Montana Resources | National Resources | Prescription Drug Assistance
Financial Assistance
Easter Seals/Goodwill, Northern Rocky Mountain (Great Falls) Provides free information and referral services, educational programs and durable equipment loans.
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services:
Big Sky Rx – Medicare Prescription Assistance Montana state program to help pay drug-coverage premiums for eligible Montanans enrolled in a prescription drug plan under Medicare Part D. The program was created by the 2005 Legislature and is funded with tobacco tax revenue. To be eligible for the program, you must be a Montana resident, be a Medicare recipient, and have a family income of 200 percent or less of the federal poverty level.
Children’s Mental Health Bureau: Children’s Mental Health Services
Home and Community-Based Services Division:
Public Health and Safety Division:
Nutrition/Special Supplemental Nutrition WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)
Partnership for Prescription Assistance – Montana Chapter Offers Montanans a single point of access to more than 275 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. Patients and service providers may call 888-477-2669 or visit the web site.
Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASSplan.org) This University of Montana Rural Institute site describes Social Security Work Incentive PASS plans and has a searchable database of successful PASS plans and related resources.
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist:
10 West 15th St., Ste. 1600
Helena, MT 59626
(406) 441-1270
406-441-1065 fax
robert.hudson@ssa.gov
National Resources:
American Association of People with Disabilities Members can now join the Digital Federal Credit Union to take advantage of a full range of financial services, including Mobility Vehicle Loans for adapted vehicles and Access Loans, for any product, device or building modification designed to assist someone with a disability. For further information visit AAPD’s website and visit the Benefits section.
American Society of Clinical Oncology: Cancer Net web site provides information for patients and families about cancer types, learning about cancer, diagnosis and treatment, coping, survivorship, advocacy and policy. It has a library and other resources, and information about cancer-related news and events.
Managing the Costs of Cancer Care downloadable booklet
Association of Blind Citizens Assistive Technology Fund Covers 50% of the retail price of adaptive devices or software for eligible applicants.
BenefitsCheckUp online. Free, easy-to-use service from the National Council on Aging that identifies federal and state assistance programs for older Americans and all Americans with disabilities. The service is completely confidential — no identifying information is entered. It generates a list of programs for which the individual qualifies and provides local contact information.
Center for Medical Advocacy. Assists individuals in appeals of Medicare benefit denials.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Financing Health Care for Women with Disabilities This RAND Corporation paper describes the major financial issues affecting access to health care for women with disabilities and presents recommended strategies to address those issues.
Disability.gov One-stop online access to disability-related resources, services, and information available throughout the Federal government.
Easter Seals Project ACTION Federally-funded national technical assistance project matching the interests of public transportation and people with disabilities. Support is provided by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration.
GovBenefits : Provides easy access to benefit information.
HealthWell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to addressing the needs of individuals with insurance who cannot afford their co-payments, co-insurance, and premiums for important medical treatments.
Immune Deficiency Foundation Provides IGIV to Clinical Immunologists on an emergency basis, oversees 25 regional and local IDF Chapters offering patient support services, insurance reimbursement, assistance and community education programs.National Public Policy Program focuses on IGIV safety and availability. Provides National Toll-Free Hotline at 800-296-4433, national newsletter, and patient and physician educational literature.
International Hearing Dog, Inc.Trains and places hearing dogs with persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, with and without multiple disabilities, at no charge to the recipient.
National Endowment for Financial Education Independent, non-profit foundation provides education about personal finance and decision-making that helps individuals reach financial goals. NEFE has collaborated with disability-related organizations to produce the following guides:
Finding Financial Independence: A Guide for Young Adults with Disabilities, produced by United Cerebral Palsy Association
On the Move: A Financial Guide for People with Spinal Cord Injury, produced by Paralyzed Veterans of America and National Spinal Cord Injury Association
Possibilities: A Financial Resource Book for Parents of Children with Disabilities, produced by PACER Center
National Rehabilitation Information Center Resources for employment, advocacy, benefits and financial assistance, education, technology, and more.
Navigating Medicare and Medicaid: Resource Guides for People with Disabilities, Their Families, and Their Advocates Kaiser Family Foundation publications provide a basic introduction to the Medicare and Medicaid programs, including application procedures and sources of assistance, coverage for durable medical equipment, appeals procedures, employment and eligibility. Available in both PDF and HTML formats.
Seniors Eye Care Program: For individuals 65 or older who have not had eye exams in the last three years and who are not covered by an HMO or Managed Care organization, this American Optometric Association/American Academy of Ophthalmology/U.S. Health Care Financing Administration project provides free eye exam and up to one year of follow-up care for any condition diagnosed in that exam.
Social Security Administration Provides health insurance and cash benefits to elders and qualified people with disabilities.
2009 Social Security Changes Factsheet
American Indian and Alaska Native website
The Work Site Information on health insurance and cash benefits to qualified people with disabilities. Employed recipients can maintain some benefits.
Social Security Administration Regional Public Affairs Office Serves Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
Social Security Disability Secrets Offers tips, secrets and advice on how to win Social Security Disability or SSI benefits.
TRICARE: Military Health System, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense
Compensation and Benefits Handbook for service personnel with serious injury or illness
Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)
WorkWORLD Work Incentive Software automates the complex computations resulting from earned income, public benefits and work incentives. Downloadable free from web site after filling out user agreement.
Prescription Drug Assistance Programs:
Big Sky Rx – Medicare Prescription Assistance Montana state program to help pay drug-coverage premiums for eligible Montanans enrolled in a prescription drug plan under Medicare Part D. The program was created by the 2005 Legislature and is funded with tobacco tax revenue. To be eligible for the program, you must be a Montana resident, be a Medicare recipient, and have a family income of 200 percent or less of the federal poverty level.
HealthWell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to addressing the needs of individuals with insurance who cannot afford their co-payments, co-insurance, and premiums for important medical treatments.
Medicare.gov Visitors can learn about Medicare prescription drug coverage, compare Medicare prescription drug plans, and find formulary drugs.
NeedyMeds.com Provides information about patient assistance programs and other programs designed to help those who can’t afford their medicines.
National Organization on Rare Disorders Has more than 25 patient assistance programs for specific medications.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance Brings together America’s pharmaceutical companies, doctors, patient advocacy organizations and civic groups to help low-income, uninsured patients get free or nearly free brand-name medicines. The Partnership offers a single point of access to more than 275 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Provides the Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs. These programs provide prescription medicines free of charge to physicians whose patients might not otherwise have access to necessary medicines. Under the entry for each program is information about how to make a request for assistance, what prescription medicines are covered, and basic eligibility criteria.
RxAssist Patient Assistance Program Center provides a comprehensive database of pharmaceutical manufacturers’ patient assistance programs.
Reference Chart of Medicare Part D Patient Assistance Programs
RxHope Lists resources for consumers, advocates and health care providers who want to access federal, state and charitable agencies.
Together Rx Access Free prescription savings program for eligible individuals and families who lack prescription drug coverage and are not eligible for Medicare. Most cardholders save 25-40% on brand name and generic drugs.
www.TheDesk.info Online Medicaid reference desk geared to people with cognitive disabilities, families, advocates, legislators, policy makers, state officials, and service providers.