Question: My health insurance plan does not have presciption coverage and I can't afford my medication. What should I do?

Answer: The University of Arizona has a prescription assistance program designed to offer assistance to low-income students. The following explains how the plan works.

• There are three pharmaceutical companies participating in the University of Arizona's prescription assistance program. There are approximately 300 medications available through this program.

• On average if a student makes less than $19,000 (net) he / she is eligible for the discount program. Again this varies with each pharmaceutical company.

• In order to take part in the program, you must make an appointment with one of the doctors or nurse practitioners at Campus Health. He or she will write you a prescription and then send you to the referral office (located on the second floor of student health between General Medicine and the lab).

• All three pharmaceutical companies have a short form that needs to be filled out by the student. Some require proof of net income while others do not.

• One you are approved, your medication will be shipped to General Medicine at the U of A. Medication takes six to eight weeks or more to arrive. When it arrives, someone from Campus Health will call to let you know that it is ready to be picked up in General Medicine.

• Medication is usually sent in quantities of three months at a time. Every three months you need to repeat the process.

• To make an appointment with General Medicine call 621-6490.

Some Things To Keep in Mind:

• Not all medications are included in the plan

• Students do not have access to the list of medications that are available through this program. In order to determine whether or not your medication is available, you must speak with the staff in the referral office.

• This process needs to be repeated every three months

• Spouses and dependent children are not eligible to get medication through this program

• The referral office is only open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00-4:30 and Wednesday 9:00-4:30. Closed on weekends and university holidays.

• This program is designed to help low-income students with chronic rather than acute illnesses. As a result, this program is not compatible with a one-time illness such as strep throat.

Wal-Mart has just launched a nation-wide prescription plan that allows patients to purchase certain medications for as low as $4.00. If your medication is on the list, this program could save you a lot of money! Visit the Wal-Mart Pharmacy web-page for more information.

Some Things To Keep in Mind:

• There are about 300 medications available so you will first need to contact Wal-mart to see if your medication is one that is being sold at this low price. (view pdf of complete list of medications)

• Only certain dosages are available at the lower price: For example: If your doctor prescribes 30 milligrams of Paxil, the medication may only be available at the lower price in the 10 milligram pills. So if your particular medication is on the list, you need to know which dosage is being provided at the discount price before your doctor writes the prescription.