & some is from personal experience from my (former) job.
While well intentioned, I think this answer is wrong; “What is the threshold income level? 200% below the US poverty guidelines”. I admit that I am mathematically challenged, but my calculator says my income would have to be -$11,490 for the year to qualify.
I have applied for other patient assistance programs in the past and the qualification level has always been ABOVE the US Poverty Guidelines. I suspect that what the person meant is that the level to qualify is 200% OF US Poverty Guidelines which for 2013 should be $11,490 x 200% = $22,980 for the year.
The reason I’m posting this is because I don’t want anyone to get discouraged from applying for a patient assistance program because they have gotten misleading information that makes them think they won’t qualify.
Kat, thanks for joining the conversation and sharing. It’s important to keep on knocking on every single door. Access to life saving medications is becoming harder and harder and I’m hoping something changes soon. Today a study was released stating how few carry epinephrine when they need, but I’m sure part of their hesitation is cost—which just keeps on rising! Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and calculator!
Kat- The post from me is over a year old. Please see the specific website or contact your insurance provider for me info. Current changes to health insurance coverage (ACA) will have made my response moot. Please don’t allow notes in this blog to discourage you from finding the best treatment for your symptoms. Stay in touch with you doctor at all times regarding options.
Why don’t you look into programs http://www.xubex.com offers. Also http://www.freemedicationcoupons.com also is a great resource.