How to Get Help With Your Prescriptions With AstraZeneca Patient Assistance

Healthcare spending in the U.S. continues its rampage. In 2019, pharmaceutical expenditures in the nation were up to $507.9 billion, a 5.4 percent increase from the year prior. In 2020, that number rose upwards of six percent more. While its market capitalization of $131.7 billion doesn't all go toward that, AstraZeneca is no minimal player—especially as they continue to develop their COVID-19 vaccine.

AstraZeneca has a prescription savings program called AZ&Me. Not everyone is eligible, but those who are ought to know about it.

"AstraZeneca may be able to help" is one of those marketing phrases that sticks in your head. You've probably heard it before, even if it was in the background.

This slogan refers to three types of assistance that AstraZeneca provides patients with:

1. Co-Pay Savings
2. Patient Assistance Program
3. Independent Patient Assistance Foundations

For the Co-Pay Savings program, the company provides "financial assistance to eligible commercially insured patients." By commercial insurance, AstraZeneca means private insurance. Overall, the goal of the program is to help people reduce their monthly medication cost. They do this by offering savings on primary care products from retail pharmacists or specialty care products like biologics, injections, or infusions.  

Meanwhile, the Patient Assistance Program (otherwise known as AZ&Me) helps those who are uninsured or on Medicare. The goal of this program is to provide access to medications people wouldn't be able to afford out of pocket.

Additional resources include ElderCare, PhRMA's Medicine Assistance Tool, RxHope, and other organizations independent of AstraZeneca.

For the AZ&Me program that caters to the uninsured and low-income Medicare recipients who have high prescription drug expenses, there are a few key requirements. The program is available for U.S. residents. Additionally, the patient's annual income must not exceed:

• $35,000 for an individual
• $48,000 for a couple
• $60,000 for a family of three
• $70,000 for a family of four

If you're on Medicare, you can't be eligible or enrolled in the Low Income Subsidy or Medicare Part D programs. Plus, you must have spent at least three percent of your annual income on prescriptions this year.

AstraZeneca highlights that life-changing events like loss of employment, income, coverage, marriage, and more may help you be eligible, even if you don't meet the other criteria. In that scenario, it's worth giving the application a shot.

AstraZeneca makes a lot of medications, including Crestor, Zoladex, Seroquel IR and XR, Naropin, Symbicort Turbuhaler, Nexium, Lynparza, and Vimovo. You can find a full list on their website.

There are three ways to apply for the AZ&Me program. You can:

• Call 1-800-AZandMe
• Mail your application to AZ&Me Prescription Savings Program PO Box 222178 Charlotte, NC 28222
• Fax your application from your doctor's office to 1-877-239-0867 (oncology and respiratory biologics) or 1-800-961-8323 (all other products)

For the Co-Pay Savings program for the privately insured, you can find primary care product savings here and specialty product savings here.