Patient Assistance Programs in the U.S.
If you live in the United States and are struggling to afford your hepatitis B medication, there may be programs available to help you with the cost. Programs generally fall into one of 4 general categories: Manufacturer-Sponsored Patient Assistance Programs; Nonprofit Co-Pay Assistance Programs; Mail-order Discount Pharmacies; and Discount Prescription Cards.
Manufacturer-sponsored Patient Assistance Programs
Most major pharmaceutical companies offer assistance programs to help individuals afford their medicines. Eligibility requirements vary by company, and the available funding can be depleted before the end of a year. But it is worth checking these medication assistance programs if you need help. Some programs may provide free medications to individuals without insurance, while others may assist with covering co-pays for people with health insurance.
Below is a list of the companies, the medications that are covered by their assistance programs, and their contact information.
|
Company |
Medicines Covered |
Contact Information |
Eligibility |
|
Gilead |
Vemlidy (Tenofovir alafenamide) |
855-769-7284 |
Co-Pay Program will offer up to $6,000/year toward insurance co-pays for Vemlidy for eligible insured patients.
Patient Assistance Program provides free Vemlidy for eligible uninsured patients. You can call 1-855-769-7284 to see if you are eligible. Learn more
|
|
Merck |
Intron A (interferon alpha) |
855-257-3932 |
Patient assistance for individuals without medical insurance who meet income requirements.
|
|
GlaxoSmithKline |
Epivir HBV (lamivudine) |
GSK website 1-888-825-5249 |
Patient assistance for individuals without medical insurance who meet income requirements. |
Co-Pay Assistance Programs
The following programs offer financial assistance for eligible individuals with prescription insurance who are not able to afford their prescription co-pays.
|
Patient Advocate Foundation |
Assistance with all hepatitis B medications |
Eligible individuals must have prescription insurance coverage and have a household income below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Program opens and closes throughout the year as funding becomes available.
|
|
|
Prescription Hope |
Assistance with all hepatitis B medications |
877.296.4673 |
Eligible individuals may be uninsured or underinsured and make around $30,000 per year or have a combined household income of around $50,000. Click here for more information about the program and eligibility.
Eligible individuals can purchase medications including tenofovir, entecavir, Baraclude, Viread and Vemlidy for $50/mo. |
Online Discount Pharmacy
This online discount mail-order pharmacy is a nonprofit offering two first-line hepatitis B medications at an affordable price for eligible individuals regardless of their prescription coverage.
|
DiRx Health |
Entecavir
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) |
1-877-FOR-DIRX
|
No eligibility requirements. Individuals can purchase Entecavir and Tenofovir at discounted prices below. Prices are inclusive of free standard shipping. The discount will show at checkout when using the code HBFSAVE for every order (prices based on use of 1 tablet per day): Entecavir 0.5 mg - $27.00 (30 days) and $68.40 (90 days) Entecavir 1 mg - $32.40 (30 days) and $84.60 (90 days) Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate 300 mg – $18.00 (30 days) and $45.90 (90 days) |
|
RX Outreach |
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)
Entecavir |
1-888-796-1234 |
Eligible individuals must have an income below 400% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. Individuals are eligible whether or not they have prescription insurance. Eligible individuals can purchase tenofovir for $25/mo or entecavir for $45/mo. |
|
Mark Cuban CostPlus Drug Company |
Entecavir
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) |
CostPlusDrugs.com | No eligibility requirements. Individuals can purchase entecavir at the following prices:
0.5 mg – $39.30 (30 days), $75.60 (60 days), $111.90 (90 days) 1 mg – $43.50 (30 days), $84.00 (60 days), $124.50 (90 days) Individuals can purchase Tenofovir (TDF) at the following prices: |
| NiceRx |
Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, TDF)
Entecavir
Vemlidy (Tenofovir alafenamide, TAF) |
|
Eligible individuals must have an income of less than $65,000 for 1-person household or $90,000 for 2-person in household.
Cannot have any prescription drug coverage (except for Viread – if a person has Medicare Part D, they must have spent at least $600 in medication expenses in the calendar year)
Eligible individuals can purchase medication for $49 per month. |
Discount Prescription Cards
Prescription drug discount cards allow cardholders to save money on all types of prescription medications. Cards are available online, at no cost, and can be used with or without insurance. At the time of purchase, cardholders simply present their card at a participating pharmacy to instantly receive substantial discounts on their prescription drugs. These cards typically offer the best price on generic medications. The websites also allow individuals to search for the best price on their medication at nearby pharmacies based on zip code.
|
America's Pharmacy |
888-495-3181 | |
|
ScriptSave Well Rx |
||
|
GoodRX |
855-268-2822 |
|
|
America’s Drug Card |
|
|
|
Needymeds |
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Additional tips for affording your medications:
- If you can not afford your brand-name medication, talk to your doctor about whether a generic version is available. Generic medications contain the same active ingredients as the brand name version, often at a much lower cost.
- Discount prescription cards are available online at no cost, and have no eligibility requirements. These are a great option if you are not eligible for other assistance programs.
- Before changing health insurance, check how much your medication will cost on the new plan.
- If you find that your insurance company places all hepatitis B medications on the highest pricing tier, then your plan may be discriminating against people with chronic hepatitis B. Learn more about discriminatory drug pricing and how to report it here: https://www.hepb.org/resources-and-support/know-your-rights/us-access-to-medicine/
- Serious liver damage can occur if you suddenly stop taking your hepatitis B medication, or if you take it inconsistently. If you can not afford your current medication, talk to your doctor about other options. Do not cut pills, skip doses, or stop medication unless you are under the care of a knowledgeable doctor.