SeniorJournal.com

INDEX

FRONT PAGE

PAGE TWO
More Headlines

 • General Features

 • Find Help

 • SENIOR ALERTS

 • Baby Boomers

 • Odds & Ends

Health-Fitness

 • Fitness

 • Health/Medicine

 • Medical Research

 • Nutrition/Vitamin

Government

 • Politics

 • Medicare

 • Medicare Drug Program

 • Medicare Q&A - Dear Marci

 • Medicaid

 • Social Security

 • Social Security, Medicare Q&A

 • Social Security Reform

Enjoying Life

 • Books

 • Entertainment

 • Features

 • Grandparents

 • Senior Statistics

 • Senior Stars

 • Sex & Seniors

 • Sports

 • Travel

 • Senior Volunteers

On The Web

 • Links - Senior

 • Senior Friendly Business Links

 • Sites We Like

Elderly Issues

 • Elder Care

 • Assistance for Elderly

 • Housing

Money 

Thinking

 • Opinions

Foundations Offers Free Drugs for Illnesses Common to Seniors

Oct. 28, 02 - Several prescription drugs that treat chronic illnesses common to older Americans will be distributed free of charge to uninsured U.S. residents under a new patient assistance program available nationwide.

The program is part of an effort by the Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation, Inc. to provide prescription medications free of charge to U.S. residents who cannot otherwise afford them.  Drugs provided under the program are commonly prescribed to patients with acute coronary disease, stroke, hypertension, arthritis, enlarged prostate, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as HIV/AIDS.

“As a maker of life-saving drugs, we want to help patients who cannot afford their medicines,” said Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation President Pamela S. DeMala.  “We’ve developed a program to give those patients free medication, and to get the drugs into patients’ hands quickly and efficiently.”

Under the program, certain Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals’ products marketed in the U.S. will be provided free of charge to adults and children who meet eligibility requirements. To qualify, patients must:

·                Lack prescription coverage under a private, government or employee insurance plan

·                Be ineligible for prescription assistance through Medicaid

·                Have annual income equal to or lower than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (for 2002, the Federal poverty level is $18,100 a year for a family of four, so the qualifying level for the Patient Assistance Program would be $36,200 or less for a family of four)

·                For individuals in need of the HIV/AIDS drug VIRAMUNE® (nevirapine), they must have an annual income equal to or lower than $25,000 (for two or more members of a family the income level would be up to $40,000).

·                Be a citizen or legal resident of the United States

Drugs provided include AGGRENOXâ (dipyridamole/aspirin) Capsules, ATROVENTÒ (ipratropium bromide) Inhalation Aerosol, COMBIVENT â (ipratropium bromide and albuterol sulfate) Inhalation Aerosol, FLOMAXâ (tamsulosin) Tablets, MOBICâ (meloxicam) Tablets, CAFCITâ(caffeine citrate) Injection, CATAPRESÒ-TTS (clonidine hydrochloride), MICARDISâ (telmisartan) tablets, and VIRAMUNEâ (nevirapine) tablets.

There will be absolutely no co-payments or fees charged for participating in the program, and no membership card will be required.  Applicants will not be subjected to a review of their assets.

A simple, one-page application form is available by calling (800) 556-8317, and the completed application must be submitted with current proof of income and an original, valid prescription.  All applications are reviewed for eligibility criteria and responses sent within two days of receipt.

Approved applicants will be provided with a year’s worth of medication, distributed in three-month supplies via the patient’s healthcare provider.  Patients are invited to reapply to extend coverage past the initial year, and a reminder letter and application form will be sent one month prior to the end of the initial year of participation.

Drugs available under the program include: AGGRENOXâ (dipyridamole/aspirin) Capsules, ATROVENTÒ (ipratropium bromide) Inhalation Aerosol, COMBIVENT â (ipratropium bromide and albuterol sulfate) Inhalation Aerosol, FLOMAXâ (tamsulosin) Tablets, MOBICâ (meloxicam) Tablets, CAFCITâ (caffeine citrate) Injection, CATAPRESÒ-TTS (clonidine hydrochloride) (patches?), MICARDISâ (telmisartan) Tablets, and VIRAMUNEâ (nevirapine) Tablets.

Patients who have additional questions about the program can call BICF’s Patient Assistance Program at 800-556-8317. For medical questions about the products, health care providers can contact the Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s Drug Information Unit at 800-542-6257

The Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation, Inc. is an independent, not-for-profit tax-exempt organization established in 2001 by the Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation in Ridgefield, CT. The Foundation's mission is to improve lives through innovative philanthropic contributions and donations of healthcare products and resources.

Fact Sheet

An estimated 17 million Medicare beneficiaries in the U.S. do not have any form of prescription drug coverage. Many of these people have no alternatives but to either pay for medicine out of their own pockets or go untreated.

The Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation, Inc.’s new Patient Assistance Program (PAP) will provide many of Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s products marketed in the United States free of charge to individuals who do not have prescription drug coverage and who cannot afford to pay for their prescriptions.

The Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation’s PAP offers:

• Up to a year’s worth of free medicine, distributed in three-month supplies via the patient’s healthcare provider
• Medicine available beyond one year, upon separate request
• No co-payments or fees
• A simple, one-page application form

Who is eligible for the program?

• U.S. citizens or legal residents;
• Who lack prescription drug coverage under a private, government, or employee insurance plan;
• Who are not eligible for prescription drug assistance through Medicaid; and
• Who have annual income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (see below):

NOTE: The HIV/AIDS drug VIRAMUNE® (nevirapine) will be made available to individuals with an annual income at or below $25,000 and to families of two or more members with an annual income at or below $40,000.

How do I participate?

• Request an application form by calling 800-556-8317 (either the patient or his/her health care provider can request the application)
• Fully complete and execute the form
• Enclose supporting documents

1.      Proof of income (Form W-2 , pay stub, Form 1099’s, pension statements, etc.)

2.      An original prescription signed by the health care provider (part of the application form)

• Mail application to:

Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation, Inc.

Patient Assistance Program

P.O. Box 66555

St. Louis, MO  63166-6773

• All applications are reviewed for eligibility criteria and responses sent within two days of receipt.

How are the medicines distributed?

• Once the application is approved, a three-month supply will be sent to your health care provider.
• Before this initial supply is finished, you or your health care provider must send in a copy of your original application with a new prescription.
• A refill order will then be shipped to your health care provider
• Patients are covered under the program for one year, and must reapply for coverage that extends beyond that timeframe
• A reminder letter and new application form will be sent to the patient or the health care provider one month prior to the end of the initial year of participation

What medicines are provided through this program?

Where can I get more information?

• Patients can call Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation’s Patient Assistance Program at 800-556-8317. Health care providers with medical questions can contact the Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Drug Information Unit at 800-542-6257