While you are in prison, the prison supplies the medication you need. After you leave prison, you are responsible for your medications. Many places sell medication. But without insurance, this can be expensive. There are options that can help save money if you do not have insurance.

Where can you fill your medications after prison?

There are many places to fill your medications after you leave prison. Drugstore chains like CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid are all popular options. Big box stores like Walmart and Target sometimes have pharmacies. You can also find local independent pharmacies in some places.

If you take prescription medicines, you may need to see a doctor. They can write you a prescription. You can also ask for their advice on where to buy your medicine.

What can you do if you don’t have health insurance?

Prescription medicine can be very expensive without insurance. But you do have some other options. One example is GoodRx. This company has a program that helps lower the cost of medicine. You can only use it if you don’t have insurance.

More than 70,000 pharmacies in the U.S. accept GoodRx coupons. WeRx and Blink Health have similar programs.

Does Medicaid cover your medicines?

It depends. The basic Medicaid plan does not cover medications. But it does offer pharmacy coverage as an optional benefit under the federal Medicaid law. Moreover, all states provide pharmacy coverage under their state Medicaid programs. Most pharmacies accept Medicaid. But it doesn’t cover all medicines.

States also have coverage for prescription drugs. Rules are different from state to state.

Does Medicare cover the cost of medicine?

The basic Medicare plan does not cover medications. But, Medicare also has pharmacy coverage as an optional benefit. You can add it to your plan if you want.

Medicare has both partial and full coverage options for medications. For Medicare to apply, you need to get your medications from its preferred pharmacies within your plan’s network. Your medicare provider can help you find these.

Can you contact the manufacturer for help with the cost?

Some manufacturers offer discount coupons for their medications. You can call the company’s office to see if you can get a discount. However, sometimes companies offer these coupons because there are cheaper alternatives available.

What is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)?

TANF helps low-income families with children to pay monthly bills. The program offers monthly cash assistance. It also works at the state level.

You can usually use this grant for medication assistance. To qualify for TANF, you must be a legal citizen. You must also qualify as low income. Different states have different TANF offices. You can find the public contact information for your state online.

What is the State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program (SPAP)?

About half of states have SPAP programs. These programs help their residents pay for medications for certain diseases. Since they are run by state governments, each program works differently. And they all have different eligibility requirements. You can look at information online to see if you qualify.

The Takeaway:

There are many places to get your medications filled after leaving prison. But without insurance, this can be expensive. If you don’t have insurance, there are programs that can help you pay for drugs. Some companies offer discount coupons. You may also have access to state and federal assistance programs.